Source: Ram TrucksSource: Ram TrucksThis may come as a shock to absolutely no one, but Ram buyers want V8s.The eight-cylinder engine is the backbone of the brand in spirit, if not in actuality. It's also a huge part of the truck industry as a whole. Even in a world moving more towards smaller displacement and forced induction engines, pickup buyers want the option for a big 'ol thumping V8 under the hood.Source: Ram TrucksSource: Ram TrucksAdvertisementAdvertisementStellantis-Ram's parent company-is a complex organization.They inherited a lot of good and bad from those brands it bought and/or inherited, but one big thing they get to celebrate as their own is the Hemi V8. Though the current Gen III Hemi iteration dates back to just after the turn of the millennium, the engine is a staple of the truck (and SUV) industry.It's a good thing they have kept it around, too, since it seems that Ram buyers are very much interested in the V8. More so than buyers of other brands' pickups, too, says Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, who recently went on the record with The Drive to say that 40% of prospective pickup buyers only consider brands that offer a V8.Source: Ram TrucksSource: Ram TrucksAdvertisementAdvertisementAs Motor1 notes, though, Filosa's argument isn't necessarily backed up by hard data. The only available figures show that around 25% of F-150 sales and roughly 50% of Chevrolet Silverado sales are for V8-powered trucks. Remember that Ford has been big on the inline-six EcoBoost engines for well over a decade, while GM is still leaning heavily on the V8s (even despite the issues).Interestingly, the importance of the V8 offering ends once brand preference is checked off. Though buyers care if the brand offers a V8, they might not actually go and buy one. Either way, the fact that Ram buyers want to know they can get a V8 if they want one seems to be driving sales and, in turn, model development. Bring it on.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.