Dodge to Unveil 600-HP Charger Sixpack on Aug. 8 as Model Marks 60 Years

Q: Can Dodge's new 600-hp inline-six truly replace the iconic roar and soul of the classic Hemi V-8?

No. Dodge’s new roughly 600-hp Hurricane inline-six can replace the Hemi V-8 in performance terms, but not fully in sound or emotional character. On paper, the new Sixpack makes a strong case. The current twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six already delivers 550 horsepower, and Dodge is expected to push it closer to 600 hp at Roadkill Nights on August 8. That would put it above the old 5.7-liter and 6.4-liter Hemi V-8s in horsepower, torque delivery, acceleration, and likely efficiency. The Hurricane is also a modern, competitive engine that helps Dodge keep the Charger fast without the engineering burden of reworking the current platform for a Hellcat V-8 return. But muscle cars are not judged by numbers alone. The Hemi’s appeal was its deep rumble, cammy idle, and unmistakable V-8 feel—traits that built much of the Charger’s identity. An inline-six, even a very powerful twin-turbo one, produces a different soundtrack and a different kind of drama. Reviews and industry analysis consistently point to the same trade-off: the Hurricane is quicker and more refined, but it does not recreate the Hemi’s iconic roar. What Dodge can do is redefine the Charger rather than replicate its past. If buyers want the fastest, most usable modern gas Charger, the new Sixpack may be the better engine. If they want the classic Hemi experience, especially the emotional pull of a V-8, the inline-six is an impressive successor, not a true substitute.

3 articles · Updated · Car and Driver · Jul 17

August 8 is the reveal date for Dodge’s most powerful Charger Sixpack yet, a new six-cylinder version expected to climb from the current 550 hp to around 600 hp.
Pontiac, Michigan, will host the debut at Roadkill Nights, the centerpiece of a U.S. summer tour celebrating the Charger’s 60th anniversary.
The upgrade keeps Dodge focused on its twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six rather than a V-8, even as the brand continues to hint a Hemi return is not fully ruled out.
550 hp already puts the current gas Charger above most Ford Mustang variants, while the coming Sixpack is still expected to remain below the 670-hp Charger Daytona EV.