Dodge is preparing to bring back one of its most recognizable performance formulas with the return of a HEMI V8-powered Charger expected before the end of the decade. The move signals a major shift for the brand after years of criticism from muscle car enthusiasts who wanted the automaker to continue offering traditional V8 performance.
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The upcoming Charger will reportedly feature Dodge’s supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8, marking the first confirmed indication that the next-generation Charger lineup will once again include the company’s signature engine. The model was among more than 20 future vehicles recently shown by Stellantis to select U.S. media outlets as part of the company’s long-term product plans through 2030.
According to reports from the event, the new Charger SRT Hellcat is expected to produce more than 700 horsepower. While exact figures were not disclosed, the output places the upcoming sedan among the most powerful production muscle cars Dodge has ever built. Other recent Stellantis products using the Hellcat engine, including high-performance Ram trucks, have delivered as much as 777 horsepower, while the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat currently uses a 710-horsepower version of the same supercharged V8.
The Charger shown during the preview reportedly featured an aggressive exterior design with a large hood scoop, a tall rear wing and prominent SRT badging identifying it as part of Dodge’s Street and Racing Technology performance division.
The return of the HEMI-powered Charger comes after the eighth-generation Charger launched in 2024 exclusively with an all-electric powertrain, a decision that disappointed many longtime Dodge fans. The company later introduced the gas-powered Charger Sixpack in late 2025, equipped with a twin-turbo inline-six engine. That model proved significantly more popular than the electric Charger, outselling it by a seven-to-one margin during the first quarter of 2026.
Despite the success of the Sixpack, many enthusiasts continued to push for the return of the HEMI V8, which has become deeply tied to Dodge’s modern muscle car identity since the original 707-horsepower Challenger SRT Hellcat debuted in 2014.
The upcoming Hellcat-powered Charger will not represent the top performance model in Dodge’s future lineup, however. Stellantis also recently teased a separate halo muscle car known as the SRT Copperhead during Investor Day 2026. The two-door performance model features styling inspired by the Charger Daytona, including a dramatic rear wing and aggressive front-end design.
Although Dodge has not released specifications for the SRT Copperhead, the concept includes a hood scoop and large center-mounted exhaust outlets, strongly suggesting it will also use a gasoline-powered engine, potentially an even more powerful version of the Hellcat V8.
https://www.autoblog.com/news/dodge-charger-hellcat-is-coming-back-with-over-700-hp