The V8s are making a roaring comeback for Stellantis’ North American operations. Under its new leadership, the company is backing exclusive and performance-oriented models. And this is the right decision for the brand, as when Stellantis announced the return of the legendary HEMI for the Ram trucks, they received 10,000 orders in the first 24 hours.
Ram Trucks is teaming up with Fox Factory Vehicles this time to bring us a hot street truck. The pavement-burning, performance-focused DC650.
Supercharged Powerhouse
The truck does not come directly from Ram Trucks, but it blends Mopar’s Direct Connection heritage of deep-rooted performance culture. The DC650 is based on the 2026 Ram 1500 Big Horn Night Edition. It features a supercharged 345 cui (5.7-liter) HEMI V8, but Fox Vehicles did not just bolt on a supercharger kit. The engine is straight from Stellantis’ performance arm, Direct Connection, which has been supplying turn-key crate engines and performance upgrades for enthusiasts.
The supercharger is a 3.0-liter Whipple Gen 6 twin-screw unit, which is the brand’s latest offering. The Gen 6 is more efficient than the outgoing Gen 5, pushing denser and colder air into the combustion chamber for instant and repeated boost. The kit comes with a massive air-to-water intercooler that ensures the intake temperature stays cool.
With the state-of-the-art supercharger, the legendary HEMI is good for 650 HP (hence the name DC650) and 600 pound-feet of torque. The engine retains all of the standard truck’s factory systems, including the eTorque mild-hybrid system, so the added power does not affect daily driveability.
Rounding up the power upgrades is a T304 stainless steel cat-back exhaust with dual tailpipes. The exhaust is specially tuned to let the blown HEMI sound the part while keeping the drone in check on long drives.
Lowered for a Mean Stance
To keep the fire-breathing power under control, Fox Factory Vehicles upgrades the Ram 1500’s suspension with Ridetech-engineered coilover suspension that lowers the vehicle by 3 inches up front and 5.5 inches at the back. The coilovers have adjustable shocks, so you can fine-tune the stiffness for daily driving or track use. The custom-tuned Fox coilovers are supported by tubular control arms and traction bars at the rear to sharpen up the handling and help keep wheel hop in check.
The lowered suspension makes the truck’s stance sinister enough, but Fox Vehicle Systems goes beyond that. The front bumper features a lower splitter, and the tailgate is fitted with a spoiler. The truck has gold-colored graphics and sporty accents. 22-inch blacked-out wheels complete the clean lowered look, while 305-section tires bring more function to the form factor.
Still Capable of Usual Truck Duties
Despite the added muscle, the DC650 still has its truck capabilities in tact. It can tow up to 11,320 lbs, and the payload capacity is 1,910 lbs. Fox Factory Vehicles provides a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty for the upgrades, and the standard 10-year/100,000-mile warranty from Ram Trucks stays intact. Plus, you will be able to get your DC650 serviced at any Stellantis dealership across the US.
The upgraded Ram 1500 starts at $89,995. It can be ordered in rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, the latter costing an extra $3.350. You can also spec your Ram 1500 DC650 with six colors and factory cloth or custom leather upholstery ($1,085 option). To add more versatility to the truck bed, you can also add a tri-fold tonneau cover ($695).
The brand did not venture into something like this, a “street truck,” since the legendary Dodge Ram SRT-10 Quad Cab. Now, Stellantis is throwing down a serious challenge to Ford’s latest Shelby FP700 street truck. The new era of true muscle in the North American automotive world is officially back in full swing!
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Images: Fox Factory Vehicles
