The 710-HP Dodge Durango Hellcat Is Finally Legal Everywhere, Yes, Even California

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In the true spirit of muscle-car defiance, Dodge has confirmed that its outrageous 2026 Durango SRT Hellcat is now legal for sale in all 50 U.S. states after months of regulatory limbo. The supercharged, V8-powered SUV that once couldn’t be sold in emissions-strict markets like California, New York, and Oregon will finally be available coast to coast with orders open nationwide.

At its core, the Durango SRT Hellcat remains unabashedly old-school. Beneath its hood sits a 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8 good for 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque, a power output few SUVs of any size dare to claim. That engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and standard all-wheel drive, propels the three-row body from 0 to 60 mph in roughly the mid-three-second range and lets it tow heavy trailers with up to 8,700 pounds of capacity.

This isn’t a trimmed-down version either. It’s the full Hellcat experience, engine yowl and all. Dodge still positions it as the fastest production American gas SUV on sale, full stop.

The saga began earlier in 2025 when the Hellcat (and its somewhat tamer R/T sibling) were barred from sale in 17 states that follow California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions standards. Those markets, which account for a major slice of U.S. new car purchases, had effectively blocked the high-performance Durango variants because their emissions didn’t meet the stricter local limits. Fans in those states were limited to the base Durango GT with its tamer 5.7-liter V8 engine.

Dodge did not go into technical detail when it announced the shift to full certification, but according to multiple automotive sources the company worked closely with regulators to meet the necessary emissions thresholds. Those adjustments could involve software tweaks, calibration changes, or hardware calibrations that reduce certain pollutants during testing cycles — though neither Dodge nor regulators publicly explained the exact fixes.

Whatever the method, the result is that enthusiasts in traditionally blocked states can now spec a new Durango SRT Hellcat right from the factory instead of scouring the used market for old supercharged SUVs. Dealers in California, Massachusetts, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and other previously restricted states will receive allocations for these performance SUVs.

Joining the broad market release is the Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak variant, a configuration program that unlocks an astonishing array of customization options. Customers can choose from millions of possible combinations of exterior colors, wheel styles, stripe graphics, interior trims, brake caliper finishes, and more. This kind of configurator experience is part of Dodge’s effort to turn each SUV into a personal statement as much as a performance machine.

Dodge has leaned into the spectacle too, rolling out bold paint options like Triple Nickel and B5 Blue, and even staging a playful holiday-themed social-media push that likened the Durango to a supercharged Santa sleigh.

This decision comes at a time when much of the auto industry is charging toward electrification and tighter emissions rules. That makes Dodge’s nationwide Hellcat launch more than just a marketing win. It signals a willingness to keep raw internal-combustion performance alive even as competitors pivot aggressively to hybrids and EVs. The move also underscores the durability of demand for high-output gas engines among a dedicated segment of buyers who value horsepower and heritage over electrified efficiency.

This development could also be interpreted as a calculated business play. Durango sales have climbed steadily over the past year, and the Hellcat sits at the top of that lineup as a halo product. Making it available everywhere not only broadens the potential customer base but also keeps Dodge’s performance credentials front and center in a crowded SUV market.

The broader narrative here is twofold. On one hand, a muscle-SUV that once seemed politically and environmentally untenable in big states like California is now certified for sale across the U.S. On the other, the industry is watching to see how this regulatory flexibility might influence future high-performance models — or whether this is a last hurrah for uncompromising internal-combustion performance before electrification takes over.

Either way, Dodge has just delivered one of the most intriguing automotive stories of the season by taking a loud, unapologetic, 710-horsepower SUV from limited spot to nationwide availability. Santa’s sleigh has, as Stellantis says, got supercharged.