This week, production finally kicked off for the 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack R/T. With a 420-horsepower version of Dodge's twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane I6 under the hood, the two-door coupe or four-door sedan is priced considerably less than the 550-hp Scat Pack and the 670-hp electric Charger Daytona. But it's still a low-$50,000 car in its most basic form.That's right around the average new car price these days, but study after study has shown that's still a figure many new car buyers can't afford. The previous-generation Charger had all kinds of trims and engines available, with the cheapest starting in the mid-$30,000 range. That was a smaller car with less horsepower, but it was still a popular vehicle. And it's something that's completely absent from the current Charger lineup. "Aware" Of Space Below The Charger R/T Stellantis North AmericaSpeaking to CarBuzz at the recent Charger R/T first drive, Dodge CEO Matt McAlear shied away from any clear discussion about potential Charger trims beyond R/T and Scat Pack, both of which are available now. That includes something slotting above Scat Pack, but we specifically asked whether something further down the price spectrum could happen. On that subject, the door is decidedly open."We are aware of a space below the R/T," McAlear told CarBuzz, choosing his words carefully. By carefully, we mean he avoided a specific mention of any model that could fill it, be it Charger or something else. Of course, Dodge just killed the Hornet, its $30,000 hatchback that was essentially a rebadged Alfa Romeo Tonale. There's nothing else in the rumor mill regarding a smaller vehicle to fill that void, so Charger seems the only choice at this point. A Cheaper Hemi, A V6? StellantisIn theory, a new V6 Charger SXT could be a viable option. Chatting with McAlear, he questioned whether it would be powerful enough for duty in the Charger, which weighs uncomfortably close to 5,000 pounds in R/T trim with standard all-wheel drive. However, you can currently get a 2.5-ton Dodge Durango with the enduring 3.6-liter V6 making 295 hp and 260 pound-feet of torque.It works in that combination, and for folks who want the sharp-looking Charger and aren't as concerned about hitting 60 mph in four seconds, such an offering could be a less-expensive choice. It could also be a viable fleet vehicle, which isn't as glamorous as ripping down dragstrips, but it can certainly help Dodge pay the bills.Of course, everyone expects a Hemi Charger to return at some point. Earlier this year, Stellantis North America boss Tim Kuniskis said a new Hemi Charger only made sense as a bonkers supercharged Hellcat. The 420-hp twin-turbo six in the R/T is already a Hemi upgrade, both in terms of power and efficiency. But as we've seen with Ram, buyers aren't always interested in an upgrade. The heart wants what the heart wants. And Dodge pushed hard on Hemi love for over 20 years. Yanking the all-wheel-drive system and adding a 5.7-liter V8 could make sense as a $40,000 Charger. That would be $10,000 less than the current R/T. Or Something Else Entirely? StellantisWith just two models now in its lineup, Dodge could certainly benefit from a third nameplate. The Dart resurrection in the 2010s was a failed experiment. The Caravan could come back, but that seems to defy the performance ethos the brand has built up in recent years. Once upon a time, the Demon was a standalone vehicle instead of a crazy powerful Challenger trim.And therein lies another tempting tidbit: resurrecting the Challenger as a proper Ford Mustang competitor. Charger is a large car, decidedly in a completely different class from Mustang. A rebooted Challenger as a smaller pony car with Hurricane power and a V6 option could fill the space McAlear is "aware" of. For now, the Charger R/T is as low as you can go if you want a car from Dodge. We recently spent some time behind the wheel, and we'll tell you all about that very soon. Stay tuned.