SECRET TOWN HALL: PERFORMANCE MODELS STELLANTIS DIDN’T PUT IN THE $13B HEADLINE
What is up, guys—Butter Da Insider back with something spicy. What if I told you Stellantis just held a closed-door town hall where CEO Antonio Filosa talked performance—real cars, real programs—yet none of it showed up in that very public $13 billion U.S. investment splash? I’ve had multiple employees reach out with overlapping details. Each person had slightly different counts, but the theme was the same: more performance is coming, and it wasn’t all in the press release.
Let’s break it down like insiders do.
Why keep this separate from the $13B news?
The public announcement was safe, corporate, broad—plants, SUV’s, an Evo T4 four-cylinder, the Compass/Cherokee U.S. moves. Good for manufacturing and jobs, but it’s not what drags enthusiasts into showrooms. Performance talk is volatile: timelines slip, parts shortages happen, nameplates change. So you float it internally first, watch the reaction, then go public when the ducks are in a row.
First, the HEMI elephant in the room
I asked directly: did anyone confirm a new HEMI? My sources didn’t hear a firm “yes.” That’s a problem. GM is already on record with hundreds of millions toward next-gen V8 development. Stellantis tried the “Hurricane + EV” era; we all saw the sales collapse and billions lost in profit. You can only recycle legacy powertrains for so long. If they want to win confidence back—from buyers and from Wall Street—a Gen-4 HEMI roadmap would do it. I’m not saying it was promised here; I’m saying it’s overdue.
What my sources agreed on
I spoke to about five people who were either in the room or briefed by someone who was. Details varied, but the pattern matched:
- Dodge: Two new products in development. Timelines weren’t nailed down, but expect one sooner, one later.
- Chrysler: At least one new vehicle beyond the minivan lane (likely the C6X crossover the rumor mill keeps circling).
- Ram: Multiple new models (counts ranged from two to four). One is the TRX return—yes, that again. The already-announced lowered street truck with Fox/RideTech is in the orbit, and a street-focused “Dude”-style appearance package is very much coming to SEMA.
- Jeep: Compass/Cherokee moves are public; performance-leaning trims are still the big question mark.
- SRT: Double-digit new SRT variants across brands over time (the numbers I heard were generally 10–15). The key: SRT spreads—not just Dodge/Jeep. Think Ram SRT badging where it always belonged.
Dodge: two bullets in the chamber
You’ve heard me and TK’s Garage spitball three names popping up in the chatter:
- A $30K lightweight sports car (call it Duster from what we hear) to pull younger/entry enthusiasts in.
- A Viper return not tied to the MC20—there were whispers about clay models being worked on around August after Roadkill Nights.
- A ‘Cuda-flavored’ coupe: Charger proportions, shorter wheelbase, big hood bulge—something spotted in the wild that didn’t look like a standard Charger mule.
Do all three happen? Maybe not. But two of those being real is what keeps surfacing. If I had to call it: the shorter ‘Cuda-style’ car feels most near-term; the Viper is the big swing.
Ram: TRX, street trucks, and (finally) a real SUV Ramcharger
Ram’s count varied the most. Everyone agrees TRX is back—Filosa practically tripped over it in public once already. The lowered street truck collab with Fox/RideTech is a real program, and the Sublime/bright-color sport theme lines up with the teasers they’ve been dropping. We may see more models and hopefully with a 392 Hemi and hopefully cheaper.
And then there’s the SUV. I’ve been saying a Ram SUV seemed likely since they shuffled the Ramcharger nameplate. If they’re smart, that SUV gets the Hellcat at least as a halo. (And yes, Jeep, the Grand Wagoneer is screaming for a Hellcat to be a V badge rival; Escalade V owns that lane in every airport pickup line from NYC to Vegas.)
Jeep & Chrysler: the wild cards
Jeep has the bones to spin SRT variants quickly: Grand Cherokee makes obvious sense, Wrangler 392/Gladiator are ripe for more spice if CAFE fines aren’t a blocker. Hopefully they’ll see more Hemi variants. Think 5.7, 392, and Hellcat Hemi’s if Jeep is smart.
Chrysler desperately needs a second act beyond minivans. The crossover is likely; my heart still wants a 300 successor with real performance cred. If SRT is going cross-brand, let it touch Chrysler for once and finally give them a Hellcat 300.
SRT: more than a badge, maybe a building
Here’s the part that got my attention: SRT getting a new facility. My sources didn’t all describe it the same way—some said development center, others floated a low-volume build site. If it’s the latter—think Conner Avenue Energy—you could hand-build a Viper and a Duster-type car under one roof. That’s how you create legends… again.
The Charger situation (and why Dodge needs the W)
Let’s be honest: the Charger Daytona EV has face-planted. The trims you need to make a case (R/T, Banshee) have been in and out like a bad cell signal; the Sixpack orders aren’t exactly a victory parade, or Dodge would be tweeting the huge order numbers every morning. The quickest reputation repair is a real performance announcement—ICE or hybrid HEMI news, a killer SRT trim, or that shorter coupe with a hood bump the size of a small state.
Timelines & a Halloween hint
Nobody gave me a calendar invite, but I was told to “watch around Halloween.” That tracks with SEMA timing and the teaser pattern we’re already seeing. My gut: we get concepts, colors, and dealer-installed packages first—then the big-ticket model reveals land on their own stages with lead times.
What I want to see (and what would fix the faith problem)
- Gen-4 HEMI roadmap (with hybrid assist options) and a realistic emissions plan.
- SRT facility formally announced with a mandate for low-volume hero cars.
- Ram SUV confirmation, and yes, say “Hellcat” out loud.
- Dodge to stop hedging and green-light at least two enthusiast products with dates, not vibes.
Final word
I’m not claiming every last bullet I heard will ship exactly as whispered. I am saying the signal is strong: more performance SKUs, SRT across brands, and Ram/Dodge leading the charge with dealer-installable packages now and halo models later. The second they confirm a new HEMI path, the entire story changes.
