Dodge SRT Hellcats And HEMIs Could Die In 2019

[golfer15]

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1099646_breaking-srt-hellcats-and-hemis-set-to-die-in-2019

That's it....all my vehicles are going into a vault!!!

[swexlin]

Twin turbo 6 seems to be the way the industry is going. I bet a 3.XX displacement TT 6-banger in the next SRT Charger/Challenger will easily make over 500 hp.

I do miss my 6.1 Superbee. But it had to go for my current Gen 5.

[SlateEd]

I would like to think that the commercial success of the Hellcat would give FCA enough reason to avoid this strategy in whatever way possible... It doesn't help FCA long term at all if the 2018 Hellcats become expensive collectables and museum pieces.

the article says dump the HEMI from SRT models... wouldn't it make more sense for CAFE standards to dump the medium-output HEMIs which they sell in much bigger numbers, replace them with a boatload of turbo 4s or 6s and leave the relatively small production SRT cars alone?

and there's great reason to be skeptical when you consider the publisher... their "sources" are often internet forums. In a doomsday article about the Hellcat Jeep they say "Those sources at JeepTrackhawkForums say the delay will lead to an extended model year for the 2018 TrackHawk--and then no more, since Chrysler could be ready to retire the HEMI and Hellcat engines after the 2018 model year." ... all article long you've been refering to your 'sources' and then you reveal they're at JeepTrackhawkFORUMS.

and then the inflamatory, intentional misuse of the word 'confirm' --- "A Fiat Chrysler Automobiles [NYSE:FCAU] spokesperson confirmed that the company "can't comment on future product plans." .. imply that they are confirming the premise of the article by using it that way, but they're simply saying no comment.

[swexlin]

And I want to buy a used Hellcat in a couple years. Dammit, FCA, keep building them so I can afford a used one!!

[LeadfootRT10]

I find the sourcing on this to be HIGHLY dubious...i will eat a shoe if this actually happens.

[SlateEd]

I find the sourcing on this to be HIGHLY dubious...i will eat a shoe if this actually happens.

cheers to that - I'll take the other shoe in the pair.

[Vprbite]

Considering they are literally selling every one they make without exception, why plan on turning down a revenue source?

If in 2019 they just stop moving off the showroom floor, that is a different decision to be made. But it seems odd to decide to just quit making money.

[J TNT]

The Ford GT should have been a V-8 , but they went with a V-6 Turbo ??? !!! Something tells me they want a 5 to 7 year platform and the epa/ café rules favour small displacement forced induction . And Large Displacement past 2020 is not going to be viable .
With these undertones , if I where on the fence to buy a Viper , then I would do so sooner rather than later ! (Before 2018)
I can see these cars becoming iconic in 10 to 20 years from now . fwiw .

[SlateEd]

The Ford GT should have been a V-8 , but they went with a V-6 Turbo ??? !!! Something tells me they want a 5 to 7 year platform and the epa/ café rules favour small displacement forced induction . And Large Displacement past 2020 is not going to be viable .
With these undertones , if I where on the fence to buy a Viper , then I would do so sooner rather than later ! (Before 2018)
I can see these cars becoming iconic in 10 to 20 years from now . fwiw .

Oh I agree - if you're thinking about it, now is certainly the time. But if you really want a Hellcat Jeep for example but don't expect to have the money by 2017 I wouldn't freak out. (self serving assurance? of course!)

In Ford's case, they're building a Halo car for the EcoBoost name plate; that's good business that also happens to be smaller displacement. In Dodge's case, they already have a successful FI brand going in Hellcat - they could build on the weight of that brand in smaller plants if they continue it, but not if they kill it....

[Vprbite]

The Ford GT should have been a V-8 , but they went with a V-6 Turbo ??? !!! Something tells me they want a 5 to 7 year platform and the epa/ café rules favour small displacement forced induction . And Large Displacement past 2020 is not going to be viable .
With these undertones , if I where on the fence to buy a Viper , then I would do so sooner rather than later ! (Before 2018)
I can see these cars becoming iconic in 10 to 20 years from now . fwiw .

Ford GT production numbers don't even make a dent in MPG across the company. I mean, you would have to take it out to some pretty deep decimal points before the GT's MPG comes into play. It could get 1MPG and not effect their numbers. I figured they did the 6 for 2 reasons. Weight and high revs (just seems to be the performance trend these days), and so that no one else will be turned off from buying a truck or whatever with a 6 cyl in it because they are running it in a Supercar then they can definitwly get one to work for a truck.

[LeadfootRT10]

Reasons why there will always be a market for American V8s....

3) There has already been a trend toward twin turbo V6s in the hyper car arena. Ferrari and Lambo both had announced such engines prior to the introduction of the Ford GT. Yes, Ford is trying to build a brand in the Ecoboost, but this provides a big weight savings in such cars in the six digit price range where pure performance is the most important measure.

2) Americans are generally ignorant of the fact that European cars can't be imported for safety standard reasons and not for emissions reasons. Fuel prices in Europe are currently 4 to 5 times what they are in the States and most European countries recognize global warming due to carbon emissions as a fact, so they have far stricter emissions standards and demands for better MPG from customers. they however do not have as strict a standard for crash testing as the US does so their cars can not always be directly imported. The only thing this blogger was right about is how way behind the eight-ball on electric FCA is, but they have plenty of high quality 4 cylinder and diesel engines to integrate into the american market which would take less than 18 months if they so chose to do so. They've already talked about several diesel Jeeps

1) So long as there are lots of American men with small penises and thin wallets there will be a market for big, noisy, cheap, american V8s.....simple as that.

[Vprbite]

"Small penises...big, noisy V8s." So what does that say about you driving a V-10? Did you think about that, eh Meat? I have never had the need to compensate for anything. It is simply coincidence that I have a big truck, a Viper, lots of guns and 110lb dog. People might get the wrong impression if my Milton Berle-esque reputation wasn't so well established all around the country.

And European Countries recognize global warming as due to carbon emissions as a fact. And you know this is correct for a fact? I was not aware that you were a climate scientist and had studied the matter first hand. See, I can't say if global warming exists or not cause I am not a climate scientist. And unlike a liberal I don't just assume I know everything. I understand that data is inconclusive and we can't just make a bunch of reckless economic decisions based on a hunch

Euro cars often do have trouble meeting crash standards. Remember lamborghini's american spec bumper on the Countache? Though I believe euro spec bumpers are designed to be better for collisions with pedestrians/cyclists for obvious reasons.

I agree that we need to embrace the small diesel. Small diesels are not a thing here cause they were introduced in the 80s here and they were basically automotive coat hanger abortions and people would immediately think of those when the topic of diesel came up. We have a couple of companies here that make amazing big diesels (the cummins is a beautifully engineered machine and the old milspec international diesels in the deuce and a half could run on kerosene if needed) but the diesels they put out in the 80s operated like they were designed by a stoned chimp. Performance was garbage, mileage was alright but not what it should have been for such lackluster performance, they smelled like ass and blew black smoke all the time. New small diesels are picking up steam here finally and they are miles ahead of what they used to be and most people would be blown away if they haven't tried one yet. Performamce is incredibly improved and mileage is comparable to a Prius but with impressive range per fill up. But the cost of diesel needs to come down. They inflated the price of diesel in the mid 2000s for no other reason than they could. It is far, far simpler to refine than gasoline. Even as a truck guy, I like the idea of a half ton truck with a light duty diesel. But new diesel cars can be driven from Phoenix to San Diego without hitting the gas station.

[Sybil TF]

Reasons why there will always be a market for American V8s....



1) So long as there are lots of American men with small penises and thin wallets there will be a market for big, noisy, cheap, american V8s.....simple as that.
LOL. We have been down this road before. From the mid 70's to the mid 80's a V8 might as well been a 4 cylinder. Hopefully a new president will change new regulations...

[XSnake]

This is doubtful after what I saw yesterday at the FCA dealer show. Things are just getting crazier.