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9 Minutes
Introduction: The ICE Charger Is Back and It Means Business
The long-awaited internal-combustion Dodge Charger for the new generation has arrived. The Sixpack Scat Pack returns as a statement model: a high-output, twin-turbocharged muscle car offering up to 550 horsepower and claiming the title of the most powerful car under $55,000. For enthusiasts who mourned the loss of the HEMI V8 and rejected the first EV-led direction, this Charger is Dodge’s attempt to rebuild credibility and recapture the visceral drama of a traditional muscle car.
Market Context: Why This Charger Matters
Dodge endured a wave of criticism after discontinuing the previous-generation Charger and Challenger and introducing an EV-first model in their place. The Charger Daytona EV and its 670-hp Scat Pack variant drew attention for outright power, but failed to win over many buyers and purists, partly because of controversial synthetic exhaust sound technology. Sales data through mid-2025 showed the EV struggling to outsell the discontinued gasoline models, prompting Dodge to accelerate production of an ICE alternative. The 2026 Charger Scat Pack is Dodge’s response: a gasoline-powered halo to reassure buyers who want a real internal-combustion muscle experience.
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Powertrain and Performance Specifications
Engine options and output
The new 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack is available in two distinct power outputs. The Standard Output (S.O.) Sixpack delivers 420 hp and 468 lb-ft of torque. The High Output (H.O.) Sixpack — the headline figure — produces 550 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque. Both versions use a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six with Garrett GT2054 turbos capable of delivering up to 30 psi of boost.
Internal components and torque delivery
Under the carbon-styled engine cover, the Hurricane features forged-steel internals, oil-jet-cooled forged-aluminum pistons, and a reinforced aluminum block. The engine is tuned to provide nearly 90% of peak torque by 2,500 rpm, delivering robust low-end pull and usable midrange power — essential for muscle-car acceleration and real-world drivability.
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Acceleration, top speed, and drivetrain
The H.O. Sixpack posts a quarter-mile time of about 12.2 seconds and a top speed near 177 mph. Standard all-wheel drive helps the Charger hook hard from the line, and an on-demand rear-wheel-drive mode sends 100% of torque to the rear for drifting, burnouts, and the classic muscle-car feel. Performance hardware includes launch control and Line Lock — the latter standard on the range-topping Scat Pack — so drivers can perform controlled launches and tire-smoking burnouts with confidence.
Chassis, Brakes and Handling
Suspension and dynamics
Dodge reworked the Charger’s underpinnings for sharper responses: a forged-aluminum multi-link front suspension and a fully independent four-link rear layout. The new setup is claimed to improve cornering balance by up to 25% compared with the prior generation, giving the Charger better composure on road and track.
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Braking and driveline
Brembo six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers bite on massive ventilated rotors for strong, fade-resistant stopping power. The Brake-by-Wire eBoost system modifies pedal feel by drive mode, while a mechanical limited-slip differential helps keep both rear wheels planted during launches. These components emphasize the Charger’s dual-purpose nature: straight-line muscle and capable handling when pushed.
Design and Exterior Features
All Sixpack Chargers wear an unmistakably aggressive look — Dodge claims the widest production body on the road today. The Scat Pack H.O. gets exclusive styling cues: a unique hood, enlarged grille openings for improved airflow, and debossed CHARGER lettering across the rear. A gloss-black rear spoiler and 20-inch Diamond Cut Luster wheels are standard, with wider tire packages available for buyers who want an even more track-ready footprint. Eight factory paint options include throwback and performance-themed finishes such as Green Machine, White Knuckle, Bludicrous, and Redeye. The Fratzog emblem appears on wheel center caps and illuminated front and rear badges for visual authenticity.
Interior, Technology and Comfort
Inside, the Charger blends retro cues with modern technology. Standard equipment includes a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch center touchscreen tilted toward the driver. Buyers who opt for the Plus package get an even larger 16-inch cluster along with Attitude Adjustment ambient lighting that offers 64 colors and reacts to actions like drive-mode changes and ignition start. Performance Pages return to provide telemetry — g-forces, acceleration times and other data — catering to driving enthusiasts.
Cabin trim choices include Black or Demonic Red Nappa leather, with optional carbon-fiber and suede packages for a more premium or track-oriented feel. Despite its fastback, coupe-like profile, the Charger retains practical packaging: a hidden-hatch design that yields best-in-class passenger volume for the segment and up to 37.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded.
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Driving Modes, AWD and Fuel Economy Considerations
The Charger offers five selectable drive modes: Auto, Eco, Wet/Snow, Sport, and Custom. Each mode adjusts throttle mapping, transmission logic, steering feel, and the active exhaust. Eco mode keeps the Charger quiet and efficient, while Sport mode opens exhaust valves to unleash the Sixpack’s full soundtrack.
Standard AWD includes a Front-Axle Disconnect that switches the front axle out in normal cruising to conserve fuel, while remaining ready to engage for traction in adverse conditions or when launching aggressively. This balance of efficiency and performance is key for buyers who want both daily drivability and high-performance thrills.
Safety and Driver Assistance
The 2026 Charger includes a comprehensive suite of driver aids as standard: forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane management, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition. Optional tech packages add a 360-degree camera, curb-view side cameras, and a blind-spot view on the center display when signaling, improving situational awareness in tight urban environments and performance driving scenarios.
Trim Levels, Pricing and Availability
Pricing positions the Sixpack line aggressively. The 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack R/T (S.O., 420 hp) starts at $49,995, while the High Output Scat Pack (550 hp) begins at $54,995. Both prices exclude a $1,995 destination fee. Customers can choose two-door and four-door body styles; sedans add approximately $2,000. Orders for the Scat Pack open on August 13, 2025, with two-door models arriving at dealerships later in the year and four-door variants following in 2026. Each Scat Pack buyer receives a day of high-performance driving instruction at Radford Racing School, underlining Dodge’s focus on performance ownership experience.
Comparison: ICE Scat Pack vs Charger Daytona EV and the Missing HEMI
Where the Charger Daytona EV made headlines for its 670-hp output, many buyers still felt the EV lacked the emotional connection of a gasoline V8. Critics pointed to synthetic exhaust solutions like the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust as unsatisfactory substitutes for true V8 bark. The Hurricane inline-six isn’t a HEMI V8, but Dodge’s ICE Scat Pack delivers a real mechanical soundtrack and tangible torque delivery that many enthusiasts prefer over simulated sound. With former leadership changes at Stellantis and renewed emphasis from CEO Antonio Filosa and brand head Tim Kuniskis — both known gearheads — the pathway to reintroducing a HEMI variant seems more plausible than before.
Market Positioning and Final Thoughts
At its price point, the 550-hp Scat Pack stakes out a unique position: a potent, ICE-powered muscle car that undercuts many competitors on a dollars-per-horsepower basis while delivering authentic engine character. It’s aimed at buyers who want high straight-line performance, modern handling and tech, and the visceral appeal of combustion power. For customers seeking electric performance, Dodge still offers the Charger Daytona Scat Pack EV with 670 hp from $59,995 — the most powerful car under $60,000 — but the new ICE Charger provides a compelling alternative for traditionalists and performance purists.
In short, the 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Sixpack is Dodge’s answer to critics and customers who wanted muscle with mechanical authenticity. With strong numbers, modern chassis upgrades, Brembo brakes, a selectable AWD system, and authentic combustion sound, the ICE Charger could be the model that reconnects Dodge with its enthusiast base and reasserts the Charger name in the performance market.
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