Key highlights
- The reported Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat could revive the supercharged V8 that powered its predecessor.
- The previous-generation Hellcat produced 527kW and 881Nm in standard tune.
- Stellantis has not confirmed the reports, and Australian availability remains unannounced.
Dodge could be preparing to bring its supercharged Hemi V8 back to the Charger, with a new SRT Hellcat reportedly due to enter production in late 2027.
The report, published by Automotive News in October 2026, points to a return of the 6.2-litre supercharged V8 that powered the previous-generation Charger sedan and Challenger coupe. However, the American carmaker has not confirmed the details, describing the claims as speculation and declining to comment on its future product plans.
If the report proves accurate, the move would mark a significant change in direction for a model that launched in its current generation without a V8 option.
Australian pricing and availability have not been announced, and there is no confirmation that the new Hellcat will be offered locally.
Read more: This Aussie 996 Porsche hides a front-mounted LS V8
Dodge Charger Hellcat could bring back the V8
The previous-generation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat used a supercharged 6.2-litre Hemi V8 producing 527kW and 881Nm in standard form. That combination made it one of the more powerful factory muscle sedans of its era.
The proposed successor is expected to use a version of the same engine, although its final specifications have not been confirmed. It is also too early to say whether the new model will match its predecessor’s output or deliver more power.
The reported production target is around 12,000 Charger Hellcats annually. That would be a substantial increase over the current model’s sales, although the figure remains unconfirmed.
The timing also suggests the V8-powered version would arrive well after the current-generation Charger went on sale in early 2025.
Why Dodge is reconsidering the V8
The latest Dodge Charger initially launched with electric powertrains under the Daytona nameplate. Buyers could choose between versions producing 370kW and 548Nm or 500kW and 850Nm.
Dodge subsequently introduced petrol-powered Sixpack variants using a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged Hurricane inline-six engine. The standard-output version produces 313kW and 635Nm, while the high-output version delivers up to 447kW and 720Nm.
Despite those outputs, neither configuration offers the traditional V8 character associated with the Hellcat badge.
The reported return of the eight-cylinder engine follows a period in which Stellantis shifted its performance-car strategy towards six-cylinder engines and electrification. At its May 2026 Investor Day, the company confirmed it was developing an SRT variant for the Charger range, but it did not publicly confirm that this would be a V8-powered Hellcat.
Earlier in 2026, SRT head Tim Kuniskis also indicated that a V8-powered Charger would more likely use the Hellcat engine than a less powerful 5.7-litre Hemi. That comment provides some context for the latest report, but it is not confirmation of the production model.
Can the Hellcat revive Charger sales?
The potential return comes as Dodge works to build demand for the redesigned Charger range.
According to sales figures cited in the October 2026 report, Dodge sold 5,165 Chargers in the US during 2025. Sales reached 8,029 during the first nine months of 2026, with the introduction of petrol-powered Sixpack models helping broaden the range beyond electric variants.
Those figures remain well below the nameplate’s previous peak. The modern Charger sedan recorded 96,936 sales in 2019, while the closely related Challenger coupe reached 66,716 sales in 2018.
A V8-powered flagship could help attract enthusiasts who have been reluctant to move to electric power or a six-cylinder engine. However, whether it can materially lift sales will depend on its price, performance and availability.
Will the Dodge Charger Hellcat come to Australia?
For Australian muscle-car enthusiasts, the bigger question is whether the reported Hellcat will reach local showrooms.
The return of a supercharged V8 would offer a different proposition from the electric Daytona and twin-turbo six-cylinder versions. However, the latest report concerns planned US production, not an Australian launch.
As of October 2026, Dodge has not confirmed Australian pricing, specifications or availability for the reported Charger SRT Hellcat. Prospective buyers should therefore treat a local arrival as unconfirmed rather than assume the model will be sold here.
For now, the V8’s return remains a promising possibility rather than an official product announcement. If production does begin in late 2027 as reported, more concrete details about the engine, performance and market availability should emerge closer to launch.
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