Of Course Dodge Is Bringing Back V8 Muscle Cars — Here’s When
All Hell-cat is about to break loose!
Development of V8-powered versions of the new Dodge Charger is well underway, according to sources familiar with the project.
The Charger launched this year as the all-electric Charger Daytona, which is scheduled to be joined by the ‘Hurricane’ turbocharged straight-six-powered Charger Sixpack later this year. But now it sounds like Dodge is going to need to come up with a new surname for the Charger.
Mopar Insiders reports that Hemi V8-powered Chargers will be ready to launch in late 2026, giving the Hurricane a year to win over fans.
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Dodge has not officially confirmed plans to offer any Charger V8s, but its CEO Matt McAlear told The Drive in February in that recent leadership changes at Stellantis meant that “V8s are no longer a bad word around the company.”
The Charger’s platform isn’t currently configured to accommodate a V8, but the Hurricane is larger in all dimensions. It will also be sold in 420 hp and 550 hp tunes, which are both more powerful, respectively, than the 5.7-liter and 6.4 V8s that were available in the last generation Charger and Challenger.
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Mopar Insiders also reported this week that Stellantis is moving Hemi V8 engine production from Mexico to its engine plant in Dundee, Mich., where it will build the 5.7-liter, 6.4-liter and supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8s along with a possible larger displacement version.
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One of the most iconic engine sizes in Dodge’s history is the 426-cubic-inch Hemi V8, which Mopar currently offers in a crate engine for racing and custom car builds, but a motor that large hasn’t been available in a production car since 1971.