- Dodge reintroduced the most powerful version of its Hemi V8 engine in the Durango for the 2026 model year, but could only sell the vehicle in 33 states due to emissions restrictions
- A new report says the company expects permission to sell them nationwide this year
Dodge and other Stellantis brands reintroduced the famous Hemi V8 engine for the 2026 model year when the federal government ended enforcement of all fuel economy rules.
But the most powerful version of the engine remained accessible in just 33 states. That may soon end.
The engine currently appears in the Dodge Durango 392 R/T and SRT Hellcat trims.
Fan site Mopar Insiders reports, “according to recent dealer communications,” the company now “anticipates achieving 50-state emissions certification before year’s end.”
Federal law allows California, the state with the worst air pollution when federal emissions regulations were first introduced, to craft its own emissions standards. Seventeen states follow standards set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which are stricter than the federal rules.
In a statement to journalists, the company explains, “In October, the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat was approved to open for orders in 10 additional CARB states, including Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Virginia.” Sales are “still currently prohibited for sale in 7 states, down from 17 in August 2025. We will continue to work through policy changes and anticipate approval to open for orders in all 50 states by the end of this year.”
The company has not explained how it earned permission from the states. The Drive notes, “Were there mechanical adjustments? Did something shift politically? Perhaps the phrase ‘work through policy changes’ leaves a hint, but despite multiple attempts, they haven’t given us a clear answer, or indeed any answer at all.”
