The roar is gone. Or at least, the one you're used to. If you walk into a Dodge dealership today, you aren't greeted by the familiar, chest-thumping idle of a 6.2-liter Hemi V8. Instead, you're looking at the STLA Large platform. It’s the backbone of what everyone is calling the Stellantis American classics revival, but for a lot of people, it feels more like an identity crisis than a homecoming.
Change is hard. Especially when that change involves swapping a supercharged V8 for a "Hurricane" inline-six or a battery pack.
Stellantis is currently walking a razor-thin tightrope. On one side, they have the EPA breathing down their necks with emissions regulations that make the old-school muscle car formula basically illegal to produce at scale. On the other side, they have a fan base that views electrification as a personal insult. But here’s the thing: the revival isn't just about saving the environment. It’s about saving these brands from going extinct in a market that no longer rewards "business as usual."
The Death of the Hemi and the Birth of the Banshee
Let’s be real for a second. The Charger and Challenger were ancient. They were built on the L-platform, which traced its DNA back to Mercedes-Benz components from the late nineties. They were heavy. They handled like canal boats. We loved them anyway because they had soul and made a glorious noise.
But Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has been blunt about the "Darwinian" nature of the current auto industry. To keep the "American Classic" spirit alive, they had to kill the hardware.
The 2024/2025 Dodge Charger Daytona is the first real fruit of this Stellantis American classics revival. It’s a 670-horsepower electric monster. To solve the "silent" problem, Dodge engineered the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust. It’s basically a series of pipes and radiators that use air to create a physical sound, reaching 126 decibels. It’s loud. It’s weird. It’s arguably a little desperate, but it shows they are trying to keep the "vibe" of a classic muscle car while moving into a world where gasoline is becoming a luxury.
Why the Hurricane Engine Matters
Not everyone is ready for a plug. Stellantis knows this. That’s why the "Sixpack" models are coming.
The Hurricane 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six is a masterpiece of engineering, even if it lacks two cylinders. In its High Output (HO) configuration, it’s pushing 550 horsepower. That’s more than the old 6.4-liter 392 Hemi. It’s faster, more efficient, and lighter. Yet, there’s a segment of the population that would rather walk than drive a "muscle car" with a turbo six-pot.
This is the central tension of the revival. Can you have an American classic without the V8? BMW did it with the M3. Nissan did it with the Skyline. Stellantis is betting the farm that American buyers will eventually value the 0-60 time more than the sound of the idle.
Jeep’s Luxury Pivot: The Wagoneer’s Return
While Dodge is fighting for the soul of the drag strip, Jeep is busy reclaiming its spot at the top of the luxury mountain. For decades, the Range Rover and the Cadillac Escalade owned the "high-end rugged" space. The Stellantis American classics revival brought back the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer names to fix that.
It wasn't just a nostalgia play.
The original 1963 Wagoneer was the first actual luxury SUV. By reviving it, Jeep didn't just add a bigger car to the lineup; they changed their tax bracket. The Grand Wagoneer Series III pushes well over $110,000. It features McIntosh audio systems and enough screens to start a Best Buy.
However, it’s not all sunshine. The sheer size of these vehicles has made them targets for critics who say they’re out of touch with modern urban living. Stellantis’s answer? The Wagoneer S. It’s all-electric, sleek, and aimed directly at the Tesla Model X and Rivian R1S. It’s an American classic nameplate adapted for a buyer who cares more about "sustainable luxury" than towing a boat through the Rockies.
The Problem with the "International" American Car
One thing people often overlook is that Stellantis is a global conglomerate. It’s a mix of Italian (Fiat/Alfa Romeo), French (PSA Group), and American (Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep) interests.
This creates a weird friction.
Purists worry that the Stellantis American classics revival will result in "Europeanized" cars. We’re already seeing it. The Dodge Hornet is essentially an Alfa Romeo Tonale with a different hood. It’s a fun car, sure, but is it a Dodge?
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Critics like Jason Cammisa have pointed out that the magic of American classics was their "un-Europeanness." They were unapologetically big, loud, and simple. When you start using global platforms to save money, you risk sanding off the edges that made people love the brands in the first place.
The Chrysler Problem: A Brand on Life Support
We can’t talk about a revival without mentioning the "C" in FCA (and now Stellantis). Chrysler is currently a brand with exactly one vehicle: the Pacifica minivan.
For a brand that gave us the 300, the Imperial, and the original Hemi, this is a grim state of affairs.
The Stellantis American classics revival roadmap for Chrysler is strictly electric. The Halcyon concept car gives us a glimpse of what’s coming—low-slung, aerodynamic, and packed with AI. It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. But there's a massive risk here. By moving Chrysler so far into the future, are they abandoning the "classic" part of the equation?
There are rumors—and they are just rumors for now—that Chrysler might bring back the "Airflow" name or even a modernized 300 based on the STLA Large platform. If they want to survive, they need a "hero" car, and they need it yesterday.
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Reliability and the French Connection
Let's address the elephant in the room. Reliability.
Historically, Chrysler and Dodge haven't exactly been at the top of the J.D. Power surveys. Now, they are integrating complex French electronics and high-strung turbocharged engines. Stellantis’s "Dare Forward 2030" plan focuses heavily on quality control, but the transition has been rocky.
The software-defined vehicle (SDV) architecture is the new frontier. If Stellantis can’t get the tech right, the Stellantis American classics revival will be remembered as a series of expensive recalls rather than a glorious comeback.
What This Means for Your Wallet
If you’re looking to buy into this revival, the barrier to entry has moved.
- The Price of Entry: You’re looking at $50k minimum for anything meaningful. The "cheap speed" era of the $35,000 R/T Scat Pack is dead.
- The Collector Market: Watch the 2023 "Last Call" models. Those are the ones that will appreciate. A 2023 Challenger Black Ghost is already a blue-chip investment.
- The Tech Curve: Buying a first-generation EV like the Charger Daytona is risky. Battery tech is moving fast. In four years, a 2024 EV might look like an iPhone 6.
Honestly, the "revival" is a gamble. Stellantis is betting that we want the idea of an American classic—the styling, the presence, the heritage—without the actual mechanics of the 20th century.
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Actionable Steps for the Modern Muscle Enthusiast
If you're trying to navigate this new landscape, don't just sit on the sidelines complaining on forums.
- Test Drive the Hurricane: Before you dismiss the inline-six, drive a Jeep Grand Wagoneer or a Ram 1500 with the 3.0L HO. The torque curve is violent in a good way. It’s not a V8, but it’s objectively a better engine for daily driving.
- Scout the Used Market Now: If you want a V8, the window is closing. Prices for clean, low-mileage 5.7L and 6.4L Hemis are stabilizing, but they won't stay there. As the new EVs hit the streets, people will realize what they’ve lost, and "analog" car prices will spike.
- Lease, Don’t Buy (For Now): If you're looking at the new electric Charger or the Wagoneer S, lease it. With EV technology and federal tax credit rules in constant flux, you don't want to be underwater on a $70,000 "classic" that has outdated battery chemistry in 36 months.
- Follow the Platform, Not Just the Model: Keep an eye on the STLA Large platform news. This architecture will underpin everything from Alfas to Dodges. Understanding the bones of these cars will tell you more about their performance than the badges on the grille.
- Monitor Software Updates: Modern Stellantis vehicles are basically rolling computers. Ensure you’re keeping up with Uconnect updates, as these often fix the "ghost in the machine" electronic gremlins that have plagued recent models.
The Stellantis American classics revival is a messy, loud, and controversial attempt to keep the spirit of Detroit alive in a world that’s moving on. Whether it’s a stroke of genius or a tragic mistake depends entirely on how much soul they can pump into those electric motors. It’s a weird time to be a car fan, but at least it isn't boring.