Stellantis Playing Clever Chess Game with EV, Hurricane Charger
By Edward A. Sanchez — Nov. 7, 2023
In a recent episode of The Watt Car EV Podcast, I commented on the news that the next-generation Dodge Charger/Challenger would not necessarily spell the end of internal combustion for Stellantis’ bad-boy brand. Just for the Hemi V8. There’s no question that the end of the line for the modern-day revival of the historic and fondly regarded engine after 20 years is upsetting to some enthusiasts. Admittedly, there’s nothing quite like the burbly, authoritative exhaust note of a cross-plane V8 crank. But faced with ever-tightening emissions and fuel economy standards from the EPA and globally, it’s understandable why the company would lower the curtain on the beloved Hemi.
It may take a little while for enthusiasts to warm up to the idea of the turbocharged, straight-six Hurricane engine replacing the big-inch Hemi, but I have a feeling it won’t take too long. Being a child of the 1980s and ’90s, and first getting into the automotive media scene in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, I remember the semi-mythical status the Toyota 2JZ-GTE had among enthusiasts. Rated at a relatively modest, but still healthy for its day 320 hp and 315 lb-ft of torque, thanks to its sturdy iron block, tuners discovered that the engine was capable of double or triple that output with some modifications, leading to the building of drag cars and street performance cars that offered mind-warping power and acceleration. The only other car that came close in status was the unicorn Nissan Skyline R32 and R33, which were gray-market imported into the U.S. in limited quantities, until the EPA began to crack down on the 25-year moratorium for gray-market imports.
The high-output version of the Hurricane is rated at 510 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Even in that 6,000+ pound behemoth, the engine is capable of sprinting the overstuffed SUV from 0-60 in less than 5 seconds. That’s impressive performance no matter how you slice it. Now imagine cutting 1,500-2,000 pounds from that equation. You’re looking at 0-60 times in the mid-high 3s and quarter-mile times in the 11s or high 10s, right off the showroom floor. With a little aftermarket massaging, outputs in the 600-700+ hp range are not inconceivable. And that’s before factoring in the possibility of hybrid performance enhancement in the form of ZF’s fourth-generation 8HP 8-speed transmission with a built-in electric motor adding potentially another 215 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. You’re looking at a total output of 800+ hp and total system torque approaching 1,000 lb-ft.
Stellantis is replacing the Hemi with an inline-6, twin-turbo engine, while also (eventually) offering electric versions of certain vehicles. This combination plays on both sides of the fence, but might be a winning formula.
In parallel, Dodge will also unveil the production version of the Charger Daytona with a fully battery electric 800V architecture, promising output and performance surpassing that of the modern-day legend Challenger Demon and Redeye. In a few years, I expect we’ll see some grudge match drag races between Hurricane and EV Chargers.
Meanwhile, Stellantis is laughing all the way to the bank, simultaneously catering to fans of ICE performance, while offering a compelling performance option for those who have embraced the electrified future.
As I’ve noted many times on this blog an in the podcast, I’m all-in on a fully electric future. But I readily admit the limitations of current EV technologies, and how an EV is not suitable for everyone. I have even personally dissuaded friends and family from buying full battery electric EVs in favor of PHEVs, to which they’ve been thankful for the advice and recommendation.
Stellantis (and its predecessor corporate parents FCA and DaimlerChrysler) have carefully cultivated Dodge’s bad boy image over the last 15 years. While loathed by some, there’s little arguing the success of the efforts, with the Challenger out-selling the Mustang many months and quarters, and the decade-plus old coupe out-living the revived Camaro. Even for family guys, the Charger sedan, and performance variants of the Durango SUV, have offered fun for nearly every use case and budget, ranging from the comparatively tame (but still capable) 5.7L Hemi, all the way up to the fire-breathing Hellcat supercharged V8s.
While nostalgia and fondness for the Hemi will undoubtedly remain, I foresee an eager audience for the Hurricane, as well as for the fully electric Charger. Assuming Stellantis can maintain competitive margins, this is a win-win for the company as well as enthusiasts. The Hemi is dead, long live the Hurricane.
