Direct Connection Reignites HEMI® Crate Engine Lineup With Relaunch of Supercharged 1,000-horsepower Hellephant, Race-ready Drag Pak Engines

Rhea-AI Summary

Direct Connection (STLA) relaunched two upgraded crate HEMI engines ahead of SEMA: the 1,000-horsepower Hellephant A30 426 Supercharged and the race-ready 354 Supercharged Drag Pak. Ordering opens Nov. 4, 2025 at the SEMA Show and online at DCPerformance.com. The Hellephant is rated at 1,000 hp / 950 lb.-ft. with an MSRP of $34,995 and begins shipments in November. The Drag Pak crate engine carries an MSRP of $63,995 with expected delivery 4–6 weeks and is the crate version of the championship-winning 354 used in the 2026 Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak.

Positive

• Engine power: Hellephant 1,000 hp and 950 lb.-ft.
• Pricing disclosed: Hellephant $34,995, Drag Pak $63,995
• Ordering begins Nov. 4, 2025 with online details at DCPerformance.com
• Hellephant shipments begin in November 2025

Negative

• Drag Pak expected delivery time of 4–6 weeks
• Hellephant crate requires separate upgraded kit for modern fitment
• Hellephant limited to race-only or pre-1976 vehicle installations when paired

Insights

Automotive performance product strategist

Direct Connection relaunches two high-performance crate HEMI engines with clear commercial terms and immediate ordering at SEMA.

These offerings reboot the 1,000-horsepower Hellephant A30 426 crate engine and a race-derived 354 Supercharged Drag Pak crate engine as purchasable, factory-backed products. Both engines include explicit technical upgrades, installation kit references, part numbers and U.S. MSRPs ($34,995 for the Hellephant and $63,995 for the Drag Pak), which creates direct revenue channels through Direct Connection and dealer networks.

The business depends on demand from enthusiasts and race teams and on supply/production timing; the Hellephant begins shipments in November while the Drag Pak is built to order with a stated delivery lead time of four to six weeks. Monitor order flow at the SEMA activation on Nov. 4, early shipment volumes in November, and aftermarket accessory/kit uptake (part numbers provided) over the following 1–3 months to judge commercial traction.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 

• 1,000-horsepower Direct Connection Hellephant A30 426 Supercharged Crate HEMI® engine relaunches with suite of new engine upgrades
• Updated NHRA championship-winning Direct Connection 354 Supercharged Drag Pak HEMI engine — the same engine that powers the all-new Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak race car — also available as a crate engine
• Pair of refreshed crate engines to be offered through Direct Connection, within the newly reestablished Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Performance division
• Ordering for Hellephant and Drag Pak crate engines opens Nov. 4 at the 2025 SEMA Show, with attendees able to place orders in person in the Direct Connection section of the Mopar SEMA display
• Additional ordering information and Direct Connection crate engine product details available at DCPerformance.com

Direct Connection doubles down on HEMI® power for the 2025 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. The performance parts brand is refueling its crate engine lineup with the relaunch of newly upgraded versions of the Hellephant A30 426 Supercharged Crate HEMI engine and the 354 Supercharged Drag Pak HEMI engine.

The 1,000-horsepower, 950-lb.-ft.-of-torque, Hellephant A30 426 Supercharged Crate HEMI engine and the 354 Supercharged Drag Pak HEMI engine — a crate engine version of the championship-winning powerplant featured in the all-new 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection — will be on display in the Mopar SEMA Show exhibit, along with the Drag Pak and additional crate engines from the Direct Connection lineup.

Direct Connection performance parts are now included within the newly reestablished Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Performance division, which is also responsible for SRT high-performance models and American brand motorsports initiatives, including Dodge competition in NHRA and the Ram brand's recently announced plans to return to the NASCAR Truck Series in 2026.

"The desire for HEMI engine power is stronger than ever, and Direct Connection is ready to supply gearheads the horsepower they crave through two newly upgraded crate HEMI engines," said Chad Seymour, head of Direct Connection crate engines. "Direct Connection is keeping the pedal down. With the recent reveal of the all-new Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak race car and the relaunch of the Hellephant and Drag Pak crate engines, the Direct Connection portfolio continues to evolve and expand."

Ordering for the Hellephant A30 426 Supercharged Crate HEMI engine and the 354 Supercharged Drag Pak HEMI engine opens on Nov. 4, with SEMA Show attendees able to place orders in person at the Direct Connection section of the Mopar SEMA display. The Hellephant A30 426 Supercharged Crate HEMI will begin shipments in November. The 354 Supercharged Drag Pak HEMI engine is built to order with an expected delivery time of four to six weeks.  

Additional ordering information and info on Direct Connection crate engine product details are available at DCPerformance.com.

Direct Connection Hellephant A30 426 Supercharged Crate HEMI Engine
The 1,000-horsepower, with 950 lb.-ft of torque, Hellephant A30 426 Supercharged crate HEMI engine shook the show floor when it debuted at SEMA in 2018. The relaunched version boasts a menu of upgrades:

• Newly designed GEN III aluminum HEMI engine block includes select six-bolt main metal caps for added strength and precision CNC torque plate honed cylinders
• All-new, high-performance, 4340 forged-steel, eight-counterweight crankshaft with gun drilled mains and lightened rod journals
• All-new, high-performance, 4340 forged-steel, H-beam connecting rods, with increased cross-sectional thickness for strength and ARP 2000 bolts
• Upgraded IHI 3.0L twin-screw supercharger
• New Litens high-performance, lightweight billet supercharger belt tensioner

Additional features of the Hellephant engine include:

• 426-cubic-inch displacement
• 4.125-inch bore/4.000-inch stroke
• 3.17-inch diameter supercharger pulley
• Gates supercharger drive belt
• Injector Dynamics 1050 injectors
• 92mm throttle body
• 356 aluminum, HEMI spherical combustion chamber cylinder heads
• Mahle custom forged aluminum pistons
• High-performance hydraulic roller camshaft valve/lift duration @ 0.15 mm
• 54.3 mm intake valve size, 42 mm exhaust valve size
• 9.5:1 compression ratio
• 6,800 peak rpm
• Recommended fuel: Premium

The Direct Connection Hellephant A30 426 Supercharged Crate HEMI engine (part number: 5160194AD) is available at a U.S. manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $34,995. The Hellephant can be dropped into any race-only or pre-1976 vehicle when paired with an upgraded "plug and play" engine kit (part number: 77072500AE, sold separately), which has been updated with a revised engine calibration to ensure optimal performance and durability.

Direct Connection 354 Supercharged Drag Pak HEMI Engine
Fresh off the reveal of the all-new 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak, Direct Connection is offering a crate engine version of the upgraded, championship-winning 354 Supercharged HEMI that will power the first Charger Drag Pak.

The 354 Supercharged Drag Pak HEMI engine is loaded with new features, including:

• Newly designed GEN III aluminum HEMI engine block includes select six-bolt main metal caps for added strength and precision CNC Torque plate honed cylinders
• All-new race billet eight-counterweight crankshaft machined from 4330V Timken steel with gun drilled mains and custom machined counterweight for reduced windage
• All-new, high-performance, forged-steel, H-beam connecting rods with ARP L19 fasteners
• New Litens high-performance lightweight billet supercharger belt tensioner

Additional features of the Drag Pak engine include:

• Whipple 3.0L twin-screw supercharger
• 3.5-inch supercharger pulley
• Diamond race-designed, forged aluminum pistons
• Mopar spec camshaft with 0.675-inch lift
• Billet timing gears front drive and SFI-approved ATI damper
• Jesel valvetrain for improved rigidity
• PAC Racing dual valve springs
• Billet aluminum, 109mm throttle body
• American Racing headers – 304 stainless with merge collectors
• Moroso billet aluminum oil pan with fabricated aluminum sump
• Installed sensors: Cam and crank position, oil pressure and temperature, intake T-MAP (temperature and pressure)
• Uses Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 (8 qt.) and Mopar oil filter (part number: 05038041AA)
• Recommended fuel: VP C16

The Direct Connection 354 Supercharged Drag Pak HEMI Engine (part number: P5160354AD) is available at a U.S. MSRP of $63,995. Direct Connection also offers an ECU Kit (part number: P5160240AA) and Drag Pak Electrical/Fuel Kit (part number: P5160239AC), both sold separately, for plug-and-play installation.

Direct Connection
The Direct Connection portfolio, available online and through dealers, includes modern performance, crate engine, race and vintage muscle high-performance products for performance vehicles, offering factory street, strip and track performance parts developed by SRT engineers and backed by a Mopar warranty for peace of mind.

Performance enthusiasts and racers can access the Direct Connection hotline at (800) 998-1110 for technical and race support. More information on Direct Connection is available at DCPerformance.com.

SRT
Street and Racing Technology (SRT) is the Performance division of Stellantis' American brands. Rooted in a rich heritage of muscle cars and motorsports, SRT vehicles are engineered for enthusiasts who crave visceral, uncompromising performance. Every SRT model reflects the spirit of American ingenuity—featuring powerful engines, precision-tuned suspensions, race-inspired braking systems, proper tire applications and bold design.

SRT continues to redefine the limits of performance, seamlessly merging undeniable credibility with track and trail capability. Backed by elite engineering teams that fuel a sub-culture, every SRT vehicle delivers an adrenaline-fueled experience—on pavement or off-road—that's as thrilling as it is authentic.

Dodge
For 111 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge, America's performance brand, shifts into high gear with a lineup that delivers unrivaled performance in each of its segments.

The new, next-generation Dodge Charger multi-energy lineup is led by the 670-horsepower Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack – the world's quickest and most powerful muscle car. For 2026, the all-new 550-horsepower Dodge Charger Scat Pack, powered by the 3.0L Twin Turbo SIXPACK H.O. engine, expands the Charger lineup, powered by the most powerful Hurricane engine in production.

Dodge also keeps its foot on the pedal as a pure performance brand with the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, the most powerful gas engine SUV ever, and best-in-class standard performance in the compact-utility vehicle segment with the Dodge Hornet.

Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow Dodge//SRT and company news and video on:
Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Dodge brand: www.dodge.com
Direct Connection: www.DCPerformance.com
DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial
Twitter: www.twitter.com/dodge and @StellantisNA
YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

 

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SOURCE Stellantis

FAQ

When can customers order the Hellephant A30 426 and 354 Drag Pak crate engines (STLA)?

Ordering opens Nov. 4, 2025; SEMA attendees can place orders in person and orders available via DCPerformance.com.

What are the horsepower and torque specs for the Hellephant A30 426 crate HEMI?

The Hellephant A30 426 is rated at 1,000 horsepower and 950 lb.-ft. of torque.

What are the US MSRP prices for the new Direct Connection crate engines (STLA)?

The Hellephant A30 426 MSRP is $34,995 and the 354 Supercharged Drag Pak MSRP is $63,995.

When will the Hellephant and Drag Pak crate engines ship or be delivered?

Hellephant shipments begin in November 2025; the Drag Pak is built to order with 4–6 weeks expected delivery.

What are the installation or fitment limitations for the Hellephant crate engine?

The Hellephant can be dropped into any race-only or pre-1976 vehicle when paired with the upgraded plug-and-play engine kit (sold separately).

Where can buyers find part numbers and accessory kits for Direct Connection crate engines?

Part numbers and accessory kit info are listed in the release: Hellephant 5160194AD, kit 77072500AE, Drag Pak P5160354AD and related ECU/electrical kits.