Mopar Rights EV Wrong With New 885HP Crate Engine
Mopar has gone wild with this particular GTX, at its return to the 2026 SEMA Show comes with a rather serious upgrade, 885 horsepower. The blue Plymouth first appeared at SEMA in 2024 as the GTX Electromod, a demonstration of Mopar’s proposed electric conversion technology for classic muscle cars. Now it has returned as the first vehicle fitted with Direct Connection’s new Hellcrate Redeye Super Stock crate engine package. Apparently, there was also a little unfinished business with the original owner.
Tim Kuniskis, head of American Brands, SRT Performance and Direct Connection at Stellantis North America, admitted that the owner Mopar bought the car from wasn’t particularly pleased when it was turned into an EV. His summary of the GTX’s new configuration was considerably more straightforward: “We heard him. So this year, we fixed it.” That’s one way of settling an argument.
From 335 Electric Horsepower To 885 HEMI Horses
The original GTX Electromod was an interesting engineering piece. Mopar installed a 400-volt electric drive module producing approximately 335 horsepower, with power going to the rear wheels through a 3:1 gear reducer. Four battery packs supplied the electricity, giving the car a combined capacity of 73 kWh and an estimated range of 250 miles.
Three battery packs sat inside a carbon-fiber case on a custom aluminum frame in the trunk, while the fourth was positioned behind the front grille. Each pack weighed approximately 230 pounds. That puts the combined battery weight at around 920 pounds, a substantial amount of hardware to squeeze into a classic muscle car. For 2026, Mopar has replaced that entire electric setup with a 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8. The Hellcrate Redeye Super Stock crate engine displaces 376 cubic inches and uses a 2.7-liter IHI twin-screw supercharger. Direct Connection rates it at up to 885 hp and 787 lb-ft of torque in High Octane Mode, with a maximum engine speed of 6,500 rpm.
That is 550 more horsepower than the electric configuration had on tap. The difference is difficult to ignore, particularly when the new engine is sitting under a hood with a very obvious HEMI scoop. The engine is paired with Direct Connection’s TorqueFlite 8HP90 eight-speed automatic transmission package. Its 4.71:1 first gear provides a short initial ratio for getting the car moving, while seventh and eighth gears are overdrives. The transmission has a 7.06:1 overall ratio spread, giving the GTX both aggressive acceleration gearing and taller ratios for cruising.
Mopar Didn’t Stop At The Engine
The transformation also gives the GTX a few visual changes that make the new powertrain feel right at home. The Frostbite Blue paint remains, as do the widened rear wheel openings and lowered three-link suspension. However, the carbon-fiber hood has made way for a vintage hood with a large HEMI scoop and custom dual stripes. The car rides on 18-by-9-inch BTG Vintage Bronze forged magnesium wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero PZ4 tires. Mopar also retained the carbon-fiber front splitter and low-profile rear spoiler, while the shaved body-color bumpers and satin-black trim give the car a cleaner, more modern appearance.
Inside, the cabin carries over most of the Electromod’s custom work. The original low-back seats have been replaced with modified Jeep Wrangler front seats, upholstered in IndiGo Blue leather with Gunmetal suede inner bolsters. Vintage Bronze accents and orange stitching carry the same color scheme throughout the cabin, including the flat-bottom steering wheel. Mopar kept the manual window cranks. The team also retained the classic door-panel appearance while adding a redesigned center console and custom gauges. Removing the middle rear seating position creates a 2+2 layout, with updated seat belts for the occupants.
A New HEMI Crate Engine For Builders
There is another reason this GTX is at SEMA. It is the first build to receive Direct Connection’s new Hellcrate Redeye Super Stock crate engine package, part of a six-package HEMI crate lineup due in 2027. The range starts with a 5.7-liter HEMI producing 385 hp and climbs all the way to the Hellephant C170, rated at 1,025 hp on an E85 blend. The GTX’s 885-hp Redeye sits near the top, offering a factory-backed option for builders who want serious supercharged HEMI power without sourcing every component separately.
The packages combine the engines with matching control hardware and are designed for automatic or manual transmission applications. Direct Connection says the new packages will become available in the first quarter of 2027, although pricing has yet to be announced. As for the GTX, its SEMA return gives Mopar a rather entertaining opportunity to show off both sides of its performance catalog. Its first appearance explored what happens when you remove the V8 from a classic muscle car. Its second demonstrates what happens when you put an 885-hp supercharged HEMI back in its place.
Source: SEMA
Related posts
Latest Post
No Comments