19Sep
Stellantis/Dodge press kit states that the entire Durango lineup for 2026 will come standard with HEMI V8 power.
“For the first time, every Dodge Durango — from the well-equipped entry GT model to the 710-horsepower SRT Hellcat — will come standard with a legendary HEMI V-8 engine, giving drivers more power, more performance, and more value than ever before.”
While this is great news for Dodge and performance fans, it also means that the Durango, specifically the R/T 392 and SRT Hellcat models, has automatically disqualified itself from US jurisdictions that abide by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) standards.
That’s eighteen US states, including Washington, that still follow CARB rules, which remain in effect despite the Trump administration’s repeal of the fuel economy fines for automakers dating back to 2022.
The HEMI-powered Durangos—from the high-output V8 powertrains in the Durango R/T 392 (6.4-liter naturally aspirated) to the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 Hellcat—won’t be sold in CARB states due to their strict emissions and fuel‐economy standards.
While industry watchers saw this coming since Stellantis announced the Durango’s HEMI powertrains, a Dodge spokesperson recently confirmed to Motor1 that the R/T and Hellcat models will avoid CARB states. That leaves the base GT, which gets motivation from a 5.7-liter Hemi V8, as the available model for all states.
“The Dodge Durango GT, the spokesperson told Motor1, “with the 5.7-liter Hemi, will be available in all states. The Dodge Durango R/T 392 and Durango SRT Hellcat are available in non-CARB states.”
Meanwhile, Dodge is reportedly working on getting CARB states’ approval for the disqualified R/T 392 and Hellcat powertrains, saying that it will “continue to work with CARB on opportunities to sell these two powertrains in all states alongside the 5.7-liter Durango GT.”
The list of CARB states and territories includes: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C.
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