Nature appears to be healing, with the recently-maligned V8 refusing to die, based on spy shots and industry chatter out of Detroit.
Spy shots of a 2026 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat seem to confirm that arguably the most legendary engine ever made in the USA is still in production, alive and well. A (likely) pre-production model was spotted recently in ‘Purple Haze’ paint with light cosmetic changes.
Sporting the 530kW V8, iterations of the same engine have been featured in the Charger and Challenger Hellcat, Demon, Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk (WK), and RAM 1500 TRX pickup truck over the years.
Crucially, this means it could be brought back into duty for Jeeps, RAMs (a proper TRX successor?) and even the new Dodge Charger – controversial for launching with electrified power and now the Hurricane inline-six.
While the Hurricane develops up to a whopping 403kW and 707Nm in the local RAM 1500 Limited, it just hasn’t filled the void left by the supercharged 6.2-litre V8 of its predecessor, nor matched its outputs.
Stellantis famously reversed its V8-killing ways after the ouster of Carlos Tavares, with RAM CEO Tim Kuniskis announcing the return of the 5.7-litre HEMI to RAM and its inclusion in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
A successor to the Durango is due, sharing its STLA-Large platform and underpinnings with the 2027 Alfa Romeo Stelvio – a vehicle that is set to soldier on with its screamer of a powerplant, twin-turbo V6, in Quadrifoglio trim.
