So what does everyone think it'll be? Updated HEMI? Pentastar based V8? Or?
What would a DOHC HEMI be like with direct injection?

120V

The Energizer Bunny

Who gives a hoot? We're all stuck on LAs and B/RBs, with a few Poly and Firepower holdouts.

R.

True, but with all the Gen III threads lately it may be coming around. Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts (or first hand rumors) about what to expect for the next V8. I'm pretty confident the Pentastar will get turbos in the near future

I think you'll find it if you Google it, but, sometime during the last recession Chrysler went on record saying that the V8 will be gone from the car line-up and only the trucks will have them. 25 mpg in a V8 car shows how far they have come, but it won't cut it when a 4 or 6 will do the same job and cost you less; which they realize.

I would expect expanded variations of Pentastar power (the new 3.2 for example) and MDS in a V6 like other manufactures are doing.

In the trucks, maybe expect a turbo Pentastar as the top option in 1500's with V8 power on 2500's only. CAFE is a determining factor.

I don't think the V8's will change a whole lot more than what they already have. Unless there is some magic technology, every performance/efficiency trick in the book has been used on the V8's: 300 cfm aluminum heads, lightweight rotating assemblies, roller valvetrain, trick intake/exhaust manifolds, electric fans, it's all there.

The bodies is where all the change is about to happen: Ford is all aluminum. Not much mention of the gas-guzzling 6.2 in any of the introduction propoganda, more like a focus on the smaller V6 turbo. To cheat the wind the Rams have gotten lower, active grilles, less power-robbing transmissions, more aerodynamics, air-suspension for lowering the truck, and on and on.

Lighter weight, more aero, and as mentioned, electric assist is where it's at.

Challenger? It may be the lone survivor with a V8. In the big picture, it's time could be limited. Very little is being said about the next version.........if there even is one.

Personally (and I have no info to back this up) I think the V8 will be around, just alot smaller cu in wise and use forced induction for big HP. I'm kind of leaning towards a 4.8 litre V8 Pentastar, extrapolating the 3.6 's #'s, a 4.8 would be a tick over 400 HP, not bad. And this isn't with direct injection. The 8spd would be perfectly matched, low torque peaky motors like lots of gears to keep them in the power band. Or maybe it's just wishful thinking
I know Chrysler said the V8's time was limited but that was made during a recession and bankruptcy, alot has changed since then

I find it kind of ironic now that we have variable cam timing, cylinder deactivation, direct injection on the horizon... and all that garbage to expand/flatten the TQ curve that now they come out with a trans that can keep the engine in a very narrow power band Seems like engineers just trying to do something to keep their jobs

For what it's worth I have read several different articles talking about chrysler is gonna add direct injection to the Hemi and it was planned back in the day to support that possibility. However the restructure, bankruptcy, economy crashing because of the dems, daimler and cerebrus having their way with chrysler... has all delayed implementing it.