For a while, it seemed like the Hemi V8 was headed for extinction under former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. But with leadership changes at Stellantis, the legendary bent-eight is making a comeback.
According to Mopar Insiders, Stellantis is set to resume production of all three Hemi V8 engines – the 5.7-litre, 6.4-litre ‘Apache’, and the supercharged 6.2-litre ‘Hellcat’ – at its Dundee Engine Plant in Michigan from August. Previously, Hemi V8s were built at the Saltillo North Engine Plant in Mexico, but Stellantis had begun phasing them out in favor of its new twin-turbocharged ‘Hurricane’ inline six-cylinder engines.
A Hemi Revival for Ram and Dodge
it has already been reported that the Ram 1500 would regain V8 power, but now there’s even bigger news: Dodge engineers are working to bring the V8 back to the Charger. According to the report, the Charger V8 is set to launch in late 2026. In the meantime, Dodge will fast-track production of the twin-turbo inline-six-powered Charger Sixpack, expected to arrive in May.
The Charger Sixpack sedan is rumored to feature the Standard Output tune producing 313kW, while the coupe will get the High Output version delivering a massive 410kW. Torque figures for other Hurricane-equipped models suggest that the Sixpack sedan could offer 635Nm, with the coupe pushing up to 707Nm.
How Does the Sixpack Compare?
While the new inline-six Sixpack won’t have the classic V8 rumble, its power figures outperform many older Hemi variants. The Standard Output version surpasses the old 5.7-litre Hemi (276kW/536Nm), while the High Output tune even outmuscles the 6.4-litre (362kW/644Nm). However, it still falls short of the mighty Hellcat models, which previously pumped out up to 594kW and 959Nm.
Likewise, the electric Charger Daytona, with up to 470kW and 850Nm in standard form, can deliver even more when using PowerShot or Drag modes.
A New Era for Dodge Performance
Dodge CEO Matt McAlear recently spoke about the brand’s long history of offering multiple engine options, highlighting the variety of powertrains available in previous Charger, Challenger, and Magnum models. He emphasized that the new STLA Large platform is designed for versatility and performance.
“But one of the things that’s encouraging is that with the change in leadership, you know, V8s are no longer a bad word around the company. But with anything, we still have to be compliant,” McAlear stated.
It looks like Stellantis isn’t just bringing back the Hemi V8 – they’re setting the stage for even more high-performance options in the years to come. For muscle car purists and Ram truck fans, this is a victory worth celebrating!
