The 2025 Ford Mustang GT is in lonely company as the only American V8 muscle car currently on sale, with the Chevrolet Camaro going the way of the dino with no immediate replacement and the Dodge Charger ditching ICE for a model year to introduce the world’s first electric-powered muscle car. The last part features a major caveat regarding the new Dodge Charger, which could return to V8 power as early as next year, according to the latest reports.
The V8 Charger Could Return As Early As Next Year
MoparInsiders now reports (with no confirmed sourcing, it has to be said) that Dodge has green-lit a return of the Hemi V8 engine to the next-gen Dodge Charger lineup. It has been recently reported that Stellantis, the parent company of Dodge and others including Jeep and Ram, was planning to restart Hemi production in Michigan later this year.
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The report indicates a late-2026 introduction of the new V8 muscle car from Dodge, which aligns with comments from Dodge CEO Matt McAlear reported by The Drive last month indicating any V8 retrofit for the next-gen Charger would likely take anywhere from 1 to 2 years.
The Hurricane-Powered Charger Is Arriving Earlier Than Expected
Those who are curious about non-EV and non-Hemi Chargers will be glad to hear that MoparInsiders is also reporting the new twin-turbo Hurricane six-cylinder gas engine implementation into the Charger is moving up its schedule to May of this year, dubbed the Charger Sixpack. The four-door Sixpack model is expected to produce 420 hp, which is 50 hp more than the old Charger RT sedan it sort-of replaces. A two-door Charger Sixpack will also be offered with a whopping 550 hp on deck, which is more than even the old Scat Pack models of the previous generation.
All models currently come with standard all-wheel drive, EV and ICE, but it’s unclear if the now-reported future Hemi vehicles will also stick with just all-wheel drive. It seems likely at this point, but we could see room for special editions or modes that limit traction and send more power, if not all of it, to the rear axle for a bit of fun.
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A Hemi return is expected to come to the Ram brand first on the 1500 pickup, and it will likely first hit Dodge in the extended life of the current Dodge Durango (which funnily has already had multiple final Hemi editions that even resulted in owner lawsuits). Engine production is expected to move from its old location in Mexico, where it’s been shut down for over a year now, to Michigan. Fitting the Hemi back into the next-gen Charger wasn’t in the original plan, but it’s expected to quickly follow the truck and SUV roll-out by the 2027 model year.
Source: MoparInsiders
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