These are trying times for the humble V8. A few years ago, several automakers began swearing off the eight-pot, such as Nissan, Maserati, and Jaguar. Stellantis, who also owns Maserati, decided to discontinue the long-standing and iconic Hemi V8 for its Dodge, Ram, Jeep, and Chrysler subsidiaries. Following intense and overwhelming backlash, though, the Amsterdam-based conglomerate decided to reverse its decision to an extent.However, Stellantis had already been working on the Hemi's spiritual replacement long before the old-school V8 was dropped and subsequently resurrected. The engine in question, a 3.0-liter inline-six going by the name of "Hurricane", can produce up to 550 horsepower when installed in the Dodge Charger Scat Pack. In both its standard 420-horsepower and Scat Pack-equipped high-output guise, the engine itself gains the name "SIXPACK."*Specs courtesy of DodgeRecently, Dodge released a series of five short videos explaining just how the SIXPACK-ed Hurricane inline-six can make that much power, while also explaining the details behind the new Charger Scat Pack's penchant for performance. In short, both the little mill and the big car have a lot going for them, as you'll see below. It's Got Loads Of Boost Kicking off the miniseries is a short video explaining the SIXPACK's twin turbo setup. Things get impressive almost immediately as the host, John O'Malley, tells us that both turbos are capable of delivering up to 30 psi of boost. In addition, the turbos are counter-rotating, meaning their compressor wheels spin in opposite directions of one another. The advantage to this is the creation of a symmetrical setup, meaning the twin-turbo configuration can be more compact, lighter, and boast a shorter airflow path.Alongside the unique turbocharger setup is the block-mounted intercooler. Having it mounted so close to the turbochargers further shortens the path that air needs to take, drastically reducing turbo lag while increasing power output. No Shortage Of Fuel Next up, O'Malley dives into the SIXPACK's fuel delivery system. The crux of the setup is a pair of fuel pumps which, together, produce around 5,075 psi of fuel pressure. The system is wholly mechanical, relying on the camshaft for activation. That huge amount of pressure is fired right into the mill's fuel rail and down through six inline injectors into the combustion chambers.Because of the amount of fuel pressure, the engine can produce loads of torque down low in the rev range, as the powerplant hits its peak torque at just 2,500 rpm. However, the engine still manages to be relatively frugal with its fuel usage, as the Scat Pack's average fuel mileage is reported to be around 19 mpg: not bad for a 550-horsepower, twin-turbocharged monster. Its Bones Are Tough All that turbocharged power and fuel mean nothing if an engine isn't strong enough to handle it. Luckily, Dodge thought of this with the High-Output SIXPACK engine. The cast-aluminum engine block carries what's called a "closed deck" design, wherein the cylinder walls are fully integrated into the block's casting. The block itself carries a "deep skirt" design, which positions the crankshaft's center line well below where the engine block's walls actually end.Working in tandem with the closed deck block is a forged crankshaft, pistons, connecting rods, Plasma Transfer Wire Arc-lined (PTWA) cylinder walls, and cross-bolted main bearings. Put all that together, and the SIXPACK engine is positioned to handle virtually anything someone may throw at it. You Can Have Your Choice Of Drivetrain Unlike virtually every other car on the market, the Charger Scat Pack offers a choice between two distinct drivetrain settings. All-wheel drive stands as the default setting, with rear-wheel drive sitting as the optional selection. This is made possible by the Charger's wet clutch transfer case, which allows the front wheels to be completely disconnected when rear-drive mode is selected. The setup works by using a clutch pack that's fully immersed in fluid that, when activated, disengages the front wheels.However, when all-wheel drive mode is selected, the wet clutch transfer case is still whirring away. It's able to vector torque between the front and rear axles on the fly in a matter of milliseconds, depending on which pair of wheels has the most traction. The Scat Pack's standard Line Lock feature also boasts launch control, which uses the wet clutch transfer case to lock all four wheels together for maximum grip off the line. However, launch control can also be used in rear-wheel drive mode. It's Tailored For Both Track And Strip Dominance In the final video of the short five-part series, O'Malley explains how the Scat Pack Charger is set up to handle as well as it moves in a straight line. For starters, it's built with a near-50/50 weight distribution, which lends itself to better handling that's also more predictable and easier to manage, despite weighing over 4,800 pounds. It also comes with an extremely wide track, meaning it's much more secure and planted on the track, even under hard cornering.In keeping with the wideness trend, the Scat Pack's rear tires are a whopping 325 millimeters wide, allowing for a huge chunk of rubber to be in constant contact with the pavement. Its front tires are also gifted in width, measuring 305 millimeters wide. Stopping all 4,816 pounds of SIXPACK engine, wide fender flares, and huge tires is a pair of six-piston Brembo brake calipers up front, with a pair of four-piston units, also built by Brembo, around the back. A Solid Attempt At Reinventing The Wheel Stellantis / DodgeWhile its looks and proportions are firmly planted in the old-school, the 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack's small, lightweight engine takes the modern muscle car in an entirely new direction. For decades, nothing could really be considered a muscle car without a proper, fire-breathing V8 living under its hood. However, the High-Output SIXPACK, with its 550 horsepower and litany of goodies shoved into its 3.0-liter stature, squarely takes aim at the age-old stereotype.It must be said, though, that not everyone was excited about the Charger Scat Pack boasting an inline-six. Thanks to the reintroduction of the Hemi V8, there are strong rumors swirling that the new-gen Charger will soon offer one under the hood of average versions. Dodge has already brought back the V8 for the 2026 Charger Drag-Pak model, but its sticker price of $234,995 and the fact that it's nothing short of a purebred drag racing machine means most of us will never own one, although it is road-legal.Stellantis / Dodge As for the rumors mentioned, werecently reported on information gleaned from Mopar Insiders that a V8-powered Charger Hellcat may be in the works. Apparently, the idea behind bringing the mill back in earnest is due to interest in the Hurricane-equipped Chargers and, especially, in the electric Charger Daytona, being lukewarm at best, potentially causing a fair amount of upset over at Dodge headquarters.Dodge Whether this will come to fruition is still up for debate. However, when money is involved, or a lack of it, companies will typically try to give the people what they want. While the SIXPACK engine is powerful, robust, and well-thought-out, we think many people will agree that there's just something about a V8-powered muscle car that can't be replicated.