Dodge Is Preparing the Most Powerful Charger Ever—With One Important Catch

The official debut of the new Dodge Charger Sixpack is scheduled for August 8. Notably, the automaker has chosen not to equip the model with a Hemi V8. However, according to leaked information, the muscle car's output will increase significantly even without that engine.

The arrival of the new Charger nearly coincides with the model's 60th anniversary. Dodge is marking the occasion with an extended summer tour across cities in the United States. During the tour, the company will visit Pontiac, Michigan—the former home of Pontiac's headquarters—where it will unveil the new Charger.

The current version of the American model is powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine producing up to 550 horsepower. Insiders report that Dodge could increase output to 600 horsepower. That would make the upcoming Charger the most powerful gas-powered model in the Charger's history. However, it's worth noting that the lineup already includes the all-electric Charger Daytona, which currently produces up to 670 horsepower. In other words, Dodge is preparing its most powerful gasoline-powered Charger.

The automaker may not stop there. Last year, Dodge's CEO hinted that a Charger with a Hemi V8 could eventually appear. In fact, that engine could be introduced before the muscle car moves to its next generation. However, the company has neither confirmed nor denied those reports.

In addition, at the beginning of 2026, the head of Stellantis, Dodge's parent company, also did not rule out the possibility of a V8-powered Charger. He emphasized, however, that installing such an engine would require substantial changes to the vehicle's design. As a result, a Charger equipped with a Hemi V8 is most likely still several years away.

On the other hand, the next version of the American muscle car is expected to outperform its rivals in terms of output. The current Ford Mustang Dark Horse is equipped with a 5.0-liter V8 producing up to 500 horsepower. The model also has an 815-horsepower version, but it carries a price tag of about $328,000. As a result, Dodge is unlikely to invest more effort into developing the new Charger than is necessary to compete with Ford. That assumption is also supported by the fact that Stellantis posted multibillion-dollar losses last year. The automaker is unlikely to spend money where it isn't necessary.