Over the last years or so, Stellantis has been phasing out the Hemi engine from various models, making it darn near extinct. However, the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 might be saved at the last minute from oblivion. When SEMA 2024 opened on November 5th, a Hemi-powered Ram 2500 Power Wagon concept was unleashed, hinting that the Hemi might live on.
Killing the Hemi, not to mention the Charger, Challenger, and Chrysler 300, might have turned out to be one of the biggest automotive blunders of the 21st century. Maybe Stellantis thinks it can reverse wilting sales that resulted from culling the coolest parts of the company. As cool as the new Charger is, in ICE or EV form, it’s just not as slick without a Hemi.
Aaaaah, the good old days. The Hemi’s tooling was paid for long ago, each elephant powered car was a cash cow for Stellantis.
Hemi engines once oozed brand identity for Dodge and Ram, but they are absent in the not only Dodge Charger, but also the new Ram 1500, and recent versions of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wagoneer. The cool but underwhelming Hurricane Six is more than capable of heavy-duty power but is a tad ho-hum. Despite this, the Hemi hangs on in a few models like the Durango and Wrangler 392 “Final Edition.”
Stellantis hints at the elephant’s survival with the Ram 2500 Power Wagon concept, which features a 6.4-liter Hemi V8. This concept, based on the facelifted heavy-duty pickup, previews a production model debuting later this year. The current model’s Hemi V8 produces 410 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque, suggesting the powertrain will continue in the facelifted pickup. We’ll know after the first of the year.
Ram 2500 Power Wagon Concept
Ram hasn’t said much about the Hemi, but the initial focus largely concerns the “improved” Cummins turbodiesel engine. However, with the concept featuring a 6.4-liter V8, it appears the powertrain might continue to be offered in the refreshed model.
High-performance ICE cars are also almost a thing of the past with only the Corvette, the Mustang, and the Cadillac CT5 Blackwing bringing up the ranks. We’d love to see a Hemi in the new Charger, but we think that’s a crapshoot at this time. So we will embrace a truck as we’d rather have the old Hemi V8 than not.
