STELLANTIS’ iconic HEMI V8 performance engines are finally set for a return thanks to passionate fans worldwide voicing their disdain for its discontinuation.
However, gearheads in certain states may not be able to get their hands on one right as it returns to the mass manufacturing market.
Multiple Dodge Durango trims will offer HEMI engine options[/caption]
The HEMI engine is a key part of Dodge and Mopar history[/caption]
The HEMI engine’s revival most notably sets up the Durango Hellcat’s comeback[/caption]
Other Dodge models like the Ram 1500 will also feature HEMI engine options[/caption]
The HEMI V8’s return primarily comes via the 2026 Ram 1500, which will offer a HEMI engine option on all but two trims.
This 5.7 liter hemispherical cylinder head V8 engine (hence the name HEMI) will deliver 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, per Stellantis.
Its HEMI engines will also star in the Dodge Durango lineup, with its GT trim receiving the same 5.7-liter engine as the Ram 1500, the R/T receiving the 6.4-liter “Apache” version, and the returning Durango Hellcat receiving the legendary 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8.
Some enthusiasts will be left out of this momentous return thanks to the California Air Resources Board’s emission standards, which 17 other states have fully or partially adopted.
These states are Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, as well as Washington, DC.
It’s unlikely that the higher displacement HEMI V8 engines, nor any of the cars that use them, will be sold in these CARB states due to the organization’s current emission standards.
This is due to the significant resources it would take to get these new HEMI engines in line with the board’s strict standards.
With the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 already meeting the current regulations thanks to its presence in earlier Durango model years sold in the states, there’s no financial incentive to get the others approved.
Thankfully, there is a workaround for this issue on consumers’ parts, but it will require significant patience from CARB state residents.
While the laws do vary from state to state, even California itself allows late-model cars which don’t meet CARB standards to be brought in and registered if they’re purchased as used vehicles with over 7,500 miles on them.
In other words, while CARB state citizens can’t go to a neighboring state’s dealership and drive a new Durango Hellcat off the lot, they can pick one up on the used market as soon as it crosses this mileage threshold.
Stellantis’ HEMI engines are desirable specifically for the hemispherical cylinder heads which give them their name.
By using a hemispherical shape as opposed to a typical wedge one, it allows for greater power by nature of increased compression, and more efficient flow of intake and exhaust gasses thanks to much larger valves than would normally be possible.
However, HEMI engines also have disadvantages such as more complex and costly drivetrains to match this increased power, and added expense via different machining methods and the necessity of upgraded internal components.
Dodge Hornet R/T Plus review
Ben Shimkus, an automotive journalist for The U.S. Sun, test-drove the Hornet. Here are their thoughts:
Pros:
- Exciting driving dynamics: Speedy acceleration and a tight turning radius exude athletic prowess.
- Space: Sizable trunk and ample leg room in the back for adults or children
- High tech: Well-designed infotainment screen with a heavy amount of useful tech – including police warning alarms
- Fun design: Blends Alfa Romeo’s pretty body frames with just the right touch of Dodge-ness. It remains curvy, but muscular.
- Cool seats: The red-stitched seats are exceptionally fun.
Cons:
- Gas intake: The Hornet is less efficient than its road-manner-oriented competitors.
- Noisy: This has to be the loudest battery generator sound I have ever heard on a hybrid.
- Some odd touches: Weirdly placed sunroof and volume knobs take some getting used to.
This revival by Stellantis is representative of the backtracking many mass market manufacturers have done from previously self-imposed electric vehicle fleet goals.
In Stellantis’ case, the Chrysler brand abandoning its goal of an all-EV lineup in April is particularly emblematic of this, especially considering it killed off nearly its entire internal combustion engine lineup in pursuit of this goal.
ALL-ELECTRIC FUTURE LOSES CHARGE
That being said, many companies are still pursuing production of fully electric or hybrid vehicles, and are simply either abandoning previous percentage goals or creating an all-electric lineup.
Ram’s decision earlier this week to prioritize a range-extended electric vehicle version of the Ram 1500 over a fully-electric variant highlights this restrategization.
September also saw Ford’s plans for a fully-electric revival of the Ranchero leak, showing that it is still committed to offering electric options to its customers.
Likewise, brands which are fully electric can feel the walls closing in around them, especially Rivian which is gambling its future on a $5 billion EV plant in Georgia just before federal EV tax credits expire at September’s end.
