The Dodge Durango R/T and SRT Hellcat models will no longer be sold in states that adhere to California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations. This decision follows changes implemented by the CARB, which can maintain its own standards despite the Trump Administration’s rollback of federal fuel economy regulations. This development affects a total of seventeen states and Washington, D.C., preventing Dodge from offering these high-performance vehicles in those regions.
According to a dealer ordering guide discovered by Mopar Insiders, Dodge is transitioning the Durango lineup to be exclusively powered by V-8 engines for the 2026 model year. The company will eliminate the base V-6 option, replacing it with a 5.7-liter V-8 for the Durango GT. The Durango R/T will feature a 6.4-liter naturally aspirated V-8, while the SRT Hellcat is equipped with a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8. A Dodge spokesperson confirmed these updates to Motor1, emphasizing that the company is committed to addressing CARB’s regulations.
Dodge aims to sell the R/T and Hellcat models in CARB states despite these restrictions. The spokesperson stated, “As we prepare to begin production of the Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak later in Q4 and open for orders of the Durango R/T 392 by the end of the year, we continue to work with CARB on opportunities to sell these two powertrains in all states alongside the 5.7-liter Durango GT.”
The states that have banned the Durango R/T 392 and Hellcat under CARB regulations include:
– California
– Colorado
– Connecticut
– Delaware
– Maine
– Maryland
– Massachusetts
– Minnesota
– Nevada
– New Jersey
– New York
– Oregon
– Pennsylvania
– Rhode Island
– Vermont
– Virginia
– Washington
– Washington D.C.
Stellantis, the parent company of Dodge, has previously shifted away from its popular V-8 vehicles under the leadership of Carlos Tavares. The company began replacing the Dodge Charger and Challenger with a single model featuring battery or straight-six powertrains. This included the removal of the 5.7-liter Hemi engine from the Ram 1500 lineup.
Following Tavares’ departure late last year and the rollback of federal fuel economy standards, Stellantis has reversed course and returned to V-8 engines. The Ram 1500 has reintroduced the 5.7-liter V-8, and the supercharged TRX model is also making a comeback. In a notable shift in strategy, Dodge cancelled its electric 1500 REV pickup to refocus on its traditional combustion engine models.
Currently, Dodge appears to be working on integrating the V-8 engine into the new Charger, while the Durango SRT Hellcat remains a fixture in its performance lineup. Nonetheless, the CARB regulations present a significant barrier to Stellantis’ efforts to revive its most popular models. As the automotive landscape continues to evolve, the future of high-performance vehicles in environmentally stringent states remains uncertain.