The 2023 Dodge Challenger and Charger will be the last of the long line of Mopar muscle cars to be fitted with a Hemi V8. Consumers will still be able to buy new vehicles with a Hemi for a time, however, including the 2024 Durango SRT Hellcat.

Replacing peak muscle cars like the Challenger SRT Demon in 2024 will be the the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT, an all-wheel-drive, tri-motor, EV based on 800-volt architecure. You can spot the concept car version in Fast X.

However, there is hope that there will be an internal combustion option for muscle car fans into the future, using the Hurricane twin-turbo six pot. Released in 2021, the Hurricane is currently available in a range of crate engines and in the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. It also looks likely to replace the Hemi V8 in the next RAM 1500 pickup.

There has been talk that the Hurricane could be offered alongside the electric models in the next-generation muscle cars for some time, with Stellantis CEO Tim Kuniskis explaining in late 2022 that the STLA Large platform is a modular set up that can modified to support either electric or ICE drivelines. While leaving that door open as a techncal possibility, he did note that the future of Dodge’s muscle car plans are battery electric.

And now Moparinsiders.com claims that a source inside Stellantis has confirmed that ‘the standard Charger will get the Hurricane six-cylinder engine and may be positioned as a seperate model and that ‘Dodge may roll out a fresh Challenger before the next-gen Charger goes on sale.’ Intriguing!

Earlier this month, punters at Roadkill Nights were treated to a look at what a Hurricane-powered muscle car might look, sound and go like, in the form of a CAT3-spec HurriCrate-equipped Challenger Drag Pak.

Of course, the Drag Pak car is great marketing for the HurriCrate itself, but it could well be softening up die-hard V8 fans for a hot six future. And while the Hurricane might be a couple of pots short of an eight, it looks like being a whole lot better than nothing.