Automotive conglomerate Stellantis has confirmed that the SRT (Street and Racing Technology) group is being revived. It never went away as a moniker, but it used to be a performance division within the Chrysler corporate structure, and was even briefly its own brand. The announcement coincides with the automaker appointing Tim Kuniskis to oversee all Stellantis American brands while remaining the CEO of Ram.
“We’re getting the band back together,” Kuniskis said. “SRT is another box we needed to check as we head into a product launch cadence, enabling more performance than we’ve ever seen before. We’re working with our product development and technology organization to select the best engineers in powertrain and vehicle dynamics to build a team worthy of the SRT name.”
The SRT group marketed high-performance vehicles starting in 2003, ranging from the humble Dodge Neon SRT-4 to the raucous V10-powered Dodge Ram SRT-10 and, of course, the Dodge Viper SRT-10. When it was its own brand from 2013-2014 during the Chrysler Group LLC era, it marketed the Viper as its only model.
The SRT team was formally dissolved when FCA merged with PSA to become Stellantis in 2021, but SRT branding remained on high-performance Dodge models. Now, performance engineers from all four Stellanits American brands are being consolidated into the resurrected division.
Tim Kuniskis is the man responsible for bringing the Hemi V8 back to the Ram 1500 lineup. Kuniskis said Ram “screwed up when we dropped the HEMI” and its hiatus only lasted a year. His dedication to the Hemi is a hint that we might see more traditional muscle car DNA spread through not only Ram, but Dodge, Jeep, and possibly even Chrysler.
It appears that SRT won’t be a brand like it briefly was in the 2010s, but a performance division comparable to the Chevrolet Performance and Cadillac V-Series teams. It will be interesting to see what the new SRT comes up with and whether we’ll see Stellantis rivals to GM performance models like a Jeep Grand Wagoneer SRT to rival the Cadillac Escalade-V or even the return of the Viper to rival the Corvette.
Comments
Oh, we have another auto exec in need of a brain transplant. Out of all the things that the US Stellantis portfolio needs, this should be near the bottom, especially in uncertain economic times.
Tim is fantastic! Tavares wrecked Stellantis, especially RAM and Dodge. Not quite as bad as Jaguar is now though, lol. Tim will get things turned around.
Tim Kuniskis is the right person to lead Stellantis in the US and at the right time. He’s an amazing marketer that dealer’s respect. Looking forward to great things to come!
so this means Dodge and Ford both have V8 muscle cars. And Chevrolet does not, and probably never will again.(corvette does not count) btw
They need to fire that CEO from GM, she wants that godd*** #unagenda2030 garbage.
Thank you Donald Trump!
I work in the performance market and I want cool cars as much as anyone. When you make your living that way it matters more than just fun.
But here is the trouble. Stellantis and Ford both have major quality issues and sales issues. They really need to focus more on fixing the models that make the money for the company than the push for more PR right now with racing. GM is not as bad but they have things to fix too.
The American brands need to focus on new models people can afford and want to buy. They need reliability too.
Right now Hyundai is selling cars cheaper and more of them. They are appealing and have utility to do what most owners need to do. All rthat and they too have had quality issues.
The American three have lived on truck sales but the price of them is getting too high.
The hope is the Chinese cars are coming and if we can’t keep them taxed out they will undersell out products.
It is happening in Mexico now and I have seen Chinese cars in California already.
GM at least has been working toward this with the Trax where they discontent the option of AWD for a lighter and lower cost to build platform that sells for less. People like it and sales are strong.
Raptors and such are fun but they are not profit points. Neither are $400K Mustangs.
Also we need to watch as be it 4 years or 8 years an election can undo all this again. You have people in NY that may elect a Commie mayor.
GM has done a good job as it has retained the Corvette and it sold well. It is do for a new model and it is already on the way. Sad to see the Camaro go but there was no money made there as sales declined as it could not be sold cheap. Even with crank windows it was never going to be cheap on a Cadillac platform.
Some major changes are going to come and it will be in the name of profits as that is what really matters not who won at North Wilkesboro.
I was just at a NHRA race and crowds are down not just there but most races anymore. Just look at the stands.
Great insight. I think this works for some models like the Trax for people needing basic transportation at a lower cost. I have considered the new Terrain as it is the size vehicle I want but it lacks in power and has minimal towing capacity. I’m not pulling car trailers, but do need to pickup items from the home center or pull a lawn mower trailer occasionally. Does it really cost that much more to use a 2.0 or 2.5 L engine over the 1.5 currently used? The 1.5 doesn’t impress me with mpg either.