Dodge's Strongest I-6 Charger Yet Lands in AugustJonathan HarperWhile the folks at Mopar didn't start the muscle car war all those decades ago, Stellantis has tried its best to stave off a full-blown surrender to the Blue Oval boys. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Dodge Charger nameplate, and the automaker has plans to remind everyone that the Ford Mustang isn't the only game in town. Not only is the Brotherhood of Muscle returning to Pontiac, Michigan for the 11th iteration of MotorTrend's RoadKill Nights, but the automaker will use the event to unveil the most potent version of its inline-six-powered muscle car we've seen yet.The public first got a taste for the Dodge Charger by way of a 1964 concept, but the model didn't arrive on the market in earnest until 1966. Whereas that car only offered a variety of V-8 powertrains to choose from, the current Charger has been without an eight-cylinder option from the jump. Instead, every gasoline-drinking version of the Charger is currently powered by one of two versions of the 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six. Hence, the "Sixpack" moniker.Jonathan HarperDodge makes up for the loss of two cylinders by replacing them with two turbochargers, ensuring the new engines pack more power than all but the Hellcat V-8 found in the previous-gen models. The standard engine found in the Charger R/T provides 420 hp and 468 lb-ft, whereas the high-output Scat Pack engine is rated at 550 hp and 531 lb-ft.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile the automaker hasn't hinted at what exactly is slated for RoadKill Nights, we expect to see a Hurricane pushed beyond the 600-hp mark. Given how many tuned versions of this engine we've seen at RoadKill Nights events, that shouldn't be too much of a problem for Dodge. That said, considering the language the brand is using — "the most powerful Sixpack-powered Charger yet" — we don't expect the motor to outpunch the 670-hp Charger Daytona EV.Whether or not this particular version of the Sixpack is more potent than the electric muscle car, the automaker needs to do something to get people excited about the Charger. The one-time top-seller in the segment is now officially the slowest selling vehicle in the States, according to CarEdge; Dodge is currently sitting on a 385-day supply of Chargers, with about 10,800 units on sale at dealers right now. That's not great when you consider they've only sold about 1250 of these things over the last 45 days. Mopar fans are desperate for the long-awaited return of the Hellcat V-8 to the Charger, but we're still waiting for the official announcement—and while that will be a good day for excitement around the nameplate, I'm not exactly sure a Hellcat model will sell in enough volume to make a difference.The latest version of the Charger Sixpack will be launched as part of the RoadKill Nights festivities on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State
