Jeep plans to put a Hemi V-8 into more of its vehicles, and will continue offering the big engine in its top-end Wrangler 392 going forward after that trim was initially expected to come to an end by last year, brand CEO Bob Broderdorf said Thursday.

Jeep's plan to bring back the brawny engines to its SUV lineup mirrors Stellantis NV sibling Ram— which recently announced the Hemi's revival in its light-duty pickups — and comes as President Donald Trump and a GOP-controlled Congress slash emission and fuel economy standards that had forced the engine's slow demise in the first place.

Broderdorf said at a Detroit media gathering that "new projects are already underway" to bring the Hemi back in other Jeeps, though he wouldn't specify which ones. He said it's part of a larger strategy to add "bigger powertrains, more (gas-powered) variants, more capability, with bigger tires and more volume."

"Wrangler and Gladiator fans, and Hemi fans in general, don't worry, we got you," he added.

The CEO, who took the helm of Jeep six months ago, said there are a number of other changes either underway or planned at the offroad brand. Among them: the return of the midsize Cherokee in hybrid form later this year; the all-new electric Recon, also expected late in the year; a refreshed full-size Grand Wagoneer expected at dealers this fall; more customization options coming for fans of Jeep's flagship Wrangler and Gladiator models; and efforts to trim prices across several models to more closely match similar vehicles from competitors.

"The brand no longer has a pricing problem," Broderdorf said, urging customers who may have dismissed the SUVs as too costly a year ago to look again. Dealers and customers had grown increasingly frustrated by the brand's prices, which shot up significantly in recent years.

There have been signs of a Jeep turnaround early in Broderdorf's tenure. U.S. Jeep sales were up slightly in the second quarter, a relative bright spot for an automaker whose overall sales fell 10% in the period. High-profit models including the Wrangler, Gladiator and Grand Cherokee have been solid sellers of late, the CEO noted.

Wrangler and Gladiator, two models that already come in several varieties, including some wild colors, will offer more customization potential out of the Toledo factory going forward, Broderdorf said: "We're going to unlock options, new colors, new features with engine variants," he said. "Why can't you get a Wrangler with matching body color fender flares in Mojito green? You should be able to do that."

On Jeep's pricing and incentive schemes, Broderdorf promised more consistency. He said every model has seen pricing adjustments in recent months except for the Wrangler, which will be adjusted once the 2026 model comes out.

Vehicle prices not in line with the competition — even when discounts were substantial — led to customer confusion and lost sales, he said. "When you have this crazy (high) price, but then you have this crazy (large) discount, it's like, what is the real price?"

Ralph Mahalak, Jr., who has Jeep dealerships in Michigan, Ohio and Florida, said the brand's pricing is "significantly better" and more competitive than a year ago. He noted that Jeep's most affordable model, the Compass, just got substantial price cuts on two popular trims.

As for the Hemi's comeback at Jeep, the retailer said it might make sense to put it in the Detroit-made Grand Cherokee. The similarly-sized Durango that's made at the same plant still has a V-8 iteration, he noted.

"They're definitely moving in a gas direction, that's for sure," Mahalak said.

©2025 www.detroitnews.com. Visit at detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.