The Modern HEMI® Muscle Car Era Is Officially Over

Today, Mopar enthusiasts and muscle car aficionados bid a bittersweet adieu to an iconic chapter in the history of modern muscle cars. The Brampton Assembly Plant, nestled just outside Toronto, Ontario, marked the poignant conclusion of an era as it saw the final production day for the Chrysler 300 (LX), Dodge Charger (LD), and Dodge Challenger (LA) — emblematic representatives of the formidable HEMI® muscle car lineage.

Since its inception in 1986 and subsequent acquisition by Chrysler Corporation in 1987, the Brampton facility has been an emblem of automotive innovation and prowess. Over the years, it has birthed an illustrious array of vehicles, evolving from the LH series to the rear-wheel-drive powerhouses that redefined contemporary muscle car culture.

The transition to rear-wheel-drive vehicles in 2004 marked a pivotal juncture as the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum roared onto the scene, setting the stage for the subsequent arrival of the Dodge Charger in 2005. However, it was the 2008 launch of the revered Dodge Challenger SRT8 that rekindled the flames of nostalgia, harking back to the golden age of muscle cars.

Subsequent iterations, such as the 2011 Dodge Charger and Challenger SRT, with their formidable 6.4-liter HEMI® V8 engine, further cemented their status as iconic symbols of power and performance. The Challenger SRT HELLCAT, introduced in 2014, raised the bar with its awe-inspiring 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque, earning its place as the fastest muscle car of its time.

The pinnacle arrived in 2017 with the unveiling of the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, an 840 horsepower marvel boasting the title of the world’s fastest quarter-mile production car. Its supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® Demon V8 engine delivered astonishing performance, solidifying its place in automotive folklore. It wouldn’t be upstaged until this year, when its direct successor — the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 making 1,025 horsepower on E85 fuel — emerged.

However, as the sun sets on the modern HEMI® muscle car era at Brampton Assembly, it marks not an end, but a transition. The assembly plant is set to undergo a comprehensive modernization, embracing an all-new, adaptable architecture to accommodate the company’s electrification plans for the future.

Amidst this transformation, a glimmer of continuity emerges with the revelation that Brampton will welcome the next generation Jeep® Compass, a revered nameplate, onto the STLA Medium architecture in 2025. This signals a new chapter for the plant, underscoring its adaptability and resilience in embracing the evolving automotive landscape.

The final vehicle to roll off the line, a Pitch Black 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, encapsulates the essence of an era characterized by raw power, unbridled performance, and an unwavering legacy. As we bid farewell to nearly two decades of HEMI® V8 rear-wheel-drive muscle cars from the skilled hands of the Brampton Assembly team, we pay tribute to their craftsmanship and dedication.