Despite ending production and Stellantis models such as the Ram 1500 shifting to the Hurricane inline-6, more and more rumors suggest that the Hemi V8 is returning. The latest rumor says the world won’t have long to wait. MoparInsiders received information that production of the V8s will restart this August at the Dundee Engine Plant in Dundee, Michigan, roughly halfway between Detroit and Toledo, Ohio.
Dodge
Like many automakers, Dodge evolved from being a machine shop that supplied parts and assemblies in the early 1900s to a fully-fledged automaker. The Dodge brothers started building cars in 1914 under the ‘Dodge Brothers’ brand – the company was sold to Chrysler in 1928, originally producing trucks, full-sized passenger cars and compact cars. These days, the brand is known for performance cars like the iconic Charger and Challenger, sold under the Stellantis banner.
- Founded
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December 14, 1900
- Founder
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John Francis Dodge & Horace Elgin Dodge
- Headquarters
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Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.A
- Owned By
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Stellantis North America
- Current CEO
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Carlos Tavares
The Weird Roundabout Route To The Hemi Revival
Under Carlos Tavares, the Hemi V8 was absolutely destined to disappear. Production had actually ended at the engine factory in Mexico, where the Hurricane is now built. The Hemi-powered products remaining have been using whatever stock had accumulated from before production ended. These would include the Dodge Durango R/T’s 5.7-liter V8, Durango SRT Hellcat’s supercharged 6.2-liter V8, and the Ram HD’s 6.4-liter V8, all of which remain on-sale today.
Now that Tavares is gone, the Hemi’s fortunes have changed. Tim Kuniskis, the former head of Dodge who returned to head Ram after Tavares’ departure, has already hinted at interest in keeping the Hemi around and bringing it back for some models such as the Ram 1500. He did note that there are some obstacles that would delay any return. Obviously, production would be one, but he noted that the revised versions of the Ram weren’t designed with the Hemi in mind. Plus, the Ram 1500 Classic is on the way out, so that won’t be around to accept the engine sooner.
Related
LEAKED: Upcoming Stellantis Releases In America, Including Hemi V8’s Return
Looks like Tim Kuniskis’ return at the helm spells good news for fans of Ram, Jeep, Dodge, and Chrysler.
Previous reports have said that the full Hemi line-up will return. That would include the engines we’ve already mentioned, plus the 6.4-liter engine used in naturally aspirated SRT models. Other returning V8 models rumored aside from the Ram 1500 have included the Wrangler Rubicon 392 and the Ram 1500 TRX. We would think that supplying the Durango and Ram HD with engines would be the first order of business, though rumors also suggest that the current Durango may not last past this year. Naturally, there’s also the question of whether the new Chargers could get V8s again. They’ll be getting Hurricane six-cylinder engines, so they can handle internal combustion engines. As new as the platform is, though, we’re betting some significant alterations would be required to make it accept the old engines.
The Other Stuff Dundee Builds
The funny thing about the Dundee Engine Plant is that it has historically built small engines. The factory opened in 2004, and it was a joint venture between Chrysler, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai. For Chrysler, it built four-cylinder engines for the Dodge Caliber and its platform-mates. It has since built Fiat-Chrysler engines such as the turbocharged 1.4-liter and naturally aspirated 2.4-liter engines for the Dodge Dart, Jeep Renegade, and others. It also briefly built Pentastar V6s. It was recently retooled to produce turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines, none of which seem to be used in US-market vehicles. Last year, it started tooling up for battery tray assembly for SLTA Frame vehicles such as the Ram 1500 REV and Ramcharger, as well as structural components for STLA Large vehicles such as the Dodge Charger.
Source: MoparInsiders
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