The Dodge Charger Hellcat returns for 2027, making muscle car enthusiasts ecstatic. The 2027 Charger V-8 is worth the wait, with a Hemi under the hood.
Dodge had turned a page and moved onto a new chapter in its history, which didn’t include V8 engines. They were killed off like a forgotten character in a horror movie, but the Hemi V8 engines, especially the Hellcat engine, weren’t forgotten. As we longed for the return of the supercharged Charger and a muscle car comeback, Dodge didn’t disappoint with the Hurricane six-cylinder engine, but it wasn’t the same as a high-powered Hemi V8 pumping out massive horsepower.
The Hemi engine return is music to our ears
After disappointing muscle car fans with electric and six-cylinder models, Dodge is bringing back what everyone actually wanted: three Hemi V-8 engines, including the 717-hp supercharged Hellcat. The return of Dodge performance cars in the form that we’re used to will certainly put a smile on the faces of many enthusiasts, who are ready to get into a new 2027 Charger V-8 with the most power they can find.
Wait, has Stellantis approved this change?
Before you get too excited about a Charger Hellcat return for 2027, you must know that Stellantis hasn’t confirmed a V-8 Charger yet. Still, the return of the three Hemi V8 engines to the Stellantis family of vehicles certainly signals a change to the Charger for the better. It’s hard to think that the Ram 1500 would have Hemi engines under the hood and the Charger would not. That seems like pure sacrilege to the muscle car world and would leave many drivers feeling distraught and disappointed. It’s hard to imagine Dodge doing that to a strong subset of their customer base.
Why does a 2027 Charger V-8 matter?
A Dodge Charger with a V8 engine is as American as apple pie and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. There has always been a V8 engine under the hood of the Charger, except for the fifth generation, which is only mentioned in quiet places where drivers tell ghost stories. The latest iteration of the Charger seems enjoyable enough but lacks what the Hemi V8 brings to the table: real personality and the right number of cylinders. Bringing back the Hemi V8 engines for the 2027 Charger just makes sense. If Stellantis is going to use these engines, they might as well make the most use of them.
Does a V8 fit under the hood?
The styling and build changes to the Charger for the current generation were made to support the Hurricane inline-six engine, which comes with turbochargers. A V8 engine is much wider and taller than the six-cylinder model packed in the Charger, which makes us wonder whether or not a V8 can be stuffed in there. Thankfully, the proof of concept has already taken place. Mopar has already begun offering a track-only version of the latest Charger with a massive Hemi V8 under the hood. This model comes with a Drag Pak, but the key is that it proves a V8 fits in the current Charger’s engine bay.
The return of familiar Hemi’s for 2027
If the 2027 Charger V-8 story becomes true, it’s likely the muscle car will have the familiar models that we’re used to seeing. That means the choice of a 5.7-liter, 6.4-liter, or supercharged 6.2-liter engine. The first two models are naturally aspirated, with the smaller producing 370 horsepower and the larger model reaching 485 ponies. As you would expect, the supercharged Hellcat engine could return with 717 horsepower once again.
Does this mean Dodge will ditch the Hurricane engine?
It’s unlikely that Dodge will shutter the Hurricane engine if the Hemi V8 models are brought back into the mix. The 3.0-liter turbocharged engine produces 420 and 550 horsepower, respectively, depending on the power level chosen. There should still be many shoppers looking for this engine to give them a lighter build and plenty of power. If any version of the Charger is to be killed off during the next chapter of the story, it could be the electric Charger Daytona, but that might survive for those few EV customers looking for a muscle car.
Although unconfirmed, a 2027 Charger V-8 is likely coming back to the mix with three familiar V8 engines under the hood, including the lauded Hellcat. Will you be ready to grab this power-hungry muscle car when it arrives?