Rumors are beginning to form that the fate of HEMI engines in the Dodge Hellcat lineup has a 2019 expiration date. The news is coming from anonymous sources on JeepTrackhawkForums and wasn’t confirmed by the automaker — meaning it should be taken with a grain of salt.
The powerful V-8 engines, currently available in 6.4-liter and 6.2-liter variants in the Dodge Chargers and Challengers, will give way to twin-turbo four or six-cylinder engines, according to Motor Authority, which surmises that the reasoning behind the move would be with “impending CAFE requirements.”
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles had no comment on the speculation.
In related news, it appears the Jeep brand is poised for an expansion with the addition of a number of new smaller SUVs and possibly a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk with a Hellcat V-8 powertrain — although it may be short-lived.
According to Fiat Chrysler sources, the SUV’s arrival has been pushed back to 2018 – a year later than anticipated. Per the sources at JeepTrackhawkForums, “the delay will lead to an extended model year for the 2018 TrackHawk – and then no more, since Chrysler could be ready to retire the HEMI and Hellcat engines after the 2018 model year,” according to Motor Authority.
Meanwhile, a Jeep Renegade Trackhawk seems on track for a 2018 debut, likely to be powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 300-plus horsepower and all-wheel drive.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk could conceivably become the last of the V-8 SUVs in Jeep’s line-up, and with a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 with 707 hp and 650 lb.-ft. of torque, all-wheel drive, it would be sight and sound to behold. Motor Authority calls it potentially “the quickest Jeep ever, with 0-60 mph time in the 3.0-second range.”
With Fiat Chrysler mum on the subject and speculations running rampant, it will be a while before fact is separated from fiction. Nonetheless, Jeep enthusiasts can certainly apply their imaginations.
