Hardcore Mopar muscle car fans may not need to fret anymore, there’s still hope for a HEMI-powered Dodge Charger, if you all shout hard enough, according to The Drive. Speaking with CEO Matt McAlear, the outlet learned that a V-8-powered eighth-generation Charger may still be a possibility, and it could happen if there’s a business case for it.
This update comes as the all-electric Charger Scat Pack is just beginning to hit dealers. The gas-powered version is slated for arrival later this summer after the company expedited its production due to increased demand. The anticipated internal combustion-powered Charger will be getting the company’s latest 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged Hurricane inline-six.
Don’t Forget The Charger’s STLA Large Platform Is “Multi-Energy”
Ever since Stellantis debuted its latest STLA Large modular platform, the automaker repeatedly touted it as “multi-energy.” Meaning, although it was going to serve as the immediate backbone for the company’s growing future portfolio of electric vehicles, it’s still versatile at the engineering level and able to accommodate internal combustion power.
Such is the case with the new Charger. Although it’s all-electric version is spearheading the model’s launch, the gas version is following afterwards. We already knew it was going to happen with the company’s latest Hurricane straight-six. But what was seemingly not going to happen, at least just a short time ago, was a successor to the HEMI-powered Charger and Challenger. And for many, taking the V-8 away from an American muscle car is like taking away the sun from a summer holiday—you’re left with nothing.
But that may all change, now that Stellantis appointed a new CEO after Carlos Tavares, who reportedly was responsible for killing the HEMI V-8 and making a whole bunch of disruptive changes within the Mopar portfolio. After Tavares left, Dodge confirmed its retention of the V-8 with the Durango and RAM with its pickup trucks.
“This is a multi-energy platform that can accommodate all of that. This is just the first year, and you’ve got four powertrains that outperform every one that they’re replacing, with standard AWD? We’re just getting started. We’re going to have a lot of fun,” McAlear commented in regards to most pressing question of whether the new Charger will get the V-8 now that Tavares is gone.
Previously, Dodge engineers said the Charger wasn’t able to physically accommodate a HEMI V-8. But that seemed like a doctored response as it was asked under Tavares’ reign. Especially given how big the new Charger is—it’s larger than the outgoing Challenger and Charger in almost every dimension. So saying a HEMI won’t fit in the new Charger just seemed like straight-up BS.
“We’re always looking at ways to find best in class performance, to build on performance, and to push the boundaries. We don’t want to stand still at Dodge, and we don’t plan on it,” McAlear continued. “There will be powertrain variations that continue to come. We haven’t even launched the SRT yet, so we still have to get into that. And who knows where we go if the business case makes sense [for a V8] and there’s potential. “one of the things that’s encouraging is that with the change in leadership, you know, V8s are no longer a bad word around the company. But with anything, we still have to be compliant.”
Emissions And Fuel Economy Compliance Are Still Major Factors
Despite the seemingly back-and-forth decision-making with a HEMI V-8-powered Charger, one major factor still isn’t going anywhere: emissions and fuel economy compliance. Regardless of demands and wants of the customers, automakers still have to abide by federal regulations limiting exhaust emissions and fuel economy ratings.
Although the current Trump Administration is in the process of loosening these compliance regulations, automakers are still sticking to their guns and being mindful of future product decisions surrouning these compliance measures.
“We still have to find ways to keep the engines compliant,” McAlear commented. “And just because there’s a change in the administration right now, that’s only a four-year deal, right? So you have to be careful and balance it across the entire portfolio in the long run.”
“It always sounds easier than it is. There are thousands of suppliers, right? And then you have emissions regulations that you always have to update your engines for, and typically that’s done from year to year, because any time you have to update for emissions, it’s just more money you have to put into it.”
Source: The Drive
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