Dodge Charger SRT HELLCAT V8 Planned for 2028 Models

Dodge Charger SRT HELLCAT V8 Reportedly Planned for 2028

Stellantis is reportedly preparing to bring the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 back to the Dodge Charger for the 2028 model year, according to internal sources familiar with the matter. A document outlining the eighth-generation Charger powertrain lineup identifies a planned SRT application pairing the HELLCAT engine with a ZF 8HP95 eight-speed automatic transmission. Dodge has not officially announced the 2028 Charger SRT HELLCAT, so the proposed configuration remains unconfirmed publicly. If the plan proceeds, the V8-powered model would become the flagship internal-combustion-engine offering in the Charger range, marking a potential expansion beyond the powertrains currently associated with the new-generation lineup.

Supercharged HEMI V8 and ZF Eight-Speed Transmission

The reported 2028 configuration combines a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 with the ZF 8HP95 eight-speed automatic transmission. According to the document, this pairing is identified as a new SRT powertrain application for the eighth-generation Dodge Charger, also designated LB. The source does not provide an output rating, torque figure, acceleration time, fuel-economy estimate, or other performance specifications for the proposed V8 model. Those details therefore remain unknown, and specifications from earlier HELLCAT vehicles should not automatically be applied to the planned Charger. The available information establishes the reported engine and transmission combination, but an official announcement from Dodge would be needed to confirm production specifications.

Two-Door and Four-Door Charger Models Listed

The document reportedly lists the planned V8 powertrain for both the LB29 two-door and LB49 four-door Charger variants. Both versions are identified as vehicles built at the Windsor Assembly Plant in Canada. This suggests that the proposed HELLCAT configuration is not limited to a single body style within the planned 2028 lineup. However, Dodge has not officially confirmed either application, and the source does not specify whether both versions would launch simultaneously or receive identical equipment. The listed configurations indicate the potential scope of the powertrain plan, while final availability, specifications, pricing, and production timing remain subject to confirmation.

Rear-Wheel Drive Would Distinguish the V8 Charger

Unlike the current Hurricane-powered Charger described in the source, the proposed supercharged V8 version is being developed with rear-wheel drive rather than all-wheel drive. That drivetrain distinction would give the planned HELLCAT model a different configuration from the current Hurricane-powered offering. The document positions the V8 Charger as the flagship internal-combustion vehicle in the range, although Dodge has not formally announced the model or confirmed its final specifications. The source does not provide further details about chassis changes, handling characteristics, or other mechanical differences associated with the rear-wheel-drive layout. Those elements cannot be established from the reported powertrain information alone.

2028 Charger Refresh Could Retain Hurricane and Electric Powertrains

The proposed V8 introduction is expected to coincide with the first scheduled mid-cycle action refresh for the eighth-generation Charger in 2028. According to the document, Dodge also plans to continue offering the 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbocharged inline-six in Standard Output (S.O.) and High Output (H.O.) configurations for that model year. The lineup is also expected to retain the 400-volt battery-electric powertrain used in the Dodge Charger Daytona. If these plans proceed, the Charger range would encompass a supercharged V8, two Hurricane inline-six configurations, and an electric option. These are reported future plans rather than a confirmed final production lineup, pending an official announcement from Dodge.

Industry Impact & Outlook

If confirmed, the reported HELLCAT V8 program would give Stellantis a way to broaden the eighth-generation Charger lineup while retaining both turbocharged inline-six and battery-electric powertrain options. The proposed rear-wheel-drive configuration would also distinguish the V8 flagship from the current Hurricane-powered Charger described in the source. For buyers interested in traditional high-performance internal-combustion vehicles, the plan could provide another choice alongside the electric Charger Daytona. The reported timing, aligned with the 2028 mid-cycle refresh, could allow Dodge to introduce the configuration as part of a wider model update. However, the engine's output, pricing, availability, and final production status remain unconfirmed because Dodge has not officially announced the model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dodge bringing the HELLCAT V8 back to the Charger for 2028?
Stellantis is reportedly planning to offer a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 in the Dodge Charger for the 2028 model year, according to internal sources. A document outlining the eighth-generation Charger's powertrain lineup lists a new SRT application pairing the HELLCAT engine with a ZF 8HP95 eight-speed automatic transmission. However, Dodge has not officially announced the 2028 Charger SRT HELLCAT. The reported configuration should therefore be treated as a planned development rather than a confirmed production model or finalized specification.

Which engine and transmission are reportedly planned for the 2028 Charger SRT HELLCAT?
The reported 2028 Dodge Charger SRT HELLCAT would pair a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 with the ZF 8HP95 eight-speed automatic transmission. The combination appears in a document describing the scheduled powertrain lineup for the eighth-generation Charger, designated LB. The source does not disclose the proposed engine's horsepower, torque, acceleration, or fuel-economy figures. Specifications from previous HELLCAT models cannot be assumed to apply to this planned vehicle. Dodge has not officially confirmed the powertrain or published final technical details for the reported 2028 application.

Will the reported V8 Charger be available as a two-door and four-door model?
The document reportedly lists the proposed HELLCAT powertrain for both the LB29 two-door and LB49 four-door Dodge Charger models. Both variants are identified as being built at the Windsor Assembly Plant in Canada. This suggests that the planned V8 configuration could extend across both body styles rather than being restricted to one version. However, Dodge has not officially announced the model or confirmed the production plans. The source also does not establish whether the two variants would launch together, share identical specifications, or have the same equipment and availability.

Will the 2028 Dodge Charger SRT HELLCAT use rear-wheel drive?
According to the reported powertrain document, the proposed supercharged V8 Charger is being developed with rear-wheel drive rather than the all-wheel-drive configuration associated with the current Hurricane-powered Charger described in the source. This would distinguish the planned HELLCAT flagship from that existing configuration. The document identifies rear-wheel drive as part of the proposed setup but does not detail related chassis changes, handling performance, or other mechanical revisions. Because Dodge has not officially announced the model, the final drivetrain specification remains unconfirmed and could only be established through subsequent official information.

Will Dodge continue offering Hurricane engines in the 2028 Charger?
The reported 2028 powertrain plan calls for the 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbocharged inline-six to remain available in Standard Output and High Output configurations. The document also identifies the supercharged HEMI V8 as a proposed addition to the eighth-generation Charger lineup. If the reported plan proceeds, customers could have multiple internal-combustion powertrain choices rather than a single engine configuration. However, the information comes from a document described by internal sources, and Dodge has not officially confirmed the complete 2028 lineup or the final availability of each engine option.

Will the electric Dodge Charger Daytona continue for 2028?
The document reportedly indicates that the 400-volt battery-electric powertrain used in the Dodge Charger Daytona is planned to continue for the 2028 model year. The same reported lineup includes the Hurricane inline-six in Standard Output and High Output versions, alongside the proposed supercharged HEMI V8. If these plans are confirmed, Dodge would maintain electric and internal-combustion options within the broader Charger range. The source does not provide additional details about changes to the Daytona's electric powertrain, battery specifications, driving range, or performance for the 2028 model year.

When is the reported HELLCAT-powered Charger expected to arrive?
The reported HELLCAT-powered Dodge Charger is associated with the 2028 model year, which would coincide with the eighth-generation Charger's first scheduled mid-cycle action refresh. The document identifies the proposed engine and transmission combination but does not provide an exact reveal date, production start, ordering window, or customer delivery schedule. Dodge has not officially announced the 2028 Charger SRT HELLCAT, so the timing remains unconfirmed. Any definitive launch or availability information would need to come from a subsequent official announcement rather than the reported internal powertrain document.