Even as Dodge recently pulled the sheet off of tons of 2022 SEMA Show news, including a new Banshee variant, crate engines, and other Direct Connection details, there remained curiosity as to just what’s next for the brand. Media were quick to inquire about the next-generation Dodge Charger and Challenger, though CEO Tim Kuniskis didn’t shy away from the topic.
During a SEMA media backgrounder event attended by MC&T, the Hurricane T6 engine came up quite a bit, including the probability of the twin-turbo inline-six engine finding its way into Dodge future products. The Dodge boss revealed that the brand has considered the new Hurricane inline-six as a replacement for the current Hemi V8 engine found in the outgoing Charger and Challenger, which are going away after the 2023 model year.
“Of course we did,” said Kuniskis. “It’s a phenomenal engine, and that’s why we’re doing (Hurricane) crate engines.”
Image via Stellantis
Dodge’s emphasis on the Hurricane engine going forward could be considered a tell, as not only is there going to be a portfolio of Direct Connection turbo-six crate engines available, but the engine will also be a center point for 2023 Roadkill Nights, which has been made official. Dodge could be seeking feedback and validation on the new Hurricane engine among the muscle car community as it also takes in EV feedback from the Banshee concept at the 2022 SEMA Show happening this week. That said, Kuniskis was quick to put water on the matter.
“It doesn’t mean we’re going to. We’re certainly not launching with anything like that. We’re launching full battery electric, and we think by the time we get to that point, the offer we have is going to be really attractive in the marketplace.”
The next generation of Dodge cars – previewed by the Charger Daytona SRT Banshee Concept – will be built on the STLA Large platform, a multi-energy platform capable of incorporating an internal combustion engine, while it’s also intended for the all-electric Dodge muscle cars that have been confirmed.
“If someday we wanted to add ICE to that car, could we? It’s totally protected for it.”
The Hurricane is a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine set to deliver over 400 horsepower in the standard output version, with the high output model providing over 500 ponies. It’s not quite the level of Dodge’s Hellcat V8, but it fits into muscle car territory, with plenty of room at the top end for improvement. Especially if aided by electrification, which Stellantis has been preparing for based on its paper trail.
“We don’t have (T6 Hurricane hybrid car) in anything we’re talking about today,” said Kuniskis to media.
Industry analysts have been tracking future Hurricane T6-powered Dodge muscle cars to be built at the Stellantis Windsor Assembly plant in Ontario, Canada, as the outgoing models leave the Brampton Plant to make room for other future products. These vehicles are said to be coming out in the 2025 calendar year.
