Sources close to the supply chain leaked word that Stellantis is stepping back on EV investments in favor of reviving the legendary Hemi V8 muscle. The Banshee cancellation mirrors the earlier scrapping of the base electric Charger Daytona and Ram 1500 REV, signaling a sharp pivot away from full electrification on Dodge’s turf.
Stellantis’s official line dances around it, highlighting a “reassessment” of product strategy to better fit customer demand. The resurrection of the SRT division, now laser-focused on V8-powered performance, fits with rumors that a new V8 Charger is on the horizon. Dodge fans craving the roar of a muscle car might have just won this round.
For electric muscle car hopefuls, the Banshee’s death is a hard reality check, speed alone isn’t enough without the soul and sound that makes muscle cars legends. Dodge’s back-to-basics approach may disappoint some but fans of gas firepower are cheering the end of whining EV powertrains.
The Charger Banshee EV could have been iconic. Instead, it joins the growing list of electric projects reined in as automakers balance the future with heritage. If V8 muscle is back, it’s lighting up the gas pumps again.