Direct Connection Unveils Six Turnkey Crate Engines

Builders and restorers can expect plug-and-play engine packages from Direct Connection starting in early 2027, with pricing still to come.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Auto Parts

Direct Connection Unveils Six Turnkey Crate Engines

Direct Connection, the factory-backed performance parts arm of Stellantis' SRT Performance division, unveiled a new series of crate engine packages at the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The lineup includes six new packages with manual and automatic transmission options, with availability starting in the first quarter of 2027.

Why it matters

For enthusiasts, racers and restoration specialists planning a build, the packages are sold as a turnkey pairing of a crate engine with a matching controller kit, which Direct Connection says is meant to simplify the project. Pricing has not yet been announced, so budgeting for a build around these packages is not yet possible.

Six new crate engine packages with manual and automatic transmission options were unveiled, with availability starting in the first quarter of 2027. Pricing has not yet been announced, and production content may vary.

The players

Direct Connection

The factory-backed performance parts arm of Stellantis' SRT Performance division, selling crate engines and upgrade parts for Mopar-based builds.

Stellantis

The automaker parent company behind Direct Connection and the SRT Performance division, whose brands include Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram.

The details

Each package pairs a Direct Connection crate engine with a matching controller kit as a single turnkey offering. The packages are designed for plug-and-play use with TorqueFlite 8HP90 automatic transmission crates and TREMEC manual transmissions. The series adds exclusive Direct Connection branding, serialized engine identification plaques, and premium branded crate packaging. A restored 1967 Plymouth GTX, first shown at SEMA in 2024, is the first build to use the Hellcrate Redeye 6.2L Supercharged Crate HEMI Engine Package - Super Stock.

2024: The 1967 Plymouth GTX was first shown at SEMA.
November 3, 2026: Crate engine packages were unveiled at the SEMA Show.
First quarter of 2027: Crate engine packages become available.

The Home Front

Crate engine kits like these sit at the intersection of a garage hobby and the aftermarket parts trade, a segment that tends to follow the restoration and muscle-car collecting market. Because pricing is not yet public, the packages cannot be placed against comparable prior crate engine costs.

If you are planning a classic-car restoration or performance build, consider when you would need the parts and budget for a turnkey engine and transmission package once pricing is released. Keep documentation of any serialized engine identification plaque and your build records with your vehicle paperwork.

The takeaway

The new crate engine packages give builders a single-source, turnkey option with factory-backed branding, but final cost is still unknown. Watch for pricing announcements ahead of the first quarter of 2027 release.