Dodge to revive the V8 muscle car?

The Dodge V8 muscle car could be making a comeback. According to a new report from Bloomberg, parent company Stellantis is preparing to pour US$10 billion into its US manufacturing operations, with part of the investment potentially funding the development of a new V8-powered muscle car.

The move marks a major shift in direction for Dodge, which had recently begun focusing on electrification under former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. Under new leadership, however, the brand appears to be returning to its performance roots, scaling back its EV plans and reigniting its petrol-powered heritage.

The fresh round of funding will support the Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep brands, reopening closed factories in Illinois and Michigan and creating hundreds of jobs. More importantly for enthusiasts, Bloomberg reports the expansion “could result in a new Dodge V-8 muscle car.”

Hints of a revival have been circulating for months. In August, when asked whether a V8 could fit under the bonnet of the new Charger, Dodge CEO Matt McAlear replied: “Don’t be surprised if it would fit.”

The brand has since scrapped the high-performance Charger Banshee EV, which was expected to deliver more than 900 horsepower, and is instead focusing on the upcoming Charger Sixpack and other petrol-powered variants.

While Dodge has yet to officially confirm a new V8 model, all signs point to a muscle car renaissance; a move sure to excite traditionalists who feared the V8 era was over.