The V8 is returning to the Stellantis lineup after a brief hiatus, but vehicles carrying the engine won’t be sold everywhere. The 2026 Durango will only be available with V8 engines, including the 392 and Hellcat motors, but they won’t be sold in states that align with the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) regulations.
The base 5.7-liter Hemi will be sold everywhere, but the Durango R/T with a 392 V8 and the Hellcat’s supercharged 6.2-liter V8 won’t be available in non-CARB states, leaving buyers in 18 states without the option for the most powerful Durango models. Despite that, Dodge said it is working with CARB to find ways to bring the beefier V8s to those markets.
The automaker issued guidance to dealers, letting them know about the availability of the 392 and Hellcat powertrains. Stellantis has had a mixed history with CARB regulations, initially opposing them before agreeing to comply with its regulations over any federal rules.
While that means buyers in several states won’t see the hottest Durango variants, they still get a V8-powered SUV, though it’s possible the company works something out with CARB to allow the larger engines to go on sale. That said, it will be interesting to see what modifications have to be made to bring those engines into compliance, if it’s possible at all.
[Images: Stellantis]
Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.
