Dodge Charger Hellcat Returns: The Real 717 HP V8 Story

Caecey Killian October 13, 2026 3 min read 0

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The Dodge Charger Hellcat looks like it is coming back with a supercharged V8 under the hood, and this time the report shows up with production numbers attached. Automotive News says the SRT Hellcat returns in 2027 as a 2028 model, running the supercharged 6.2L Hemi that Dodge parked after the 2023 model year. Stellantis is publicly calling it speculation, so keep the champagne on ice until somebody signs something.

What The Dodge Charger Hellcat Report Actually Says

Here is the short version. A new Dodge Charger Hellcat would arrive in 2027 as a 2028 model with the supercharged 6.2L V8, and suppliers have reportedly been told to plan for roughly 12,000 units per year. Revised federal fuel economy rules are part of why that math pencils out again.

That volume figure is the detail worth chewing on, because 12,000 cars a year reads like a real production program instead of a farewell run. For reference, the 2023 Charger SRT Hellcat made 717 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, while the Redeye stepped up to 797 horsepower and 707 lb-ft. A Stellantis spokesperson told Automotive News the story is rumor at this stage, which is the answer every automaker gives when asked about future product.

Why The Supercharged 6.2L Hemi Still Matters

Builders care about this engine for reasons that have nothing to do with the window sticker. The supercharged 6.2 came from the factory with a forged crank and forged rods, and the blower sits in the valley where the intake would normally live. As a result, it takes boost and tuning better than almost anything else that ever left a dealer lot with a warranty. A smaller pulley, a tune, and a set of long tubes have been the standard opening move on these cars for about ten years, and the parts shelves are already full of hardware that bolts right on.

The sound is the other half of it. Nothing in the current lineup makes that supercharger whine layered over a flat plane of Hemi exhaust note, and that combination is why people still pay strong money for used cars that are three model years old. Stellantis has not abandoned the architecture either, since the same blown Hemi family turned up in the 2027 RAM TRX.

Where That Leaves The Charger SIXPACK

The current Charger SIXPACK is quick, and anybody saying otherwise has not driven one. Its twin-turbo 3.0L inline six makes 420 or 550 horsepower depending on trim, and the Scat Pack runs a claimed 3.9 second 0 to 60 with a 12.2 at 114 mph quarter mile and a 177 mph top end. On top of that, the Super Bee brings 600 horsepower to the party for 2027. The numbers are legitimate, but the slow sales say buyers were shopping for character as much as elapsed time.

What We Are Watching Next

Dodge is not working in a vacuum. Ford already sells the Mustang Dark Horse SC with a supercharged 5.2L V8 worth 795 horsepower, while Chevy has no Charger rival at all until the next Camaro lands as a 2029 model. A 717 horsepower Dodge Charger Hellcat would drop Mopar straight back into that fight. The detail we want nailed down is whether it keeps the current car’s all wheel drive hardware, since traction has always been the thing standing between a Hellcat and a clean sixty foot. Watch for a supplier contract or a Hemi capacity announcement before you start saving for one.

AboutCaecey Killian

Caecey Killian covers builds, installs, and product features for Car Junkie Magazine. He has spent years on the floor of the garage chasing horsepower across SBC, LS, and modern muscle platforms, and that shop time runs through every article he writes. His current CJM project is Project Street Reaper, a 1976 Camaro built around a fresh SBC 350. He is also known for Project Mighty Mouse, a 1977 Chevy Nova running a 1962 small-journal 327 SBC, with build coverage published across multiple online automotive magazines. His media background spans long-form build documentation, install coverage, and product features across the magazine and the Car Junkie Magazine YouTube channel. He writes the way he wrenches: specific, honest about the mistakes, and grounded in real garage work.

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