The modern Jeep Renegade is too compact to warrant a V8 under the hood – or, at least, that’s what Stellantis seems to think about it. Mike Martin, a hobbyist from the United States, clearly has a different opinion on this matter, having spent five years transforming the SUV into something that’s actually exciting to drive.
For starters, he needed to redesign the front end completely to make room for a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 sourced from a 2016 Dodge Charger R/T he bought for cheap. The engine had to be swapped in along with the subframe and firewall, but it did fit in the end. The entire electric system had to be re-wired over the course of the next few years.
Martin apparently hasn’t bothered to measure the precise output figures, but one look at the video makes it clear that this Renegade is a wild beast. It rides much lower than stock, makes good use of Hellcat brakes and features a custom roll cage where the rear bench seat usually is.
Work on the project began in late 2020. It is now finally road-legal and fully drivable, according to the tuner. It even has some nice equipment on board, including an AC, a Rolls-Royce-inspired LED headliner and a high-end custom audio setup. Martin seems to be enjoying his ride a lot, but promises to polish it to perfection.
