Hemi V8 Dodge Charger Reportedly In The Works

A fable (potentially) regains its heart

Rumors are swirling that Dodge is readying to reintroduce the Hemi V8 to the Charger lineup successful precocious 2026, marking a imaginable instrumentality to its high-performance roots. Reports from Mopar Insiders suggest that Stellantis engineers are actively moving connected making the classical motor acceptable wrong the redesigned Charger’s platform. However, portion enthusiasts whitethorn beryllium anxious for a instrumentality to old-school muscle, making the alteration won’t beryllium easy.

Early reports of the recently released all-electric Charger Daytona suggest that income are comparatively weak, with dealers slashing prices by arsenic overmuch arsenic $21,000 successful an effort to rouse immoderate enthusiasm for the caller model, CarScoops reported. A instrumentality to a tried-and-true drivetrain mightiness assistance thrust involvement successful the caller procreation Charger, but we’re a agelong mode disconnected from knowing thing authoritative yet.

A multi-powertrain approach

Dodge has been vocal astir offering aggregate powertrain options for the next-generation Charger. The 2024 Charger Daytona debuted arsenic an EV, portion the gas-powered Charger Sixpack, featuring a twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six, volition statesman accumulation successful May.

Performance specs haven't been announced yet, but for reference, the erstwhile 5.7-liter V8 delivered 372 hp, portion the 6.4-liter V8 produced 485 hp. Those figures nary longer basal out, particularly with the twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six expected to connection 420 hp successful 1 variant and up to 550 hp successful another.

So, wherefore bring backmost the Hemi? It could beryllium a strategical determination to appease loyalists who aren’t sold connected electrification oregon the downsized inline-six. Reports bespeak that some the 5.7-liter and 6.4-liter V8s could return, alongside the imaginable for a supercharged 6.2-liter variant, raising speculation astir a caller Hellcat model.

The engineering challenge

Bringing the Hemi backmost isn’t conscionable a substance of plugging an aged motor into a caller chassis. Dodge engineers antecedently told Jalopnik that fitting the V8 would necessitate important modifications, including adjustments to the cradle and firewall. Such changes would mean a large concern from Stellantis — 1 that whitethorn not beryllium guaranteed fixed a question of tariffs and the company's displacement toward electrification.

Despite these hurdles, Stellantis has reportedly resumed Hemi production, with assembly moving to Dundee, Michigan, aboriginal this year. This fuels speculation that the automaker is superior astir bringing V8 powerfulness backmost to the Charger lineup, adjacent if it arrives aft the six-cylinder models deed the streets.

What this means for Dodge’s future

If Dodge does reintroduce the Hemi-powered Charger, it volition apt service arsenic a flagship show exemplary alternatively than a measurement seller. The Charger Daytona EVs and Sixpack models are already positioned to predominate the marketplace successful the adjacent term. However, a V8 revival could cement Dodge’s committedness to its musculus car heritage, adjacent arsenic the manufacture trends toward electrification.

Final thoughts

For now, thing is official, and Dodge remains tight-lipped beyond confirming its “multi-energy” strategy. Enthusiasts volition person to hold until 2026 to spot if the Hemi makes its triumphant instrumentality — oregon if it remains a wishful rumor.