Everything we know about the V-8 muscle car

There’s a very good chance that Dodge will shove the V-8 back into the Charger’s engine bay. The brand’s efforts to make the electric Daytona the ultimate offering haven’t resonated with buyers, and now that Stellantis has a new CEO, Dodge and other American brands have more freedom to decide their fate.

It is unclear whether dodge Ram follows up on reviving the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, or if the muscle car maker has other ideas. Earlier this year, when Dodge CEO Matt McAleer was asked during a press conference if a Hellcat engine would fit in the new truck, he said, “Don’t be surprised if it does.”

While Dodge has not officially confirmed the presence of a V-8 engine freighterThere have been a lot of hints surrounding the engine’s return. When Ram announced the 1500 Hemi engine, brand CEO Tim Kuniskis said he wanted it Back to the NASCAR Cup SeriesBut Ram doesn’t have a car he can campaign. Dodge does, though.

There’s a lot we don’t know about the V-8-powered Charger, but it seems likely that one is in the works. What form it might take remains a mystery, but here’s everything we know about the Hemi Charger so far.

What will we call it Dodge?

With the new generation of Charger, Dodge reserved the name Scat Pack and R/T for the six-cylinder model, and calls the electric car “Scat Pack” and R/T. Daytona. If Dodge decides to put a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 in the car, it could end up being the less powerful version of the car, believe it or not. However, the name SXT – the entry-level model of the previous generation – doesn’t really fit here.

Dodge has used a variety of trims throughout the model’s life, and perhaps we’ll see the return of the SRT8 or Super Bee, although the latter may be too special for the regular Jane V-8 offering. The Banshee name became available recently, after Dodge canceled its final electric car, but that seems unlikely. But what fans really want to see is the return of the Hellcat name. We wouldn’t be shocked if that happened.

What will it look like?

The V-8-powered Charger will likely adopt the Charger Sixpack’s front design, which features a traditional grille and hood compared to the Daytona’s aerodynamic R-Wing setup. Our render shows the coupe with a unique bumper designed for maximum cooling.

At the back, it features a large diffuser, a unique rear bumper, and two massive circular tailpipes; It all sounds like an extreme version of something you’d see in an SRT model. Dodge won’t have to do much to differentiate the Charger V-8 from a Sixpack or Daytona.

What will power it?

While McAleer said A Hellcat engine would fitwhich is a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, is likely not ready for the new supercharger yet. When Stellantis rehired Tim Kuniskis to re-lead the Ram, he got to work Revived 5.7-liter V-8 engine For the truck brand.

The automaker had never designed a Hemi engine for Stellantis’ big STLA platform, so Kuniskis hired former SRT chief engineer Darryl Smith to lead the team to accomplish the task. At the time, Kuniskis said Smith’s hiring “meant nothing” or “everything.”

So, if Dodge is going to return the V-8 to the Charger, the 5.7-liter engine seems like the most likely choice. It’s already compatible with the platform, but if it was the same engine, it would produce 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque out of the box

The base Charger R/T Sixpack generates 420 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque from its twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine. The high-performance version produces 550 horsepower, while the electric car delivers up to 670 horsepower. If/when the V-8 returns, we expect a high-output version of this engine as well.

How much will it cost?

the Dodge Charger Sixpack R/T It starts at $51,990 for the coupe. If Ram’s Hemi upgrade is any indication, the 5.7-liter V-8 could cost an extra $1,200, but Dodge may limit the availability of the optional engine to specific, more expensive models. Pricing for the four-door Charger Sixpack R/T starts at $53,990.

Who knows, maybe Dodge will make the V-8 the base offering, which would be a wild turn of events.

When will it premiere?

Dodge hasn’t even confirmed the new V-8 supercharger, so it may never be implemented. But this seems doubtful. When McAleer said we shouldn’t be surprised if a Hellcat engine was a fit, he added, “It’s no secret that we’re transitioning completely to ICE production now,” which we imagine means we’ll eventually see a V-8.

This may eventually include the hotter SRT models, but maybe we’ll see that new Hurricane 4 Turbo In the charger too. Combustion engines come in all shapes and sizes, and Stellantis has plenty of new engines on the way.