Joe Aljajawi, lead engineer for the WL-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, has hinted that the Hemi V8 may not be gone for good. In an interview with The Drive, Aljajawi stopped short of confirming a return but delivered a clear message to loyalists.

“I would say for the Grand Cherokee customers that we are listening to you, and then stay tuned for more,” he said. For a brand that officially pulled the plug on the V8 just two years ago, that phrasing matters.

The refreshed 2026 Grand Cherokee was revealed a few months ago with a revised powertrain lineup, yet there is still no V8 option. Buyers must choose between the familiar 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and a new turbocharged four-cylinder from the Hurricane family. Neither configuration matches the old 5.7-liter Hemi’s 7,200-pound tow rating. For customers who used the SUV as a legitimate tow vehicle, that absence remains a sore spot.

Back in 2023, Stellantis removed the 5.7-liter Hemi from the Grand Cherokee. The three-row Grand Cherokee L briefly retained the V8, but that option disappeared in 2024. The decision aligned with tightening emissions standards and a broader pivot toward electrification. Still, it left a capability gap in the lineup and frustrated a loyal customer base that valued towing performance and V8 character.

Yet even as the Grand Cherokee lost its Hemi, signals emerged that the corporation was not finished with eight cylinders. Jeep expanded Hemi availability in other SUVs. The Ram 1500 saw a surge in orders when the V8 returned to the order sheet. There is also mounting hype surrounding a potential V8 revival for the Dodge Charger. The narrative has shifted from managed decline to selective resurgence.

Kristen Brown

The backdrop to all of this is financial pressure. Stellantis absorbed a reported $2.6 billion hit in 2025, prompting leadership to reassess product strategy. The recalibration centers on giving core buyers what they actually want rather than forcing a rapid transition away from legacy powertrains. Enthusiast demand has proven more resilient than some forecasts suggested. Trucks and SUVs with V8 options continue to command attention and margin.

Adding weight to the speculation, the company has reportedly targeted production of more than 100,000 Hemi V8 engines this year, a volume that suggests more than a symbolic revival. If manufacturing capacity is being restored and demand remains measurable, it is not difficult to envision the Grand Cherokee rejoining the fold, especially since the WL platform previously supported the 5.7-liter Hemi with upgraded brakes and cooling hardware, meaning the engineering pathway already exists.

Aljajawi’s “stay tuned” comment does not guarantee a return, but it signals openness, and with Stellantis appearing to listen more closely to its base as boat season approaches and V8 enthusiasm remains strong, a Hemi-powered Grand Cherokee no longer feels far-fetched.

Stellantis