The Gas Challenger Frenzy Continues

Speculation Ramps Up on a Gas V6 Next Gen Dodge Challenger After All

While Dodge has always promised that the next-generation Challenger would exclusively be an electric vehicle, fast mounting evidence now suggests that gas V6 versions of the muscle car will after all continue alongside their forthcoming battery kin.

Speculation peaked last week, when next generation Challenger bodies in white leaked showing a transmission tunnel, among other typical ICE traits. Now another new report has added to the gas fed frenzy, with a source confirming that Dodge will indeed continue with gas-powered muscle cars.

The information claimed to come from an anonymous supplier executive said to benefit first-hand insider knowledge of Dodge’s production plans, allegedly lets the cat out the bag. He promises that next year’s next-generation Charger will indeed be offered with a 3-liter biturbo Hurricane straight-six combustion engine after all.

They’re keeping gasoline engines – Dodge supplier source

“They’re keeping gasoline engines,” the source confirmed. “The official designation for the vehicle platform is LB and it will have the new GME-T6 Hurricane inline-six in rear and all-wheel drive. It will use Stellantis’ new Gen 4 automatic transmission.” There was no news of a stick shift option.

Speculation on the prospect of an ICE Challenger has wrangled on for a while. Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis let it go year ago that the next Charger would boast a modular platform architecture. He suggested that the company may “put an ICE engine in it.” But he was quick to reiterate, “that doesn’t mean we’re going to,” and, “we’re launching full battery electric.”

Stellantis’ all-new biturbo 3-liter, or 183 cubic-inch Hurricane straight-six was recently revealed in the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. The state of the art new engine replaces the Gen 3 Hemi V8. It brings a 15% improvement in emissions thanks to its smaller displacement and cutting-edge technology. The state-of-the-art V6 is built at Saltillo in Coahuila, Mexico. The same engine plant that builds the current Hemi V8s.

“We have more power in the V6” – engine boss Bly

The engine is already available in 420 HP 468 lb.-ft entry, and 510 HP 500 lb.-ft flagship versions in those Jeeps. Which is an improvement over the current 485 HP 6.4-liter Hemi V8, but there’s clearly more to come. “Hurricane is a rock-solid, lower-cost, high-quality stalwart and we have more power in there,” Stellantis Global propulsion boss Micky Bly suggested of the new V6 at a recent Detroit media briefing. “We just haven’t released it yet!”

Other sources suggest that high-performance Hurricane V6 applications could reach a formidable 550 horsepower. That’s similar to Mopar Direct Connect numbers revealed at SEMA a year ago. Stellantis has even revealed plans for a groundbreaking 1,500-horsepower Cat X Drag Pak variant. It will be ready to compete in NHRA and NMCA events.

If all this is to be believed, the new Hurricane V6 is destined for the Dodge Challenger. Which means that Mopar’s muscle car will not be electric only after all!

Images: Stellantis

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Michele Lupini

Once a handy engine and chassis tuner, and a combative racer and rally driver, Michele took up the pen to express his passion for cars, racing and motoring over 30 years ago. He published South Africa’s go-to enthusiast motor magazines Cars in Action and Bakkie — some say against all odds — for a quarter century. In that time, Michele had a hand in nurturing many of South Africa's motoring media leaders. Today Michele keeps himself busy with his a range of international motoring media duties alongside his own theauto.page. And a little racing on the side.