Stellantis Executives are Giving the People What They Want
For the last few years there has been much debate over the loss of the popular Hemi engine, the Hurricane engine filling in as its replacement, and of course, the electric vehicles that were not too popular with Dodge fans and have since been discontinued. Luckily, Tim Kuniskis came out of retirement in December 2024 to resume his role as CEO of Ram Trucks—a strategic move in part to address the Hemi V-8 controversy.
But what does the future of these vehicles hold? Is the V-8 making a full blown comeback into the trucks and muscle cars? Are the EVs actually dead?
The Jeff D’Ambrosio team is going to check it out.
The Hurricane Engine
The Stellantis Hurricane GME-T6 is a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six first introduced in premium Jeep models and has now made its way into Ram and Dodge vehicles. Built with advanced engineering, it features a deep-skirt aluminum block, forged internals, twin low-inertia turbos, plasma-spray bore coating, high-pressure direct injection, and a dedicated charge-cooler circuit.
It delivers up to 15 % better fuel efficiency than older, larger engines while still producing impressive performance. In the 2025 Ram 1500, the Hurricane comes in two configurations:
- Standard Output (SO): ~420 horsepower and 469 lb-ft of torque
- High Output (HO): ~540 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque
What Is the Hemi V-8?
The Hemi V-8 is one of the most famous American engines ever built, loved for its hemispherical combustion chamber design, classic muscle-car rumble, and raw performance. Unfortunately, it was discontinued for a short amount of time and its fans did not enjoy it!
The Hemi lineup will include:
- 5.7 L Hemi: ~395 horsepower, 410 lb-ft of torque
- 6.4 L “Apache”/392: ~475 horsepower, 470 lb-ft of torque
- Supercharged 6.2 L Hellcat: ~700+ horsepower, ~650 lb-ft of torque
Production of these engines will resume in August 2025, making them available in select 2026 Dodge and Ram models.
Head-to-Head Engine Comparison
| Spec | Hurricane SO (3.0 L I6) | Hurricane HO (3.0 L I6) | Hemi 5.7 L V-8 | Hemi 6.4 L / Hellcat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | ~420 | ~540 | ~395 | ~475 / ~700+ |
| Torque | ~469 lb-ft | ~521 lb-ft | ~410 lb-ft | ~470 / ~650 |
| Fuel Economy (Highway) | ~25 MPG | ~21 MPG | ~23 MPG | Lower |
| Towing Capacity (Ram 1500) | ~11,550 lb | ~10,740 lb | ~12,750 lb | Likely higher |
| Engine Layout | Inline-6, twin-turbo | Inline-6, twin-turbo | Naturally aspirated V-8 | Naturally aspirated / Supercharged V-8 |
| Driving Feel | Smooth, modern, efficient | Explosive, refined | Classic muscle rumble | Extreme performance & sound |
Key Takeaways:
- Even the base Hurricane surpasses the 5.7 L Hemi in both horsepower and torque.
- The High Output Hurricane nearly matches or exceeds the naturally aspirated 6.4 L Hemi while providing better fuel efficiency.
- The Hemi still edges out slightly in towing capacity and delivers that unmistakable V-8 sound that many enthusiasts prefer.
The Return of the Hemi
After initially planning to phase out the Hemi, Stellantis reversed course due to overwhelming customer demand. The Hemi V-8 will return for the 2026 Ram 1500, expected to account for 25–40 % of sales.
The decision comes after record pre-orders—over 10,000 Ram 1500 trucks with the 5.7 L Hemi were reserved within the first 24 hours of announcement. The engine will also be featured in the 2026 Dodge Durango, which will now be V-8 only, offering the 5.7 L in the GT trim, the 6.4 L in the R/T, and the supercharged Hellcat V-8 in the SRT Hellcat model with Jailbreak personalization options.
The Ram TRX is also anticipated to return, likely retaining the Hellcat’s supercharged V-8 instead of the Ram RHO with 6 cylinders; we hope to see it in the near future. Dodge has hinted that the Charger SixPack’s STLA Large platform could potentially accommodate a V-8 in the future.
Dodge’s EV Charger Ambition and Setback
Dodge introduced the all-electric Charger Daytona with bold claims, including the “Banshee” EV powertrain and Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust sound system to simulate muscle-car audio. The goal was to merge EV efficiency with Dodge’s performance DNA.
However, sales were disappointing, with the Charger Daytona moving only a fraction of the units compared to previous gas-powered Charger sales. Consumer feedback showed that while the technology was interesting, many muscle-car buyers still wanted the sound, feel, and experience of a real combustion engine.
In response, Dodge fast-tracked the gas-powered Charger SixPack, powered by the Hurricane I-6, to meet customer demand.
Wrap Up
Dodge and Ram are now offering the best of both worlds:
- Hurricane I-6 for those who want cutting-edge technology, excellent efficiency, and modern performance.
- Hemi V-8 for drivers who value tradition, sound, and raw muscle.
The EV Charger may have stumbled, but the revival of the Hemi shows that Dodge understands its core audience—those who still want the roar of a real engine under the hood.
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