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It’s the end of an era for muscle car fans, as the parent company of Dodge, Jeep, and Ram calls time on its 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine.
The world’s most powerful mass-produced V8 engine – Dodge’s 6.2-litre supercharged Hemi unit, fitted to ‘Hellcat’ cars – will be axed in 2023, as most Stellantis-owned marques prepare for an all-electric future.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk was the only model variant fitted with the engine offered in Australia – which produced 522kW/868Nm, making it the most powerful SUV on sale – and Drive understands all stock has now sold out.
A spokesperson for the brand told Drive: “This car, this platform, this powertrain as we know it today will be built through 2023. But in 2024, we’re moving on. The new Dodge cars will be electrified.”
Some supercar manufacturers including Koenigsegg and Hennessey have built low-volume V8 engines producing more power than the Hellcat, however these are generally not considered mass-production powertrains.
In the flagship drag-tuned Dodge Challenger SRT Demon (shown at the top of story), the Hemi motor sends 626kW/1043Nm to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
This allows the 0-60mph (97km/h) sprint to be completed in a Formula One-rivalling 2.4 seconds (claimed), on the way to an electronically-limited top speed of 270km/h.
A yet-to-be-named electric muscle car is expected to supersede the range in 2024 (teaser image shown above). You can read about these plans in full by clicking here.
It’s currently unclear if Hellcat badging will be retained for range-topping performance electric vehicles.
He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy.
As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic.
Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets – including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer – since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars.
Read more about William Davis
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