The comeback of SRT could breathe new life into Dodge’s underwhelming performance offerings
That was Dodge’s rallying cry as it announced the official return of the SRT brand.
The same three iconic letters once stamped on the Viper, Charger, Challenger, and more are making a comeback—marking a major shift in Dodge’s performance strategy going forward.
So, what does SRT’s return actually mean?
For starters, longtime performance boss Tim Kuniskis will now oversee all North American brands—including SRT itself—reporting directly to Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa.
According to Kuniskis, SRT’s return is strategic and purposeful:
“SRT is another box we needed to check as we head into a product launch cadence, enabling more performance than we’ve ever seen before. We’re working with our product development and technology organization to select the best engineers in powertrain and vehicle dynamics to build a team worthy of the SRT name.”
This handpicked team will take the lead not only on SRT development, but also on Dodge’s Direct Connection program and Stellantis’s North American motorsports efforts. With Ram already headed back to NASCAR, a Dodge return wouldn’t be shocking either.
Still, a lot remains unclear. But we’re seeing some promising signs.
Ram’s recent reintroduction of the Hemi V-8 has sparked speculation that Dodge might follow suit. It’s no secret that the electric Dodge Charger isn’t selling the way leadership had hoped. Dealers are slashing prices and offering aggressive lease deals just to move inventory.
Thankfully, hope lies in the upcoming Charger Sixpack, which swaps the V-8 for a powerful new inline-six engine. Though it’s down two cylinders from the Hellcat, the Sixpack engine has already received high praise—and it could very well serve as the foundation of future high-performance models.
Don’t expect to see the Hellcat V-8 or Hemi return to the new Charger, though—there simply isn’t space in the engine bay. But if anyone can extract maximum power from that inline-six, it’s the SRT team. And while a manual transmission would be the cherry on top, we’re not holding our breath.
For now, Dodge’s performance lineup is a blank slate.
Could we see a fire-breathing Hornet? Maybe. A Hellcat-powered successor to the Durango? Very likely. A new Viper or Challenger? That might take time—but the door is open.
More importantly, this isn’t just about Dodge. SRT performance will touch all Stellantis U.S. brands: Jeep, Ram, and even Chrysler. That opens the door to a new Grand Cherokee SRT, a revived 300 SRT, and other wildcards.
There’s still much we don’t know. But one thing is clear: SRT is back—and that’s very good news for American performance fans.
