It feels like the new Dodge Charger has been living under a single, giant question mark since day one: where’s the V8? The current lineup leans on a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six and, depending on tune, it’s hardly slow, but the brand’s identity has always been tied to big-cube attitude and that unmistakable soundtrack. Now, comments from Stellantis exec Tim Kuniskis are pouring fuel on the rumor fire, suggesting that if a V8 does return to the Charger, a basic Hemi isn’t the move.

Kuniskis reportedly told MotorTrend at the Detroit Auto Show that dropping a V8 into the car would probably mean going straight to Hellcat instead of the familiar 5.7-liter. That tracks with how Dodge has trained its audience to think for years: if you’re going to do it, do it loud and do it with a headline-grabbing spec sheet. A mild V8 comeback might satisfy a few purists, but it wouldn’t deliver the “statement” moment Dodge would need to justify the engineering, marketing, and pricing gymnastics in today’s market.

At the same time, Dodge also seems wary of turning the Charger into an order sheet nightmare. Kuniskis acknowledged concerns about overwhelming dealers with too many trims and powertrains, which is a real-world problem that doesn’t get talked about enough. Dealers have to stock what they can sell, and customers want clarity, not a maze of options. Still, there have been breadcrumbs for months, including Dodge CEO Matt McAlear saying last summer, “Don’t be surprised if it would fit,” when pressed about a V8 working its way back into the mix.

For now, the Charger’s gas-powered story centers on that twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six, rated at 420 horsepower in one version and 550 horsepower in another, which already puts it in the neighborhood of older V8 performance numbers. The previous 5.7-liter Charger was around 370 horsepower, and even the mild-hybrid Hemi in the Ram sits below that top inline-six output. Add in Stellantis’ recently announced $13 billion push into domestic manufacturing and updated powertrains, and it’s not hard to see why enthusiasts are reading the tea leaves. If Dodge decides it needs a V8 halo again, the messaging is getting clearer: it probably has to be a Hellcat to make the comeback feel worthy of the Charger badge.