The 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack is a truly revolutionary change in American muscle car history ditching 5.7 litre and 6.4 litre HEMI V8 engines for a 3.0 litre twin-turbocharged Hurricane 6 cylinder. Sure, you might miss the familiar V8 soundtrack and character, but Dodge hopes you’ll get a lot of that back with power figures, increased torque and rapid acceleration. Offered in Standard Output R/T and High Output Scat Pack versions with street-ready turbocharged performance and standard all-wheel-drive with selectable RWD, the 2026 Dodge Charger 6PACK lives up to its name and history.

More than just a new engine, the Charger Sixpack will redefine how you enjoy thrill rides, offering the responsiveness of acceleration, the confidence of handling, new digital instrumentation, and the practical fastback design. The High Output Scat Pack offers 550 horsepower, while upgraded braking hardware, optional super-slick seats, and several different driving modes make it easy to take advantage of every bit of the performance. The lack of a manual gearbox, and the unmistakable voice of the HEMI V8 engine, however, may be two serious downsides for muscle car fans. As Dodge shifts toward smaller-displacement turbo power, the question the Sixpack poses is whether superior engineering and more performance can ever replace the classic American V8 sound.

1. Dodge Replaces Its Traditional HEMI V8 Engines With the Hurricane Inline-Six

The arrival of the Dodge Charger Sixpack appears to be a pretty major shift in the company’s muscle car philosophy. The company’s 5.7-litre and 6.4-litre HEMI V8s have been synonymous with the Charger’s nameplate for nearly 20 years, and long sustained the growling exhaust note and torque-heavy hit the car required to be truly satisfying. The company has now bid farewell to those big plants in favor of the 3.0-litre Hurricane twin-turbocharged inline-six. While some will take the loss of the V8 as a good sign that the car is moving away from tradition, it does bring a host of technical performance benefits, and an interesting combination of figures when it comes to where the car actually hits.

Key Changes Behind Dodge’s New Muscle Car Era:

• HEMI V8 engines retired
• New 3.0-litre Hurricane engine
• Twin-turbocharged inline-six configuration
• Modern engineering with classic styling
• Performance remains the central priority

That the Hurricane engine shows how Dodge plans to keep a Charger as focused as ever but with a new mechanical packaging. Instead of pumping out brute force through the naturally aspirated sizes of old, it turns to the turbo to generate large punch from a smaller engine. The Sixpack can now take on the performance of the earlier cars while the other technologies also on board should make it more eager and frugal. This is a change not that the Charger has given up its muscle car heart but that it’s no longer just V8s displacing the air in the engine bay. Whether the supercharged coupe appeases purists will probably depend on how much they distinguish between real, quantified performance and the exuberance of V8s that leave a trail of flames behind them.

2. The 3.0-Litre Hurricane Engine Combines Modern Technology With a Historic Name

At its core sits a return to form for the Charger Sixpack a 3.0 litre Hurricane twin-turbocharged inline-six. This is an engine specifically designed for high performance, and the SIXPACK badge is a nod to the original configuration used in the 1970s Dodge Six Pack, which employed three two-barrel carburettors atop a 440-cubic-inch (7.2 litre) V8. This new engine puts that carburettor set up to one side, modern style, by using turbocharging and electronics. The engine displaced 2,993cc, with a DOHC layout and 24 valves, and is built in Mexico at the Saltillo Engine Plant, mated to a cast iron block and lightweight aluminium cylinder heads to ensure both solid strength and manageable weight.

Hurricane Engine Design Highlights:

• 2,993cc engine displacement
• Dual overhead camshafts
• Twenty-four-valve cylinder head design
• Cast iron block construction
• Lightweight aluminium cylinder heads

The engine’s architecture is particularly significant given the demands of turbocharging which can create a great deal of stress on the engine’s internal components. Dodge opted for a cast iron block to deliver the ability to handle increased cylinder pressure without stacking up too many costs in terms of manufacturing or weight. Power from the turbocharged engine is managed via a pair of water-cooled parallel turbochargers with electronic wastegates. A dual-injection fuel system presents a combination of direct injection and port injection which provides fuel delivery to help optimize combustion management as well as improve the reduction of carbon build-up in the intake system. The direct injection supplies the combustion chambers while the port injection sprays the intake runners.

3. The Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission Delivers Power to All Four Wheels

Dodge has paired the Hurricane engine exclusively with an eight-speed 880RE automatic transmission, which provides the Sixpack with quick gear shifts and no traditional manual gearbox. To give drivers the ability to more directly control gear shifts, paddle shifters mounted on the wheel can be used, though the automatic transmission is capable of taking on everyday driving. Power is normally delivered to the pavement using the standard all-wheel-drive system, which provides extra grip on acceleration and slippy roadways. In addition, Dodge offers a switch to uncouple the front wheels entirely, shifting the Sixpack to the old-fashioned rear-driven muscle car mode that most purists would want to use.

Transmission and Drivetrain Features:

• Eight-speed 880RE automatic gearbox
• Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters
• Standard all-wheel-drive traction
• Selectable rear-wheel-drive operation
• Mandatory 91-octane premium petrol

There are also a series of solutions to avoid overheating the engine and reduce the loss of energy through friction. For exemple, water and oil electric pumps reduce the parasitic drag effect while providing the ability for the cooling system to keep operating after the engine is turned off. Still, performance doesn’t come cheap when it comes to our research into the powertrain 91 octane (premium) fuel is required in the entire range and we’re not talking about the lack of manual box which may come as a disappointment to purists, but the auto box we get is designed to make quick, aggressive shifts in addition to all-wheel drive, thus making the Charger more attainable for those who want big power without always have to hunt for cornering grip using the right foot.

4. The Standard Output R/T Delivers More Power Than the Old 5.7-Litre V8

The 420-hp/468-lb-ft Standard Output Hurricane engine powers the 2026 Charger Sixpack R/T. That’s an increase of 50 horsepower and 73 pound-feet of torque compared to the outgoing 5.7-litre HEMI V8, giving the entry-level Sixpack a significant advantage in terms of muscle. The R/T is able to accelerate from a stop to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and run through the quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds. Instead of providing a lower-powered option for the previous V8, the new car’s straight-line performance numbers are better than its predecessors’. Its twin-turbocharged setup also contributes to robust torque for quick acceleration when drivers get on the throttle.

Hurricane SO R/T Performance Figures:

• 420 horsepower from the Hurricane
• 468 lb-ft of torque
• 50 horsepower above the outgoing V8
• 0–60 mph in 4.6 seconds
• Quarter-mile completed in 12.9 seconds

That performance jumps for the R/T are a reminder why we no longer live in an era where all the specs matter. Even though the Hurricane has half as many cylinders and far less displacement than that out of the disappeared V8, turbocharging allows the turbo-four to deliver more juice. The new engine also shaves about a half-second off the old R/T’s quoted 0-60 time of around 5.1 seconds. For anyone shopping for a standard, daily driver muscle car that isn’t willing to jump straight to the high-performance version, this Standard Output setup should be a compelling mix of acceleration and daily practicality. The classic V8 growl is still missing, but numbers don’t indicate the new R/T is taking a speed haircut to go smaller.

5. The High Output Scat Pack Takes Twin-Turbo Performance to Another Level

For those customers who want significantly more power than available from the standard Hurricane High Output engine, the Charger Sixpack Scat Pack offers the optional Hurricane High Output engine, rated at 550 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque more than the previous-generation 6.4-litre 392 HEMI V8 engine. To enable long periods of sustained operation under high load conditions, Dodge engineers beefed up the Hurricane High Output engine’s internal components, including forging pistons, cross-bolted main caps and dual oil pumps. Twin 54mm Garrett GT2054 turbochargers deliver up to 30 psi of peak boost. The engine features a lower 9.5.1 compression ratio than the Hurricane High Output engine to maximize the high-boost potential and additional hard-to-fail hardware.

High Output Scat Pack Engineering:

• 550 horsepower and 531 lb-ft
• Forged pistons for added strength
• Cross-bolted main caps
• Dual oil pumps
• Twin 54mm Garrett turbochargers

The Scat Pack’s added engineering is not just on the engine’s insides. Its intake is less restrictive, the exhaust gases can escape more quickly, and the engine can breathe as the revs climb toward the 6,500 rpm redline. Its performance is notable for a muscle car with a six-pack. The 60-mph dash takes 3.9 seconds even some tests have managed a speedy 3.7 seconds and the quarter-mile run completes in about 12.2 seconds, edging close to 12 flat at the drag strip. It also can hit 177 mph, which is also rapid. The turbocharging engineers’ goal was fast, too, but for a turbcharged powerplant to make a convincing performance argument, it would be a high-specific-output high-performance mill not a big lug 3.800-liter.

6. The Hurricane Outmuscles the 392 HEMI While Addressing Fuel-Economy Pressures

The evolution of the off-road focused off-road focused off-road focused off-road focused off-road focused off-road focused off-road focused engine, from the older 6.4-litre 392 HEMI V8 to the new Hurricane High Output engine, show the magnitude of the power gains. The naturally aspirated V8 developed 485hp and 475lb ft while the Hurricane HO makes 550hp and 531lb ft an increase of 65hp and about 11.8 percent torque. The turbocharged engine also makes peak torque at roughly 2500rpm, for improved acceleration and avoiding lugging the engine, but still allowing the manufacturer to meet federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards that have been ratcheted up.

Performance and Efficiency Compared:

• Hurricane HO produces 550 horsepower
• Old 392 HEMI made 485 horsepower
• Torque rises to 531 lb-ft
• Peak torque arrives around 2,500 rpm
• Estimated combined economy reaches 20 mpg

The 5.7-litre HEMI was averaging 19mpg combined and the 6.4-litre 392 couldn’t even manage to hit 17mpg combined. Sticking to these naturally aspirated V8 engines in the next few model years would have meant ramping up hybrid technology significantly or watering down the engine’s power. The new Hurricane SIXPACK should be capable of delivering something in the region of 20mpg combined, with 16mpg in town and 26mpg on the motorway. It’s not going to turn the Charger into an economy car by any means, but it beats the older engines by quite a bit. So, this is a case of pushing out the power, but also trying to keep up with current regulations on efficiency.

7. Responsive Acceleration and Confident Handling Make the Charger More Versatile

Driving behaviour also goes beyond just showing keen acceleration figures. With a parallel twin turbo configuration, the aim is to reduce the perception of turbo lag, so the engine reacts more promptly to throttle inputs. This setup ensures that each turbo feeds three cylinders, and that the latter is able to produce boost response quickly, and that is a useful capability when you’re in top gear, accelerating from around 40 mph, and want a quick gain in speed without heavy footwork to downshift, thanks to the 8-speed auto being uncannily seamless in its Auto mode, and relatively swift with Sport and Track modes in a good way, by delivering a firm but prompt shift transition.

Driving Dynamics and Control:

• Responsive parallel twin-turbo layout
• Minimal perceptible turbo lag
• Smooth automatic transmission operation
• Sport and Track driving modes
• Six-piston Brembo front brakes

The Charger also manages to keep a level head when cornering despite packing all of the wide front and rear proportions and torque of a big muscle car. Automotive reviewers have taken to the Tail of the Dragon (a famous mountain pass of 318 curves in 11 miles), to put the cars handling to the test. Massive six piston brake calipers provide plenty of get-up-and-go under conditions where much less horsepower might find itself hard pressed to get past that certain happy limit of grip, and the Charger preserves a tidy line when that limit is reached. All in all, the Charger (or cars) able to provide more than just straight line performance, although its braking and throttle delivery, along with it’s overall handling characteristics, are all quite good.

8. All-Wheel Drive Adds Everyday Confidence Without Abandoning Rear-Drive Fun

Standard all-wheel drive is the other defining characteristic of 2026 Charger Sixpack R/T and Scat Pack. All-wheel drive provides confident launches and traction if the road gets slippery by directing power to all four wheels. It makes the Charger desirable to drivers who frequently drive in rain, snow or on icy streets. Dodge did not sacrifice rear-wheel-drive behaviour that was responsible for the muscle cars the reputation. The all-wheel drive system features a front-axle disconnect to allow the driver to disconnect the front wheels and run the car in rear-wheel drive. The feature offers the driver the flexibility of more traction for normal everyday driving or the traditional muscle car experience.

AWD Versatility With Muscle Car Character:

• All-wheel drive fitted as standard
• Improved traction during hard launches
• Selectable front-axle disconnect system
• Full rear-wheel-drive mode available
• Greater confidence on slippery roads

The rear-drive option also means that we aren’t giving up on all of the “fun” factor of a muscle car. Burnouts, donuts and the like will still be doable with the six-pack. All a driver has to do is press and hold the traction control button and all the wheels will disconnect from the front, which will stay engaged. This gives the driver the freedom to rock the front out and strap the power to the back, just like they would in a “normal” muscle car although it’s worth noting that that the Dodge could have been focused on pure traction for a typical daily driver, but the driver’s instincts take over with this six-pack.

9. The Exhaust Note Divides Traditionalists, but Aftermarket Upgrades Offer Alternatives

For many fans, perhaps the biggest letdown with the new model might be the noise rather than the ride. Whereas the old-school HEMI V8 barks with a loping idle and a bassy exhaust rumble that’s become synonymous with muscle cars, the new Hurricane’s note is a bit too polished, a bit too smooth, with a lighter rasping mechanical tone that hums along enthusiastically while accelerating. The free-flowing exhaust on the High Output Scat Pack gives it a more aggressive bark, but neither sounds exactly like the old V8. At motorway cruising speeds, the engine idle drops to around 1,600rpm in eighth gear, creating a quieter, more relaxed marathon.

Exhaust Character and Upgrade Options:

• Distinctive turbocharged inline-six exhaust note
• Aggressive Scat Pack exhaust sound
• Borla custom cat-back systems
• MagnaFlow aftermarket exhaust options
• Direct Connection factory-backed exhaust kit

For enthusiasts seeking a louder, deeper exhaust, options also abound. Magazine-tested manufacturer upgrades include cat-back systems from names such as Borla and Magna Flow for the 3.0-litre, with Dodge Direct Connection performance options including a factory-supported Cat-Back Exhaust Kit. The Direct Connection option is engineered to provide more sound without sacrificing a drive-train warranty. Whether they be factory upgrades, stage kits and tune packages, that can add approximately 60 horsepower to High Output versions, enthusiasts can tailor the Sixpack’s sound and power to their likings but it simply cannot duplicate the sound and feel of a natural aspirated V8, a feature that will continue to be a draw for some buyers.

10. A Modern Interior, Practical Fastback Design and Established Engine Technology Complete the Package

Inside, the Dodge Charger Sixpack begins blending digital technology with traditional driver controls. The dashboard features up to three digital displays, including a 16-inch super-sized digital instrument cluster, and the Uconnect5 infotainment system offers available customizable layouts and exclusive Performance Pages. Ambient lighting overlays the entire dash as well as the doors, elevating the interior ambiance for a more refined feel, especially with the available Carbon package. Warm, supportive, front bucket seats, touch sensitive climate control with haptic feedback, physical audio volume and tuning controls strike a good mix of digital and analogue design, and a manual release as well as the electronic door-release system, allow for easy access to rear seats.

Interior, Practicality and Ownership Details:

• Up to three digital displays
• Large 16-inch instrument cluster
• Uconnect5 infotainment and Performance Pages
• 37.4 cubic feet of cargo space
• Starting price of $56,990

The quickback body and highly practical rear liftback with a broad hatch opening yields 37.4 cu ft of cargo capacity behind the rearseats, with the seats folded flat. Regarding field experience, Dodge shares three years of data about Hurricane engines in Ram trucks and Wagoneer models. The cast iron block withstands high boost dual injection reduces intake-valve carbon build-up. The service schedule is all synthetic 0W-40 oil (7,500 miles) and spark plug changes (60,000 miles). High Output models get electric coolant and oil heaters for zero-degree starts. Base pricing on well-equipped models begins at $56,990 and easily climbs toward $70,000 with top spec and performance upgrades.