SRT Returns: Dodge Performance Division Reboot

Dodge has issued a clear rallying cry—“It’s time to get loud again”—as the storied SRT badge officially returns to the Stellantis performance playbook. The announcement marks a pivotal shift in how the group will develop and market high‑performance vehicles for Dodge, Ram, Jeep, and Chrysler in the years ahead, with new leadership, revised engine strategies, and fresh motorsport ambitions already taking shape.

Summary Points

• Stellantis revives the SRT (Street & Racing Technology) division as a unified North American performance team.
• Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis now oversees all North‑American brands and SRT, reporting directly to Stellantis COO Antonio Filosa.
• Hand‑picked powertrain and dynamics engineers will staff the new unit, integrating Direct Connection aftermarket parts and motorsports programs.
• The move follows Ram’s recent re‑introduction of the Hemi V‑8, hinting at broader combustion‑engine performance potential.
• Future products revolve around the all‑new Charger Sixpack and its inline‑six “Hurricane” engine, with no space for the outgoing Hellcat V‑8.
• SRT expertise will extend to Jeep, Chrysler, and Ram, opening the door for fresh SRT‑tuned SUVs and muscle sedans.
• Dealers are struggling to move the all‑electric Charger; SRT’s resurrection signals a recalibration toward powertrains enthusiasts want.

A New Org Chart for American Muscle

At the heart of the SRT return is a leadership shuffle that places Tim Kuniskis in charge of every North American Stellantis brand while giving him direct responsibility for the reborn performance arm. Kuniskis will funnel lessons learned from Dodge’s past success—think Challenger Hellcat mania—into a broader portfolio, coordinating with Stellantis product‑development chiefs to “select the best engineers in powertrain and vehicle dynamics to build a team worthy of the SRT name.”

Direct Connection and Motorsports Under One Roof

The modern SRT isn’t just a nameplate. It becomes the command center for Direct Connection, Dodge’s official performance‑parts catalog, and for all North‑American Stellantis motorsports efforts. Ram’s upcoming return to NASCAR is already locked in; paddock rumors suggest Dodge could follow, using racing as an engineering test bed and marketing megaphone.

Engine Strategy: Hemi, Hurricane, and the Space Constraint

Enthusiasts cheered when Ram revived the Hemi V‑8 in select trucks, prompting speculation that Dodge might do the same for passenger cars. The current Charger’s engine bay, however, cannot physically accommodate the previous 6.2‑liter Hellcat V‑8 or any legacy Hemi block. Instead, Dodge is pinning its hopes on the 3.0‑liter twin‑turbo “Hurricane” inline‑six—branded Sixpack in the Charger—which already earns high praise for its punchy delivery despite losing two cylinders.

While SRT tuning secrets remain under wraps, expect engineers to push the Sixpack’s output well beyond the standard tune, possibly filling the gap left by the Hellcat without needing eight cylinders.

Read Also : Ram 1500 Sees 10,000 Orders in 24 Hours After Hemi V8 Comeback

Technical Specifications Snapshot

Why an SRT Revival Matters

Market Reality

Dealers are discounting the electric Charger heavily, showing that Dodge loyalists still crave visceral combustion power. A dedicated SRT return allows Stellantis to refine a performance lineup that blends modern efficiency with the emotional punch customers expect.

Brand Heritage

SRT has endowed icons like the Viper, Charger, and Jeep Grand Cherokee with world‑class speed since the 1990s. Re‑establishing the badge taps deep brand equity at a moment when muscle‑car culture feels threatened by electrification.

Cross‑Brand Potential

Kuniskis confirms SRT resources will be shared across Jeep, Chrysler, and Ram. That could translate to a next‑generation Grand Cherokee SRT, a reborn 300 SRT sedan, or even a Hellcat‑grade successor to the Durango. Each brand gains access to performance DNA without building separate teams—and Stellantis benefits from economies of scale.

Historical Context: From Viper to Hiatus to Rebirth

• Early 1990s: Team Viper evolves into Team Prowler and finally SRT, engineering the first Viper and Ram SRT‑10.
• 2000s: SRT produces legends—Charger/Challenger SRT8, Neon SRT‑4, and the 425‑hp Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.
• 2014 – 2023: The Hellcat era catapults Dodge into headlines with 700‑plus‑hp muscle cars.
• 2021: Stellantis merger introduces platform and emissions headwinds; SRT brand quietly recedes.
• 2024: Signs of revival emerge with Hemi‑powered Ram and return to NASCAR.
• 2025: Official confirmation: SRT returns as Stellantis’s North American performance nucleus.

What Comes Next?

SRT’s engineers inherit a “blank slate,” Kuniskis says. Near‑term focus appears to be:

1. Maximizing Hurricane Sixpack output for the Charger.
2. Developing high‑performance SUVs to replace the outgoing Durango—rumored internally as “Stealth.”
3. Deepening motorsport presence to bolster engineering feedback loops.

Longer‑term dreams include a new Challenger or a Viper resurrection, but fresh ground‑up cars take multiple product cycles. Patience will be required.

Conclusion

The SRT return signals Stellantis’s commitment to keep the combustion‑powered performance flame alive even as electrification accelerates. Under Tim Kuniskis, the badge that once defined American muscle aims to evolve—leveraging advanced inline‑six technology, motorsports R&D, and a unified engineering brain trust. For enthusiasts tired of silent speed, Dodge’s promise to “get loud again” is more than marketing hype; it’s the opening salvo of a new era in American performance.