SRT Returns—Can It Save Stellantis' Future?

Prepare for an intense surge of innovative performance products with the legendary Street and Racing Technology department making a comeback.

It could be contended that the North American brands owned by Stellantis have seen their strength diminished over recent years. During the tenure of previous Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, Ram pickups abandoned their V-8 engines, Jeep discontinued some popular models and did not introduce anticipated new vehicles promptly, Chrysler now relies solely on minivans for survival, and Dodge has delayed the introduction of its latest performance cars.

The New Order

Currently, a new sheriff has arrived in town, with Antonio Filosa, who is more aligned with North American interests, taking over as CEO. And Stellantis revived the career of former Tim Kuniskis Stellantis has reintroduced Tim Kuniskis after his retirement Tim Kuniskis has returned to Stellantis following his exit The company Stellantis has welcomed back Tim Kuniskis from retirement Retired Tim Kuniskis has been brought back into action at Stellantis Stellantis has called upon Tim Kuniskis once more after he stepped down Former employee Tim Kuniskis is now working with Stellantis again After leaving, Tim Kuniskis has rejoined Stellantis Tim Kuniskis' return to Stellantis comes as a surprise Stellantis has rehired Tim Kuniskis post-retirement a man fueled by gasoline and excitement flowing through his blood, who seemingly vanished at the end of the day not too long ago, in June 2024.

As the staff changes took place, several rapid updates were made: Hellcat's founder and Ram CEO Kuniskis was elevated to a new role to share his passion and boost performance across all U.S.-made vehicles; He currently leads American brand companies. and overseeing marketing and retail strategy in North America for Stellantis, while continuing in his position as CEO of Ram.

Under his guidance, the The 2026 Ram 1500 model is now available with the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine. as an alternative, however, the main development is that Stellantis is reviving the Street and Racing Technology (SRT) division to consolidate high-performance initiatives across Dodge, Ram, Jeep, and Chrysler. Kuniskis will also oversee this unit.

The return of SRT is sure to excite car enthusiasts and fans of Mopar vehicles. It signifies authentic power from the manufacturer and expertise in both road and racing engineering. Reviving SRT aims to boost the renewal of North American models and bring renewed energy to Stellantis' presence in a market where sales, market share, and earnings have declined, customer confidence has waned, and employee spirit has suffered.

We're bringing the team back together," Kuniskis stated about reviving the renowned SRT division, which was discontinued in 2021 with its staff dispersed. "SRT is another key element we needed to include as we move forward with a product release schedule that will deliver greater performance than ever before.

SRT will also be responsible for Direct Connection—the performance parts and tuning arm of Dodge—which indicates that its range of tuners and participation in racing are set to grow. Additionally, the North American motorsport initiatives fall under the SRT banner, including Dodge's NHRA drag racing squad and Ram's comeback to the NASCAR Truck Series in 2026 Ram has previously unveiled a Ram 1500 concept racing vehicle featuring an engine capable of exceeding 9,000 revolutions per minute.

SRT Evolution

SRT has functioned as a notable internal project group since 1989, operating under various titles over time. It originated from the Specialty Vehicle Engineering (SVE) team that conceived the original Dodge Viper gave birth to the original Dodge Viper realized the concept of the original Dodge Viper developed the original Dodge Viper launched the original Dodge Viper created the original Dodge Viper introduced the original Dodge Viper revived the original Dodge Viper brought forth the original Dodge Viper made the original Dodge Viper a reality and helped create the Plymouth Prowler Two factors that have consistently linked SRT with the most daring and unforgettable Mopar cars in recent times.

In 2004, Chrysler established the Performance Vehicle Operations department focused on high-performance vehicles. Out of the remnants of PVO emerged the SRT division, which became an official brand in 2011. At that time, design head Ralph Gilles took on the role of SRT CEO, a additional responsibility he enjoyed for four years.

SRT returned to being a development group in 2014. After that, it was SRT was sent back to a development unit in 2014. Following this, it was In 2014, SRT was moved once again into a development role. Afterwards, it was SRT reverted to a developmental team in 2014. Subsequently, it was Back in 2014, SRT was assigned to a development squad. Later, it was quietly phased out As Stellantis streamlined its brand operations, they dissolved SRT in 2021 but transferred its engineers and responsibilities to the various brands under the parent company to carry out similar tasks. The outcomes of this effort were notable models such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX.

SRT is Back, Baby

The resurgence of SRT marks a courageous renewed dedication to the world of car enthusiasts during an era where electric vehicles, government regulations, and shared platforms have made the future of traditional gasoline-powered performance uncertain. Prepare for a surge of high-performance cars featuring various powertrain options aimed at matching or exceeding the impact of the Hellcat period in both size and variety. Throughout its history, SRT and the Hellcat have embodied the philosophy of "go all out or not at all," with greater audacity being preferable.

This could lead to rugged off-road vehicles for Jeep and Ram, powerful muscle cars and coupes capable of dominating the racetrack for Dodge, and refined luxury performance models for Chrysler.

Past SRT Icons

Numerous vehicles offer the renewed SRT potential sources of inspiration. It might start with the Viper, an aggressive V-10 engine-equipped supercar initially introduced as a concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit back in 1989. Production began in 1992, and it ceased manufacturing in 2017 due to failing to comply with current side-curtain airbag requirements. Prior to its end, Dodge released the highly acclaimed Viper ACR racing model. Although we're living in an era dominated by electric cars, it would still be exciting to witness another V-10 powered vehicle from the serpent-like brand, though we may have to wait patiently for such a development.

On the opposite side of the scale was the 2003 Dodge Neon SRT-4 a charming small vehicle equipped with a turbocharged motor that provided great maneuverability, affordable acceleration, and intense (or problematic, based on perspective) torque steering.

To achieve curb appeal, the 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT-8 station wagon stood out. While it shared some similarities (the Charger SRT8 and Challenger SRT8) featuring the same 425-horsepower 6.1-liter Hemi V-8 engine, the Magnum moved through city streets with an intimidating presence that set it apart from all others available at the time during its brief production run between 2006 and '08.

In the meantime, the 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10 featured the Viper's V-10 engine beneath its hood along with a manual gearbox. This type of thrilling experience is what Kuniskis ought to consider reviving, even if the transmission shifts to automatic. The Ram 1500 TRX requires a follow-up model.

A more realistic version of the SRT was the modified 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, which transformed an ordinary sport utility vehicle into something extraordinary during the third generation of the model. What came after it? The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk featuring a complete independent suspension system and a powerful 707-horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V-8 engine.

The car that solidified Kuniskis' fame: the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 This track-focused vehicle featured a Hellcat V-8 engine calibrated to operate with E85 ethanol fuel and included a large supercharger, delivering an extreme yet legally drivable output of 1,025 horsepower and 945 pound-feet of torque.

What we hope to see in the next SRT model? Currently, the only vehicle carrying the name is the elderly Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat . New entrants in the lineup might reasonably and ideally feature a reduced-spec Ram 1500 SRT road vehicle equipped with a Hemi V-8 engine. embrace the Ford F-150 Lobo Ram has only announced the return of the 5.7-liter engine, stating that integrating the 6.2-liter engine into modern truck electronics would be quite complex; however, this does not seem like an issue that previously hindered Kuniskis. Dodge is also developing a high-performance electric Charger Daytona Banshee, so we're certainly not the only ones wishing that Gilles creates a new Magnum using the STLA Large platform equipped with a V-8.

The Grand Cherokee also appears ready for a new performance model. A V-8 engine may not be feasible, but it's reasonable to believe that engineers could extract even more power from the outstanding 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six.

Considering the Viper further, particularly its name: Maserati owns several premium performance vehicle architectures. Perhaps SRT could combine these components with elements of American power? The brand itself would probably generate significant attention, and Stellantis as a company could definitely benefit from such a success.