The End of SRT with the New Stellantis Group?

When we talked about the changes that are coming to the Stellantis lineup, a combination of all the automotive brands under the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) umbrella and the PSA Group, we knew that some models were going to get the axe. We also knew some changes were coming with alternative fuel needing to take precedent over vehicles geared towards performance. The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat already being discontinued was a most likely outcome, no one is speeding 90 mph to get the groceries. However, the dissolution of the entire SRT altogether? Now that’s something that shakes up the industry.

“SRT”, the acronym for “Street & Racing Technology” is the team that first designed the Dodge Viper and is the team that brought the Dodge name to new heights in terms of high-performance engines and horsepower. Putting an end to the team is one for the history books, but some reports say the SRT Team won’t be left on the cutting board. Instead, the SRT team is being absorbed, in some ways, into the new company as a whole to lead engineering on a global scale. It sounds more like a promotion than anything else, does it not? According to someone from Mopar Insiders, it could be better than it sounds.

“This action will have the two-way benefit of ensuring that our brands’ SRT and performance-focused product offerings continue to meet the highest quality standards and expectations while delivering key learnings from motorsports and other high-performance-technology applications across a wider mix of our company’s product lines,” – spokesperson told Mopar Insiders

High-performance SUVs were once a concept that never took much flight until Dodge started putting SRT engines under the hood of the Dodge Durango. The Dodge Charger, a four-door passenger sedan, has crawled up the ranks into muscle cars, getting the same treatments as the Challenger, and possibly being set up to replace it when the rumored Dodge Cuda comes to town. It sounds like Stellantis wants to do more of this, if the above report is anything to go by. It sounds like engineering is going to take what SRT did and put it in more vehicles in a more passenger-friendly light. Maybe no more high-octane adrenaline pumping vehicles, but no reason why even soccer moms can’t feel like they’re at the speedway with a crossover that drives and feels like a sports car.

More good news – sales and development of SRT-branded vehicles for Dodge will undoubtedly continue. Until the final nail is in that coffin, the muscle car automaker will continue to launch what SRT vehicles it can. The same courtesy is extended to Jeep and Ram vehicles that have been brushed by the SRT team, although these two brands seem more focused on shifting away from horsepower and more towards capability. Even so, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis has confirmed the Hellcat V8 engines are already marking the days off the calendar, and CEO of the previous FCA, Mike Manley, has discussed the shift of electrified powertrains taking over.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) with SRT engineering? Sounds like a whole new lineup of automobiles, and actually kind of cool. Stay tuned to learn more about what new concepts could be coming from Stellantis next on Aventura Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram social media.

Photo Source/Copyright: Stellantis, Motor.1