The pickup truck is as much a part of American iconography as the Star-Spangled Banner and bald eagles. Over the years, these once-humble symbols of grit and labor have transformed into do-everything machines for buyers of all backgrounds. Whether you need a tow rig, a luxurious daily driver, or a wilderness-conquering companion, there’s a pickup truck model specifically for you.

Now, with the revival of V-8 powertrains in the Ram 1500 lineup, Stellantis is finally ready to delve into the last untapped segment for truck customers: on-road performance. The new 2027 Ram 1500 Rumble Bee lineup adds three models targeting just that, with a different V-8 engine in each.

The Ram 1500 Rumble Bee family consists of three models: The Rumble Bee, Rumble Bee 392, and Rumble Bee SRT. Think of these machines as the on-road equivalent to Ram’s extensive family of off-roaders (Warlock, RHO, SRT TRX). Every version of the truck is built around a model-specific quad-cab/short-bed configuration, which allows the trucks to shave some 13 inches from the wheelbase compared to the likes of the RHO or TRX—ensuring they're at least a little more nimble. That chop also reduced chassis flex by 10 percent over the standard trucks, which should improve handling. Items like the wiring harness, driveshaft, fuel lines, and brake lines are bespoke to the Rumble Bee as a result.

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In order to give the trucks a muscle-car-derived aesthetic, every Rumble Bee features widened front fenders and bedsides inspired by the off-road range-toppers. These painted parts aren’t direct pulls from the existing 4x4s, owing to the different proportions, but the trucks retain the same imposing 88-inch width as the TRX. Every Rumble Bee is backed by full-time active four-wheel drive by way of a Borg Warner 48-11 transfer case with a variable torque split. Unlike in the TRX, customers will be able to utilize rear-wheel-drive with the push of a button.

The entry-level Rumble Bee makes use of the brand’s recently returned 5.7-liter V-8 engine with an unchanged output of 395 hp at 5600 rpm and 410 lb-ft at 3950 rpm. The Hemi ditches the e-torque mild hybrid setup altogether, but does adopt a Multi-Displacement System to reduce pumping losses in the cylinders at low load. The venerable 8HP75 8-speed automatic backs up the engine, paired with both paddles and a center console shifter shared across every Rumble Bee model. A set of 3.92 rear gears should help the 5.7-liter trucks make the most of that available power, while standard sport exhaust brings a raspy tone.

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The Rumble Bee comes equipped with a relatively conventional suspension, with dual A-arms up front with steel springs and Bilstein monotube shocks, while out back sits the familiar five-link solid axle and more Bilsteins. A set of 22-inch wheels wrapped in 285/45/22 rubber sit ahead of a set of four-piston Brembos that clamp down on 14.9-inch rotors up front and 14.8-inch units out back with a single-piston rear caliper.

The 2027 Ram 1500 Rumble Bee 392 is rather self-explanatory, but one that brings something that fans have been clamoring for. This new truck represents the first time that Ram has stuck the 6.4-liter V-8 into the 1500 platform, and the brand went for the proper Apache variant from the old Dodge muscle cars, rather than the unit from the HD trucks. That means the big V-8 provides 470 hp at 6000 rpm and 455 lb-ft torque at 4,200 rpm. The truck should rip off a 0-60 mph sprint in the mid-five-second range. The 392 employs the same transmission and rear-end setup as the Rumble Bee, as well as the same suspension, brake, and wheel package.

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The 392 V-8 is a glorious track engine, however, so the brand deemed it necessary to expand upon its capability. Opt for the Rumble Bee 392 Track Pack, and you add a whole suite of upgrades targeted at proper performance driving. These include a new suspension setup that ditches the steel springs for airbags, and sees the standard Bilsteins swapped for upgraded Damptronic Sky dual-valve semi-active dampers. When paired with the 22x12-inch wheels wrapped in 325/40/22 Goodyear rubber, the Track Pack is able to throw down a claimed 0.89 g on a skid pad. Not only is that rather impressive for a truck, it represents a 20 percent improvement over the 5.7-liter Rumble Bee. A bespoke e-Spool differential provides instant tire-destroying capabilities for stylish entrances and exits; a more performance-minded asymmetric limited slip will be available on both 392 trims down the road.

No V-8-powered Ram lineup would be complete without a Hellcat, however. The Ram 1500 Rumble Bee SRT combines all of that upgraded hardware from the 392 Track Pack with the full 777-hp version of the TRX’s supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine. Unlike the off-roader, the SRT will allow you to deploy all of that power exclusively to the rear wheels. The SRT does get a suite of bespoke items beyond the engine itself, including the beefier 8HP95 gearbox and a taller 3.55 rear gear.

That setup is necessary to help trucks reach an estimated top speed approaching 170 mph, which absolutely destroys Ram’s existing fastest truck record of 154.587 mph set by the SRT-10 decades ago. The longer ratio doesn’t seem to hurt acceleration however, with Ram targeting a 0-60 mph sprint of 3.4 seconds and an estimated ¼ mile time of just 11.6 seconds. For reference, it takes a Ford Mustang GT automatic 12.2 second to run the quarter.

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Of course, speeds like that could be rather sketchy given the aerodynamics of most trucks, so Ram spent a lot of time developing a bespoke aero kit for the SRT. A 4.5-inch front splitter and a hard tonneau cover work in conjunction with a rear wing to help develop more than 400 lbs of downforce and keep the light rear end from picking up. The entire front fascia is also focused on getting as much cool air into the engine and brake ducts as possible, which helps give the truck its purposeful appearance. Behind the 325-section rubber o sits an upgraded set of six-piston Brembo calipers up front (shared with the 392 Track Pack), which clamp down on 16.1-inch rotors. Out back sits a 14.6-inch rotor and single-piston caliper.

Every 2027 Ram 1500 Rumble Bee features a muscle-car inspired interior setup, with niceties increasing as you work up the trim list. Cloth bucket seats come as standard in the Rumble Bee and 392, while leather and microsuede options come with the Track Pack and SRT. Contrast accent stitching in higher trims makes for a rather handsome setup. The range-topper also adopts a unique flat-bottomed wheel—an interesting choice for a pickup.

The base Rumble Bee also features an 8.4-inch infotainment setup, while the 392 gets a 12-incher, and the SRT a 14.5-inch portrait-style unit. The brand’s Performance Pages system is available across all the head units. Every Rumble Bee also features a panel near the ignition switch to control the transfer case, as well as a drive mode selector and differential controls on applicable trucks.

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Ram isn’t quite ready to share the full pricing and availability details with the public, but CEO Tim Kuniskis did give us a few hints. The 5.7-liter trucks will lead the charge, and should arrive around late October; while not willing to name a specific price point, the executive did confirm that they are targeting the “heart of the segment” with that particular model. The SRT model will follow shortly thereafter, with Kuniskis confirming it should carry a base price below that of the TRX. Of course, that still means that this thing could be a six-figure pickup, but we’ll have to wait a bit longer to find out. Either way, people should be taking these things home in time for the holiday season.