An article came out a few days ago hinting at the possibility of a Hurricane-6 with around 750hp and now it's becoming more evident that the return of the V8 engine is at hand. While a V8 may fit in a modified version of the new Charger, the question is, will it be worth it? While I don't think it would be, I have a possible theory on what a Dodge lineup could look like and how Stellantis could incorporate the V8 back into the mix.
I can almost guarantee this next V8 is NOT going to be a pushrod V8 along with the fact that it will more than likely be a twin turbo setup with small displacement and a hybrid version of the 880RE 8-Speed Gen-4 ZF transmission. The engine more than likely won't have more that 5.2L putting it between the 5.0L Coyote and the 5.5L GM DOHC engine in the ZR1, which I feel this next V8 car is going to benchmark in some ways. This powertrain is going to incorporate the integrated exhaust manifold in the head and possibly integrating the turbine housing with the head which was a design Stellantis was already working on to begin with, which could possibly save room under the hood or wherever this engine would sit. Now let's say this new "Hurricane-8" 5.2L engine by itself has enough to match the 760hp 5.2L Supercharged V8 of the last GT500, we know the Gen-4 ZF hybrid can produce 215hp so you're looking at a twin turbo V8 hybrid that produces around 975hp in street tune. Add a bit of that Demon-170 tuning magic and you're well over 1,000hp. That's all well and good but it's clear that this Charger was not meant for a V8 and personally I don't feel like a V8 fits the character of this car. Now I'm not saying that I wouldn't love to see the 750hp Hurricane-6 get mated to a Gen-4 Hybrid transmission and get some of that kind of Demon-170 tuning straight from Direct Connection for the Charger, but as for the V8, there are other things that I feel may be coming that would better suit a potential Hurricane-8. One, the return of the Viper, two, the Coronet, three, the return of the Ram 1500 TRX, four, the Return of the Ram 1500 SRT and five, a STLA: Frame Durango SRT8 & Durango Ramcharger build to fill the niche of the full-size performance SUV from Dodge. The Viper needs to return to the Dodge brand as a competitor to the Corvette, and with two trims, the 760hp twin turbo Hurricane-8 S/O Viper R/T and the 975hp/1,000hp+ capable Viper T/A, Dodge once again can reclaim that brutish American Sports car spot that the viper had. While the Coronet would not be the car to compete with the Mustang (because honestly, who cares about the Mustang at this point) The Coronet would actually more take the place of what the Challenger was as that hard performance coupe, but just a bit better. The base engine could be a 550hp Hurricane-6 H/O with the 760hp Hurricane-8 S/O Coronet R/T and the 975hp Hurricane-8 H/O SRT Super Bee at the top of the food chain. This car wouldn't have the Charger's fastback/hatchback setup, instead it would be a hard roof coupe but still big enough to have space in the back for two adults and a decent sized trunk. A 760hp Ram TRX built to trample the Raptor R needs no explanation and a 975hp Ram SRT8 street performance truck really doesn't need an explanation as it would bring back the days of the SRT10 Ram performance truck. A full size Durango with the same Durango attitude in a 900hp SUV again needs no explanation other than it's Dodge and yes, having a 720hp version of it as a bad@$$ off-roader SUV makes sense being that it's a Dodge. Sure there would be lesser versions of it with the Hurricane-6 powertrains Durango Ramcharger Rebel, Durango Ramcharger RHO and Durango Ramcharger TRX, but it makes sense for the Durango to return to it's body on frame roots. Especially if the Dodge lineup includes an STLA: Large Stealth SUV based on the new Wagoneer S with Hurricane-6 powertrains, a Gen-2 Hornet SUV on the STLA Medium platform with a hybrid powertrain based around the 2.0L Hurricane-4 EVO, especially if the engine itself makes anywhere from 305-315hp along with a Dart GLH sedan on the STLA Medium platform with the same kind of powertrain. Somewhere in here the next-gen Dakota midsize truck needs to fit in with the Hurricane-4 EVO and Hurricane-6 powertrains. This to me makes more sense than trying to reinvent this current Charger, which is fine the way it is.
Taking that approach still allows for compliance in the Mopar umbrella without taking away excitement and keeping the V8 relevant. Still leaving room for Jeep to be Jeep with the Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Wrangler Unlimited and the the Jeep Gladiator with 4Xe and Hurricane-6 S/O powertrains, it let's Ram have it's trucks and Chrysler to move forward into the luxury realm with hybrids and EVs.
moparinsiders.com
