Could Dodge Bring Back the AMC Gremlin as a Turbocharged Hot Hatch?

The AMC Gremlin: A Forgotten Icon with a Modern Relevance

The AMC Gremlin is the automotive equivalent of that one obscure vintage band tee you refused to throw out because, against all logic, it’s become cool again. Once mocked for looking like a compact car that rage-quit halfway through the design process, the Gremlin now feels oddly prophetic in an era obsessed with big personality and turbocharged chaos. Love it or loathe it, the Gremlin proved that practicality doesn’t have to be pretty, and today’s hot hatch renaissance suggests the joke might’ve been on everyone else all along.

Reviving the Past: The Potential of a New Gremlin

Last week, I discussed a similar idea: Dodge reviving the AMC Pacer as a modern EV to rival heavy hitters such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5. After all, GMC proved to the world that reviving defunct brand names for retro-inspired models can be a successful way to win over nostalgia-fueled buyers. Volkswagen is following a similar path with the revival of the "Scout" nameplate, via Scout Motors and its upcoming lineup of electrified SUVs and pickup trucks. But you know what's better than reviving one long-lost icon? Reviving two. Here's how I think Dodge could pull it off.

Could Dodge feasibly sell a revived AMC Gremlin alongside the Pacer?

In the late 1970s, for just a few short years, AMC offered the Gremlin alongside the Pacer, even though the two compact hatchbacks essentially competed for sales. Inevitably, the more modern Pacer took the torch from the dated, but higher-performance, Gremlin, even stealing most of the AMC Hornet's buyers in the process. Still, in the modern era, there's ample room for both hatchbacks in Dodge's lineup, so long as each model offers a unique powertrain. Where a revived AMC Pacer could represent a compact EV offering, a revived Gremlin could appeal to a more budget-focused crowd that appreciates simplicity and cheap thrills over advanced EV tech. What's more is that Dodge has a handful of brand-new —and not-so-new—powertrains that could be absolutely ideal under the hood of a new Gremlin.

What a modern Gremlin could look like

With body lines that elicit glances from every passerby, a retro-modern-styled AMC Gremlin revival with Charger-inspired design could not only offer an economical and sporty solution for compact-car buyers, but also be effortlessly attention-grabbing. Its stubby rear-end could offer plenty of boot space for cargo, and its elongated hood could easily accommodate larger, more powerful powertrains—just as the Gremlin deserves. A design such as the one depicted could do the iconic Gremlin of the past ample justice while seamlessly integrating the model into Dodge's contemporary model lineup with cohesive styling language.

Powertrain Possibilities: Turbo, Hybrid, or Hemi?

The way I see it, there are quite a few ways for Dodge to approach a concept such as this. Perhaps the most cost-effective solution would be for the Gremlin to share its mechanics with the all-new Jeep Cherokee, which sits upon Stellantis's STLA-Large platform, pairing all-wheel-drive with a hybridized and turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder to deliver up to 210 combined horsepower and 37 MPG. While that's certainly an economical option, I don't believe it does the Gremlin of the past due justice.

Instead, I'd like to see Dodge use a shortened version of the Charger's STLA-Large platform, which allows for both rear- and all-wheel-drive setups and larger, more powerful engines. If its most basic offering were to fit the Gremlin's engine bay with the all-new "Hurricane 4" found in the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder mill that produces up to 324 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, it could compete with other heavy-hitting hot hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Golf R, the Honda Civic Type R, and even the Toyota GR Corolla.

Additionally, Dodge could offer the Charger's new "Sixpack" engine, which uses 3.0 liters of displacement and twin turbochargers to produce as much as 550 horsepower from a straight-six (although its most modest output of 420 horsepower seems more realistic for a compact hatchback). Dodge being Dodge, however, it couldn't hurt to offer the Gremlin with the Hemi V8 it so desperately deserves. Stuffing the Wrangler 392's 6.4-liter V8 under its hood could bestow up to 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque onto the revived Gremlin, offering a truly unbridled driving experience in a bite-sized package.

Final Thoughts: Is the Gremlin Ready for a Comeback?

Compact cars certainly aren't as in-demand as they once were, but I feel that some of the blame for the disappearance of smaller cars from American showrooms falls on manufacturers just as much as on buyer neglect. Not everyone needs an SUV, nor should anyone be forced to spend extra cash on one because there's no less expensive alternative. The problem is that, for a long time, cheap, small cars in North America were soulless and bland. The AMC Gremlin, however, proved that just because a vehicle was economical, practical, and inexpensive didn't mean it had to sacrifice quirkiness and charm. Perhaps a Dodge-branded AMC Gremlin revival could be the perfect small car for American buyers who insist on impressive interior space, plenty of horsepower, and design that wows.