Since the departure of former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, the Stellantis organization has undergone rapid changes. Pricing strategies are being reevaluated, electrification plans are being reconsidered, and in a surprising twist the 5.7-liter (345 cubic-inch) HEMI® V8 has been granted an extended lease on life in the Dodge Durango, according to our sources.
Over the past month, rumors online have been circulating that the 5.7-liter HEMI could return to the Ram 1500—despite being officially phased out for 2025 in favor of the more powerful twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter HURRICANE I6 engines. While we’ve heard similar rumblings, we haven’t been able to verify them with enough sources to confidently report on them until now.
5.7-liter HEMI® V8 Production to Restart? –
A trusted source recently told us about a new development that will excite Mopar enthusiasts and lend credibility to the speculation surrounding the HEMI’s return. Previously, the 5.7-liter HEMI was built at Stellantis’ Saltillo Engine Plant in Mexico, but production ceased to make way for additional HURRICANE I6 production. While the Durango continues to benefit from a stockpile of pre-built 5.7-liter HEMI engines, it was widely believed that once those reserves ran out, the HEMI would be gone for good.
However, according to one of our sources, Stellantis is preparing to restart 5.7-liter HEMI V8 production—this time at the Dundee Engine Plant in Michigan. This marks a significant shift, as it would be the first time in years that a Mopar V8 engine has been produced in the United States. It also adds weight to the theory that the HEMI will return to the Ram 1500.
Before diving into what this means for the future of Stellantis and the Ram lineup, let’s take a look at the recent history of the Dundee Engine Plant and its role in the evolving Stellantis’ powertrain strategy.
Pentastar V6 Production –
On February 26, 2019, then-FCA announced a $119 million investment to retool Dundee to produce the Pentastar V6 engine family. This project was a key component of a sweeping $4.5 billion initative to modernize five Michigan facilities—an effort predicted at the time to generate nearly 6,500 new jobs. Dundee quickly embraced its new role, launching Pentastar engine production in November 2019 as part of this transformative wave.
Preparing for the Next-Generation HEV Engine –
The momentum continued on August 1, 2022, when Stellantis revealed plans for a $99 million investment across three North American plants to bring a state-of-the-art 1.6-liter, I-4 turbocharged engine into production. Nearly $83 million of this total is dedicated to converting the Dundee Engine Complex into the final assembly point for the new powertrain. This next-generation engine, designed with direct fuel injection and hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) flexibility, is based on an existing European model. It will power two upcoming North American HEV models, including the upcoming Jeep® Cherokee, which was recently caught in spy photos. Notably, it marks Stellantis’ first HEV engine offering in the region, with production slated to begin in early 2025.
Engine of an Era for Legacy Engines: Or Is It? –
As Dundee prepared for its future, the plant also bid farewell to longstanding production lines. The final 2.4-liter Tigershark I4 engine rolled off the line on March 16, 2023, and the last 3.6-liter Pentastar Upgrade V6 engine was produced on August 18, 2023, as Stellantis was looking toward new technologies.
Electrification and Beyond: The Latest Chapter –
Most recently, on September 11, 2024, Stellantis announced an additional investment exceeding $73 million to further retool Dundee. This funding will equip the facility to assemble, weld, and test battery trays for the innovative STLA Frame architecture and machine the front and rear beams essential to the upcoming STLA Large architecture. This latest development underscored Dundee’s expanding role in the company’s electrification strategy.
Return of V8 Production To America? –
If this latest rumor proves true, it would mark the first time in nearly 45 years that Chrysler has built a V8 engine in the United States. The Dundee Engine Plant would be an ideal location for 5.7-liter HEMI production, given its close proximity to Sterling Heights Assembly (where the Ram 1500 is built) and Jefferson Assembly (home of the Dodge Durango). This development not only adds credibility to speculation about the HEMI V8’s return to the Ram 1500 but also reinforces the likelihood of its production shifting to Dundee.
The Future of The 5.7-liter HEMI –
While this news is exciting, it is essential to put it in perspective. We don’t expect the 5.7-liter HEMI to show up anywhere it wasn’t installed before. Expect to see it in the Durango and Ram 1500, possibly (but not likely) returning to the Grand Cherokee, which is rumored to be dropping the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 for the updated turbocharged 2.0-liter GME-T4 EVO I4 engine for 2026.
We have heard that the HEMI V8 will return to the 2026 Ram 1500 as a base powerplant, slotting below the HURRICANE I6 engines on lower trim levels only. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see a few “HEMI Special Editions” show up as well. According to our source, production is expected to start in the third quarter of this year.
While many enthusiasts are screaming for a V8 in the new Dodge Charger, I would NOT expect the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 to appear under the hood, as the vehicle wasn’t engineered with it in mind. In the performance department, it would be outgunned by the HURRICANE I6 engines, placing that powertrain option in an odd spot.
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