Alexandre
Stellantis seems ready to relaunch production of the legendary V8 engine, but this decision would only concern the North American market and a few specific models. The announcement comes at a time when the automaker, following the departure of ex-CEO Carlos Tavares, is undergoing a significant reorganization, with strategies varying from region to region.
The star of this potential comeback would be the 5.7L HEMI V8, an iconic Stellantis engine. According to information from several sources, including the site MoparInsiderengine production could resume at the Dundee plant in Michigan. This site, historically dedicated to the manufacture of Pentastar V6 engines, is now preparing to welcome new production to support the future of internal combustion engines, including the 1.6L 4-cylinder EP6 (if you still had doubts) and perhaps the return of the V8 (not shown in the document below).
The 5.7L HEMI V8 could make a comeback in the Ram 1500, as reported by MoparInsider. However, other sources, including The Drive site, also mention the possibility of his reintegration at Dodge. This return would be symbolic, marking the revival of V8 engine production in the USA after more than 16 years. If confirmed, the Dundee Engine Plant would be a strategic location, being close to the Ram 1500 and Dodge Durango production plants.
But what does this return mean for Stellantis? Firstly, the brand continues to focus on greener, more modern engines, such as the GME 4-cylinder hybrid and the GME 6-cylinder, as well as electric motors. This shows that Stellantis adopts a differentiated regional approach. In Europe, for example, a return of the V8 seems highly unlikely. 6-cylinder engines would already be a big step for the European market, where electrification remains the priority.
But this return to the V8 could also reflect a strategy to appeal to performance enthusiasts in North America, where more powerful engines are still popular. For the time being, all indications are that this V8 engine will be reserved for base versions of models like the Ram 1500, and perhaps a few other models. Specialists expect production to start as early as the third quarter of this year. To conclude, a few months ago we already mentioned the subject ofa possible new V8 engine from Stellantisand this information seems to be persistent. We'll soon see if these rumors are confirmed.