Ram engineers have answered the call for a heavy-duty pickup that can haul, tow and stay in the chase. The 2027 Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle is designed for government and law enforcement agencies, combining pursuit-capable hardware and legendary Ram Heavy Duty capability to serve the most demanding operational needs. The 2027 Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle is the first and only ¾‑ton truck to complete the Michigan State Police (MSP) vehicle trials, delivering outstanding performance in testing scenarios designed to replicate extreme real‑world duty.
“When your job means running toward danger, not away from it, you don't have time to second‑guess your equipment. It has to be up to the task. That's why we're giving government agencies the first and only 3/4-ton pursuit-capable truck with the Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of American Brands, SRT Performance, NA Marketing and Retail Strategy. “The men and women who answer the call deserve a vehicle that can go anywhere, handle anything and deliver when every second matters. That’s exactly what this truck is built to do.”
The 2027 Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle will be available to fleets in the second half of 2026.
Engineering the Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle
Responding to agency requests for a pursuit-capable emergency‑response package suited to rural, mountainous and mixed‑terrain regions, Ram Engineering quickly defined the parameters for an Emergency Response Vehicle based on the Ram 2500. The goal was to combine law‑enforcement capability with the flexibility required by fire, rescue, and emergency response agencies, all while maintaining Ram Heavy Duty’s hallmark capability.
Building on the existing Ram 2500 Special Service Vehicle, the Emergency Response Vehicle was engineered to meet or exceed key law-enforcement requirements, including interior and exterior ergonomics, integration of communications equipment, pursuit-capable vehicle dynamics and repeatable high‑performance durability.
Specific tests performed at the MSP trials included:
- 0-60 mph acceleration, 0-80 mph acceleration, and 0-100 mph acceleration
- Distance covered to reach top speed
- Average deceleration rate while performing 20 full anti-lock brake stops from 60-0 mph
- Successful completion of all 32 laps of the Grattan Raceway dynamics testing without major component failure
To meet MSP acceleration requirements, the Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle employs Ram’s legendary 6.4‑liter HEMI® V‑8, capable of 405 horsepower and 429 lb.‑ft. of torque. A TorqueFlite HD eight‑speed automatic transmission and a selectable two‑speed transfer case route power to the axles, while an anti‑spin differential paired with an uprated 4.10 axle ratio enhances acceleration and power delivery (standard Ram 2500 axle ratio is 3.73).
In 0–100 mph acceleration testing, the Ram recorded times within two seconds of several lighter and smaller ½‑ton truck and SUV competitors, posting an 8.41 second sprint to 60 mph, 13.22 seconds to 80 mph and 20.5 seconds to 100 mph. The Ram reached a tire-limited speed of 103mph in a scant 0.45 miles, staying on-pace with competitors.
Speed is nothing without durability, which is why the Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle is equipped with a transfer‑case skid plate for critical underbody protection and 18‑inch steel wheels engineered to withstand the demanding abuse of field operations. Dual alternators rated at 400 amps provide additional electrical output and superior charging capabilities for high-demand auxiliary hardware.
Inside, a Vehicle System Interface Module, instrument panel auxiliary switches and dedicated wiring circuits provide ease of upfit for fleets with special equipment. The Ram’s column shifter further opens valuable interior real estate for communications equipment and other electronics used in the field.
Putting It All to The Test
The Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle underwent the full gamut of MSP testing procedures, including high‑speed maneuverability, braking performance, competitive hot laps and acceleration. Ram’s entry met or exceeded the criteria for law enforcement duty and outperformed competitive vehicles in post‑test tire wear after completing 40 laps at Grattan Raceway.
The two‑mile track, located just outside Grand Rapids, Michigan, features ten challenging turns that push the limits of vehicle dynamics. These include a 160‑degree hairpin, a downhill reverse‑camber section, and a 3,200‑foot straight designed to test both acceleration and braking performance. Conditions like these are rarely encountered by civilian trucks, but for law enforcement vehicles, they serve as critical indicators of real‑world pursuit capability and test the balance between handling, acceleration and braking.
While heavy duty trucks are traditionally known for being good at towing and hauling, those same attributes translate to the braking and handling required to manage the extreme chassis loading that pursuit and emergency vehicle duty cycles impart. The Ram 2500 was uniquely positioned for high-performance pursuit driving by way of its class-exclusive five-link coil system rear suspension. This proven design provides noticeable handling gains, all without sacrificing traditional markers of ¾ ton capability.
The Ram 2500 Emergency Response Vehicle joins other Stellantis law enforcement rated vehicles including the Dodge Durango Pursuit, Jeep® Grand Wagoneer Command Operations Vehicle, and Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 special service vehicles.
Ram Brand
Ram offers a full lineup of pickups and commercial vehicles: light-duty Ram 1500, heavy-duty 2500/3500, 3500/4500/5500 Chassis Cab and ProMaster vans.
Ram light-duty and heavy-duty pickups offer products in the fastest growing segments within the pickup space—off-road and customized. Ram introduced the largest variety of off-road performance trucks the brand has ever offered, including the new Ram 1500 SRT TRX with more horsepower per dollar than any other performance off-road pickup.
In the commercial business, Ram offers the Chassis Cab line with features to help customers and upfitters. Ram Professional is making considerable changes in process, execution and resources with a focus on commercial offerings, dedicated B2B-focused expertise, and sales and service support, which are critical to growing in this segment.
Ram continues to outperform the competition, setting the benchmark in the most important areas for truck buyers:
- Segment-first: 1,000 lb.-ft of torque with Cummins Turbo Diesel
- Most luxurious: Ram 1500 Tungsten with air suspension, 24-way massage seats and 540 horsepower
- Ram 1500 and Heavy Duty: Best ride and handling with five-link solid rear axle with available, segment-exclusive, active-level air suspension
- Ram 1500 SRT TRX: Best off-road performance per dollar
- Ram ProMaster: The most cargo space available in any traditional full size cargo van
- Ram Power Wagon: Most off-road capable full-size pickup
Ram is improving market competitiveness and growth while maintaining pricing power through products, services and electrified offerings. Aligned under the global presence of the Stellantis Pro One commercial vehicle organization, Ram currently offers a wide range of products globally, from the Ram 700 compact pickup to the Ram 5500 Chassis Cab and a range of ProMaster vans.
For more information regarding Stellantis, please visit www.stellantis.com.