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The history of Dodge has been a story of mergers: from Chrysler Corporation to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to Stellantis. The Amsterdam-headquartered Stellantis is the fifth-largest automaker on the planet; it includes sixteen brands ranging from Peugeot to Maserati to Fiat to Dodge. After its 2021 inception, the corporation announced that all its brands have one decade to prove they can remain competitive into the 21st century. With the clock ticking, Dodge is doing racing to transition away from big-displacement V8 muscle cars.

Dodge is set to delete its V8s

The taillights of a second-generation Dodge Charger muscle car: black with a red stripe.
Classic Dodge Charger | Nathan Mendes via Unsplash

Fans of the storied HEMI V8 may be shocked to hear that Dodge is set to retire this engine configuration forever. The new V8 replacement is the 500-horsepower, twin-turbocharged hurricane I6.

The first Stellantis vehicle available with the all-new engine is the Grand Wagoneer L from Jeep. Dodge has announced that it will only build the current generation of the Charger and Challenger through the end of 2023. The brand has not revealed which internal combustion powertrains will be available in the next Charger and Challenger. That said, Stellantis has revealed that its future American muscle cars will share a chassis with its future AWD SUVs across several brands, which is not engineered for V8s.

See how the new V8-replacement I6 stacks up to the outgoing HEMIs in the table below:

5.7-liter HEMI V8SO “Hurricane” I66.4-liter HEMI V8HO “Hurricane” I6
Displacement5.7 liters (345 cubic inches)3.0 liters (approx. 183 cubic inches)6.4 liters (392 cubic inches)3.0 liters (approx. 183 cubic inches)
Horsepower363-395 horsepower400+ horsepower470-485 horsepower500+ horsepower
Torque394-410 lb-ft450+ lb-ft470-475 lb-ft475+ lb-ft
BoostNaturally-Aspirated22 psiNaturally-Aspirated26 psi

Dodge is pivoting from muscle to ‘eMuscle’

Closeup of the Dodge logo on a classic green muscle car, the chrome of its grille just visible in the foreground.
Classic Dodge car | Dan Gold via Unsplash

In 2021, Dodge teased the outline of an all-electric performance car with the tagline “Performance Made Us Do It.” With Tesla Model S Plaids trouncing Hellcats on the dragstrip, this claim makes perfect sense.

Then in August 2022, Dodge rolled out an all-electric concept car: the Charger Daytona SRT EV. This the first vehicle to feature the 800-volt Dodge Banshee propulsion system. The brand is hoping that “Banshee” with its screaming demon logo, becomes the Hellcat of the electric era.

While the new eMuscle concept is a full battery electric vehicle, it features a range of analog touches. This includes an eRupt multi-speed shift lever and the Fratzog logo of yesteryear.

Dodge is downsizing to the compact market

Classic red Dodge truck parked on the street, a sandstone-colored building visible in the background.
Dodge pickup truck | CKTuristando via Unsplash

Finally, Stellantis announced that Dodge would enter the compact utility vehicle (CUV) market with the Hornet. This SUV is based on the Alfa Romeo Tonale, but Dodge is calling it the “gateway” to muscle.

Dodge’s reasoning is that the Hornet GT is the most powerful, and the quickest, CUV American drivers can get into for under $30k. For the past several years, Dodge has left the compact SUV to its cousins at Jeep and Fiat. This signals a major shift in the brand’s priorites.

Next, find out how the Dodge Hornet got its name or watch the official reveal of the CUV in the video below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.