America has formed an uneasy truce with high gas prices, with many of us trading in fuel-guzzling SUVs and muscle cars for low power, high MPG hybrids and compacts. America’s roads look a lot different from event just a decade ago, and automakers both domestic and imported are charting a variety of courses through a sea of emissions regulations and fuel economy mandates. Customers may still want V8 performance from their cars, but new technology may make the V8 obsolete.

Even the SRT boss thinks the era of big V8s is almost over.

Those aren’t just our words either. SRT Boss Ralph Gilles told CarAdvice.com.au that the era of the HEMI could be over by the end of the decade, and the replacement motor likely won’t be a naturally-aspirated V8. HEMI fans, you can feel sad now.

Gilles straight-up admits that the only reason the HEMI V8 line of engines has stayed in production is because customers still love and buy them. But by the end of the decade, Gille says the HEMI era is likely to be over, and SRT will have to look at a wider variety of options to make power beyond large-displacement V8s.

The most likely path for SRT to take is that of turbocharging smaller four or six-cylinder engines, though other options, like hybrid-electric or even turbodiesel engines have been providing surprising levels of performance for other automakers. That said, this writer thinks the SRT brand is still likely to offer a V8 engine in its lineup beyond 2020, so long as the efficiency of other Chrysler vehicles rises enough to offset the gas-guzzling nature.

Then again, Gilles probably knows the future better than we do, and it’s not like we haven’t seen this coming. Better enjoy it while it lasts.