Stellantis’ Ram brand opens orders for two new sport variants of its 2500 heavy duty trucks.
The Warlock and Black Express variants of the Ram 2500 trucks will go on sale in third quarter 2025 in the U.S. as 2026 models. The two are part of Ram’s efforts to boost its affordable and sporty offerings in the HD pickup truck market.
“Everyone likes a good-looking truck, but the challenge is making it affordable while adding value to the entire lineup,” Tim Kuniskis, CEO of Ram, says in a statement announcing the models.
Whereas once seen as basic work transportation, it’s not unusual for today’s U.S. pickup truck models – specifically those marketed as heavy duty – to tickle $100,000 in price, due to a variety of luxury-like features such as leather seating surfaces, advanced digital displays, moonroofs and massaging seats.
But Ram says the Black Express will begin at $53,735 and the Warlock at $57,165, including destination fees, representing respective $2,495 and $2,995 increases over the price of the existing Ram 2500 Tradesman variant.
Both new models will have cloth seating surfaces, including a cloth bench seat, as well as 20-in. wheels (black on the Black Express grade, diamond cut on the Warlock).
But they are not de-contented much beyond those elements as the Black Express has front and rear sensor-based ParkSense technology and black tube cab-length side steps. Meanwhile, the Warlock – resurrecting a name used by Ram in the 1970s – comes standard with off-roading features including an anti-spin rear differential, Bilstein shocks – tuned for on- and off-road use, transfer case skid plate and hill descent control, Ram says.
The Warlock also has special badging, front and rear all-weather floor mats and black grille surround, flares and bumpers.
Both new variants have what Ram says are class-exclusive power convex trailer tow mirrors.
The Black Express is available in a Crew Cab 4x2 or 4x4 body style with a long bed or short bed, while the Warlock will come in a Crew Cab 4x4 short bed configuration only.
Both trucks offer buyers the choice of two engines: Ram’s 6.7L Cummins high-output turbodiesel making 430 horsepower and 1,075 lb.-ft. (1,457 Nm) of torque, or its 6.4L Hemi V-8 with 405 horsepower and 429 lb.-ft. (582 Nm) of torque. Each engine is mated to Ram’s Torqueflite HD 8-speed automatic transmission.
The new Ram 2500 HD models will be assembled at Stellantis’ Saltillo, Mexico, plant. They’re part of a product-announcement blitz by Ram of 25 products over the next 18 months. Ram earlier in June announced the return of its storied Hemi V-8 engine to its light-duty truck lineup and a new ad campaign.
