The days of electrification are upon us. Automakers left and right are making the transition to hybrid and battery electric vehicles. A performance vehicle is now less synonymous with large displacement and a throaty exhaust note. Brands that have been previously known for their high-output V8s are moving to smaller engines and more electrification. Mercedes-AMG recently announced the new AMG GT Coupe with a plug-in powertrain. In the not-too-distant past, hybridizing a performance vehicle would be a cardinal sin to purists.

But this is 2021. We can have our cake and eat it too. Vehicles today can put out insane numbers with a partially electrified powertrain or a fully electric one. Take the Tesla Model S Plaid, for example. It is the quickest production vehicle ever made and is running solely off a battery pack.

But where does that leave us with old-school performance? There is something to a naturally aspirated or supercharged big-block V8 that is so satisfying. Thankfully there are still brands like SRT.

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SRT Offers Performance In Its Purest Form

2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Widebody on show.
Via: Trevor Hofmann / HotCars.com

Now a sub-brand of parent company Stellantis, SRT (Street and Racing Technology) currently provides powerplants for the Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands. Its portfolio consists of supercharged and naturally aspirated V8s - no electrification here. It is all about high horsepower and a harmonious exhaust note. These engines are all about the sheer adrenaline that comes with a traditional V8.

Today there are two engines are offered under the SRT moniker. A naturally aspirated 6.4-liter V8 producing 470 - 485 hp and 475lb-ft of torque is the standard engine by SRT. Stepping up to the infamous supercharged Hellcat engine bumps the specs up to a maximum of 807 horsepower and 707lb-ft of torque.

The engineers at SRT know that their followers want smile-inducing dynamics and not much more. Part of the charm is the stripped-down performance found in their vehicles. In 2018, when Dodge sold the absolutely bonkers Challenger Demon standard with only one seat and no audio system. This was all in the name of the best performance possible.

The horsepower to price ratio for a Stellantis vehicle powered by SRT is among the best in the industry. A new charger Scat Pack with the naturally aspirated V8 starts at only $42,800, which is below the average transaction price of $45,000 for a new vehicle in the US, according to Kelly Blue Book.

RELATED: 2015 Dodge Charger SRT 392 Review: Old School Cool

Are They Behind The Times?

2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
Via: Wikimedia Commons

It may be questioned if the path SRT has been on is still relevant. Do driving enthusiasts still want a big gas-guzzling V8, or do they want the most power and instant torque possible? Some SRT vehicles such as the Challenger and the Charger are riding on platforms from the Daimler Chrysler era in the 1990s.

The SRT powerplants lag behind the competition with gas mileage. Albeit many customers looking for a muscle car aren’t expecting stellar gas mileage, other automakers have proven that performance and being green are not mutually exclusive.

Most automakers have a vehicle in their lineup that demonstrates the pinnacle of their performance capability. SRT has churned out some impressive engines but do not currently have any in a halo performance vehicle. The Dodge Viper at one time filled that spot but was discontinued for the 2017 model year. Halo cars aren’t typically huge sellers but can bring credibility to the brand like many automakers are demonstrating right now.

Performance takes on many forms these days and SRT represents the loud and brash portion of the segment. You also do not have to settle for just one type of vehicle to get SRT powered performance. Have a Family? The Dodge Durango Hellcat can seat 6 and go from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. Need a truck? The Ram 1500 TRX has a full 702 ponies to help you with that payload. Like to go off-roading? The Jeep Rubicon 392 has 6.4-liters of absolute potency to get you there.

For those who prioritize the iconic muscle car and high-revving V8s, SRT as a sub brand has a lot going for it. It elicits the raw emotion of power for its drivers. The persona of SRT is the idyllic portrayal of what a stereotypical performance vehicle is for decades now.

But the tide is changing and what we perceive as a powerful vehicle is open to interpretation. More so now it is less on the displacement of the engine and more on how big the battery pack is or how many electric motors it has. Stellantis has already hinted at ways electrification will infiltrate its brands that offer SRT engines.

Right now, we can appreciate there are options for both parties. In this golden age of power, we see impressive gas and electrified options. Though If you are on the side of old school power, time may be running out to buy a new Hellcat before it can only be found in museums.