Stellantis is Killing Me, But Thank God the HEMI Isn’t Dead

I Called It!

According to MoparInsiders, word has officially dropped that Stellantis plans to reignite the Hemi V8 engine production in August 2025 at the Dundee Engine Plant (DEP) in Michigan. Since 2023, I’ve been saying and predicting Dodge’s eight-cylinder cash cow would not be dead for long, repeating myself like a broken record with each last call and special edition Hemi V8 announcement. However, I did not expect its hiatus to be this brief.

Hell, I drove the “Final Edition” Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 a few months ago and the 20th Anniversary Dodge Durango RT in January.

The Hemi Comeback 2025

MoparInsiders’ report states that Stellantis is bringing back the entire HEMI V8 family, including the 5.7-liter Hemi, the 6.4-liter 392 Apache, and the supercharger-howling 6.2-liter Hellcat. Moreover, rumors of a new “big displacement” engine are also in the works, which is no surprise considering it’s a golden opportunity to drop an H-bomb on the competition.

Moreover, the Dodge Charger’s engine bay could also be reunited with its eight-piston heart.

While many are rejoicing over the news of the Hemi comeback, I suspect those who threw down a 401k worth of cash on a “Last Call” or “Final Edition” model are probably gritting their teeth and looking to unload their future collector’s item on Bring a Trailer before it’s too late.

And yet, amidst all this fantastic news, I can’t help but feel a growing frustration for Stellantis. It’s killing me emotionally.

Why Stellantis is Killing Me

What really grinds my gears about all of this is the emotional turmoil Stellantis has put me through over the last three years.

I’m a diehard Mopar fan, I went through the five stages of grief to accept what I thought would be several years of a Hemi-less future in order to uphold the oath of Mopar or No Car.

Finding acceptance meant taking a mature look at the all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona EV from my first initial shock of blasphemy to fully embracing its 670 horsepower, instant-torque performance, and the turbocharged Hurricane straight-six variant.

But now that the HEMI is making a comeback, I sort of feel foolish for shedding a tear over the “end of an era” marathon we all collectively went through last year. It’s like watching a season of television or a movie franchise, getting emotionally invested in a character, watching said character killed off in a climactic scene, only to have them return in the following season/sequel under some lazy-written excuse motivated by marketing.

It makes the emotional journey a total waste of time.

Granted, I understand this situation is more about damage control and keeping its profitable fan base happy, so they come back to the dealerships, but still.

These last few years of flip-flopping are the result of poor decision making by suits in high places which put thousands of employees in an awkward and difficult position. I’ll invest my assumptions and trust that this announcement is a new phase for the company on a better path.

An Unbiased Review of the Dodge Charger EV

I can’t wait to experience the Dodge Charger EV for myself and not be swayed by what other so-called automotive influencers have said about them.

A lot of the negative comments I’ve read on posts, videos, etc., have been as original as proclaiming it’s not the heat; it’s the humidity. Meanwhile, I’ve seen many YouTube thumbnails proclaiming the car in a negative light for the sake of views.

Remember, folks, we live in an age where bad news gets more attention than good, and influencers’ livelihoods depend on getting the most views possible at the expense of integrity and authenticity while hiding behind the paper shield of doing it for the sake of entertainment.

It’s an unusually impatient time, and success is measured by unreasonable factors. Thanks to overzealous influencers and their easily amused following, a product is often considered a success or failure before it is even released to the consumer.

A movie is considered a flop if it doesn’t make a billion dollars in its first opening weekend, and a TV show isn’t considered quality programming if its content isn’t used to produce viral memes.

Whether a product is good or bad should be left up to the consumer, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult for them to form their own thoughts when they’ve been bombarded by the financially motivated opinions of the content creators they follow.

Side note: Those who mock the Hurricane straight six engines for not being a “true muscle car” need to do a hard Google search on what their beloved Charger and Challenger models looked like during the 1980s. Back when they both marketed as subcompact hatchbacks and rebadged Mitsubishis. History matters! It provides context.

My Promise to You

When I get the chance to road test either the Dodge Charger Daytona EV or Hurricane Six Pack, I will conduct an unbiased review based on simple criteria:

• Is it comfortable?

• Does it feel fast?

• Do I feel compelled to look back and admire it when I walk away from it?

• Does it let me drive how I want to drive it?

Who Killed the HEMI? Carlos Tavares

So, who started all of this? Who’s to blame? Apparently, the former CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares.

According to Car and Driver, Tavares showed “little understanding” of the North American market, which is surprising considering Tavares isn’t just a business degree in a suit. He’s a legit car guy with a collection of desirable rides and years of experience in motorsport, managing his own racing team, Clementeam Racing.

Maybe not spending enough time in the US and observing our love for the V8 was an oversight in his leadership, but hell, everyone with a general sense of cars knows that Americans love V8s. It’s kind of our thing.

He is now being labeled as the person responsible for killing the Hemi V8. Maybe he’s the scapegoat? Does it matter? Regardless of who’s to blame for the dimwitted idea to kill the golden goose at the height of its popularity, the point is that it became a PR disaster, and pulling the cooked goose out of the oven seems like the only way to put out the fire.

Will the HEMI Save Stellantis?

Dodge, RAM, and Jeep are at a critical crossroads right now in terms of marketing. One of the aspects I did not like about how they marketed the Charger EV was as savor to “soulless” EVs.

That was a misstep because while it does technically make noise, at the end of the day, it’s still a battery-powered car, the same as the other “soulless” electric vehicles that can sprint from zero to 60 using instant torque and AWD.

So you alienate EV loyalists by insulting their preferred method of transport, and ICE (internal combustion engine) loyalists don’t take it seriously because they, in their mind, are already driving the real savor to a “soulless EV,” so why do they need to buy this one?

They need to stop marketing these vehicles politically. Stop with the “love it or leave” demo targeting. Instead, embrace that these vehicles can stand on more than one side, especially now that consumers are willing to set a product on fire solely based on political affiliation.

Don’t make the HEMI Political! Bring back Looney Toons decal graphics and produce funny campaigns like RAM’s Goldilocks and the Three Trucks Superbowl ads. Given Chrysler’s prominent footnote in popular culture, there is also much material to work with.

Promote these vehicles for the reasons most people want them—to have fun. Work or play is more fun when you enjoy what you drive, and eight cylinders thumping along at 2,000 RPM have a historic habit of putting a dumb grin on most people’s faces.

Will the HEMI save Stellantis? I don’t know, but it has the muscle to lift it up.