Dodge Charger brings back Hemi V8 in purpose-built drag car
Dodge have unveiled a Hemi V8 version of the latest Charger and although by design language it might be the same as the current generation but underneath the surface, it is a new tale completely.
New Delhi: Even though the new Dodge Charger might have a V8 engine for now, the brand debuted the 2025 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pack, a purpose-built drag car that gets a supercharged V8 underneath. So the Hemi still exists for the muscle car.
The car comes with Charger’s latest design language, featuring a carbon-fibre version of the ICE Charger’s hood, front fascia, hatch and door handles. The added carbon makes the Hustle about 45 kgs lighter than the previous edition of the Challenger Drag Pack. The Dodge have upgraded the supercharged 5.8-litre V8 engine with the new GEN III aluminium Hemi engine block, the H-beam connecting rods, Diamond aluminium piston, a forged crankshaft and even gets a lightweight billet supercharger tensioner.
Dodge Charger Hemi V8 design
It is paired with a Coan Racing XLT three-speed automatic transmission with a high-performance torque converter. Charger also comes with new suspension geometry, getting a strengthened four-link rear setup and a Mark Williams Enterprises 9.0-inch rear axle, which has a final driving ratio of 4:30:1.
For options, there is the Lightweight Engine Component Package, which comes with a Blackbird front cover and an external oil pump kit, along with a rear anti-roll bar. There’s a Data Package which gets a data logger, Racetech Lightweight Carbon Seat Kit that makes it lighter by 9 kgs, with the Driveline Lightweight Kit making it lighter by 3.5 kgs more, and gets a carbon driveshaft.
The Dodge’s standard colour is the Knuckle White, and you get a choice of 18 more colours that include Sublime, B5 Blue, Go Mango, Frostbite, Plum Crazy, and Sinamon Stick, and graphic packages are available as well.
Dodge are going to make 50 of these, which they have made for the NHRA Sportsman racers and NHRA-approved for Factory Stock Showdown competition. It gets an SFI 25.5/7.50 ET NHRA-approved chromoly roll cage, lightweight Sabelt seats with SFI certification, a window net and Sabelt SFI-rated safety harnesses.