SRT Has Made a Comeback with Ram Chief Tim Kuniskis Leading the Charge

      Stellantis

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      Four years ago, when Fiat Chrysler transformed into Stellantis, it appeared that the North American SRT performance division might not survive. Existing SRT models such as Hellcats and Demons continued to be available, but new ones were no longer in the pipeline. However, Stellantis has experienced significant global changes in the past six months, including the exit of former CEO Carlos Tavares and the retirement and return of former Dodge (now Ram) leader Tim Kuniskis. Today, Stellantis announced that Kuniskis will oversee all operations within the North American group, in addition to his responsibilities at Ram. His first initiative is to revive SRT.

      Kuniskis officially announced the division's return in a video uploaded to YouTube this morning, titled “SRT Returns.” As the camera explores Stellantis’ North American headquarters, adorned with the familiar Pentastar logo, Kuniskis recalls SRT’s beginnings as the skunkworks team that created the original Viper in 1989.

      “We’re getting the band back together,” Kuniskis stated in a press release. “SRT is another box we needed to check as we move into a product launch schedule that will offer more performance than we’ve ever seen before. We’re collaborating with our product development and technology organization to recruit the best engineers in powertrain and vehicle dynamics to establish a team that lives up to the SRT name.”

      In the video, Kuniskis also mentions recruiting efforts. This is noteworthy as Stellantis previously downplayed SRT's dissolution by stating that the engineers from the division were not leaving the company but were being reassigned to different teams.

      One might speculate that SRT’s initial focus will be on the new Charger, which has had a rocky introduction. The electric muscle car did not receive favorable reviews initially, and Dodge discreetly discontinued the entry-level R/T trim while reportedly refocusing on the Hurricane inline-six versions of the coupe and sedan. Additionally, Kuniskis’ return to Ram coincided with the reinstatement of the Hemi V8 in its trucks, while the company has hinted at the engine's long-anticipated return in the Charger.

      SRT’s relaunch should delight enthusiasts, but my hope is that the division does not solely concentrate on Chargers with high horsepower figures. The Viper was certainly powerful, but the later ACR variants gained fame for their handling, earning a Nurburgring lap record. The Neon SRT-4 was a symbol of affordable performance about two decades ago, and the Neon already had a reputation as an autocross champion.

      Chrysler’s performance division used to encompass more than just dominating the drag strip, and I hope SRT keeps that in mind for its next chapter. We never saw a high-performance Dart, which felt like a missed chance; I wouldn't oppose a Hornet SRT. What would you like to see the team create? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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