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Report: Hemi Is (Possibly) Back on the Menu
According to a new report from Mopar Insiders citing unnamed sources close to the matter, Stellantis is preparing to relaunch production of the Hemi V-8 at its Dundee Engine Plant in Michigan this August. There were earlier rumors that only the 5.7-liter version would return, but now it sounds like multiple flavors will be on offer.
That means the popular 6.4-liter “Apache” Hemi—you may know it as the 392 for its displacement in cubic inches—is back on the menu, but so is the 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V-8. (!!!) The only engine not rumored to make a comeback is another version of the 6.4-liter that powers certain versions of Ram’s heavy-duty pickup.
Before the Carlos Tavares-issued execution of the Hemi, the V-8 family was assembled at the Saltillo engine plant in Saltillo, Mexico. That facility has since changed over to handle production of both standard- and high-output versions of the new Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six, and it appears that the plant will continue with those efforts moving forward.
Perhaps the most interesting tidbit from the new report is the rumor that an even larger displacement version of the Hemi might be in the works; perhaps the new gasser will arrive to replace the six-four in the HD pickup lineup.
While former Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis in 2024 ruled out the chances of a V-8 or the Hellcat motor finding its way underneath the hood of the new Charger, perhaps with Tavares out of the picture, those plans are shifting. One can only hope that we’d be lucky enough to get not only the Hemi back in the new Charger but also the Hellcat—and maybe even a mega-displacement version of the engine as well. Were that to happen, you’d have quite the array of choices for powertrain in the new Dodge Charger—all-electric, twin-turbo straight-six, or Hemi. We’re not the betting type, but we think we know which one would be the most popular.
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We’re getting way ahead of ourselves with those prognostications; let’s all sit tight and hope that these rumors are indeed true and that the Hemi V-8 isn’t quite finished yet.
Stevie Wonder could have seen this coming.
I would like to see an updated version of the hemi / hellcat. I do have to say the current cars don’t interest me at all.
I’m guessing that most of the Challenger / Charger twins sold included the 3.6 Pentastar V6, and not a Hemi V8. Continuing to build V8’s is not really going to right the ship. They need better product that doesn’t need a V8 to have some appeal, and it needs to be desirable, useful, well designed and affordable. So some overpowered halo car.
I bet you are right, but I betcha the margins on V8 models were fatter than fat. Considering how razor thin EV margins are for non-Tesla brands (well, last time I checked) having a V8 will really help with profitability at just about any sales volume.
I can believe that optioned V8 models command high margins. I assume they need economies of scale by shipping a lot of lower spec models to amortize costs overall. I rented a Hornet last year and found it pretty un-sporty compared to even a base CR-V, and a lot less roomy, yet higher priced. They need desirable, competitive vehicles that offer the kind of utility people need. I just bought a new Forester, that’s where my money went. I have zero interest in a hemi powered sedan with poor space utilization and lousy outward visibility. I didn’t shop Stellantis because they have nothing I want.
The legendary HEMI name may come back but it’s worthwhile remembering these engines never had and likely never will employ actual hemispherical combustion chambers. They are widely obsolete by production car (emission controlled) standards even though they can be beneficial in racing engines.
I am all for the return of the Hemi if it can help the Stellantis situation. Not many people actually purchase Hemi cars, but they bring people into the showroom.
Regarding Stellantis in general, the Dodge Hornet is just terrible. As a lifelong Mopar customer, I just could not get myself to purchase one. I ended up with a Toyota RAV4 instead.
Along with the return of the Hemi V8 and launch of the new inline dual turbo 6, there’ll likely be a hybrid, and mo money would be on a 4 motor turbo 6. What an absolute terror that car would be. What am I most interested in? A 2 door hellcat powered charger with a manual 6 speed. If you have never driven a car with the factory Hellcat clutch set up, let me tell you, it’s amazing.
Love to see the return of the hemi V8’s. This time offer them in a non suv for those of us in the northern states. Something to go along with my WRX. Looking forward to it!
Don – Actually even the hay day of the Hemi it was already well known that a true hemispherical was not the most efficient design. Of that same era Fords Boss 429 had semi-hemispherical heads which Ford referred to as ” crescent ” shaped and had found worked better. In an issue of Hagerty Drivers Club they describe the initial development of the Porsche 911 six where they too found that same eclipitical shape was more efficient than a true hemispherical back in 64 ( if I’m not mistaken ). Honestly they could probably just put the Hemi badge on the Charger and few buyers would really know the difference.
It depends where they wish to position the brand. Hemi speaks to a lot of older people, but EV is more of a young person’s field. I’ll wager the EV would be faster, certainly off the line, so it becomes a strange decision. Should you put a slower (admittedly fun) V8 in as the halo car, when the EV is meant to fill that role? Is this a stop-gap solution, or are you walking back EV’s? IMO it is this lack of purpose that is damaging the brand. No-one ever said to Toyota put a V6 in the Prius, that will fix it. If they put the hemi in, hurry up and buy one, this will be the last hurrah for the brand.
To save Mopar, just un-plumb that straight six enough that you can see the block with the hood up —
and then lean it over a few degrees. A six is one thing. A Slant Six is…epic.