It is finally official. Dodge just built the first gasoline-powered Charger since 2023. Specifically, this new muscle car rolled off the Windsor assembly line on December 2nd. However, it features a twin-turbo Hurricane engine rather than a V8. Consequently, everyone is asking the same question. Where is the legendary engine we all love? My investigation confirms that the 2027 Dodge Charger Hemi V8 is coming. In fact, you are likely only one year away from the 2027 Dodge Charger Hemi V8 crashing the party. Therefore, holding onto your cash is the smartest financial move right now. Ultimately, the 2027 Dodge Charger Hemi V8 is the real prize.
The Sixpack Stopgap Strategy
On December 2nd, Dodge officially rolled out the very first 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack Scat Pack. Other publications have covered this launch extensively. For instance, they report that this is the first gasoline-powered Charger of the new generation. Furthermore, it features a twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane engine with all-wheel drive. On paper, it looks decent. Additionally, it will be very quick.
However, Dodge did not build its brand personality on engines that are merely “good enough.” For years, competitors went smaller, quieter, and more hybrid. In contrast, Dodge doubled down on supercharged V8s. As a result, they smoked the competition. Then, they killed the Last Call cars in 2023. Subsequently, they pivoted to an electric Charger and this BMW-esque Sixpack. Unfortunately, sales virtually collapsed by 50% during this transition. Currently, the only thing keeping Dodge afloat is the Durango. While I have driven the Hurricane-powered Charger, it feels like someone else’s idea of muscle. Therefore, Stellantis needs a correction.
Ram Orders Prove V8 Demand
Stellantis recently received a loud reminder of what customers actually want from their truck division. Specifically, Ram brought back the 5.7-liter Hemi for the Ram 1500. They did not just quietly add an option. Consequently, Ram pulled in more than 10,000 orders in the first 24 hours. This happened immediately after they opened the order banks. Clearly, this proves undeniable demand.
In contrast, Dodge has opened the order banks for the Sixpack Chargers. However, we have not heard a single headline about record-breaking orders. If they had a record-breaking opening, Dodge would certainly be bragging about it. The difference is simple. Ram gave people the engine they wanted. Meanwhile, Dodge is still trying to sell a compromise. At the end of the day, we want a Hemi back inside the Charger. Fortunately, the evidence suggests this is exactly what is happening.
The Drag Pack Smoking Gun
To put a V8 back into the Charger, Dodge must recertify the engine for this brand-new platform. For example, this involves emissions testing, crash tests, and durability tests. All of this government bureaucracy takes time. However, Dodge still needs to sell something in 2026. Thus, the Hurricanes are arriving first. But you must look at what is happening in the background.
Dodge recently unveiled the 2026 Charger Drag Pack. Surprisingly, this is not a Hurricane-powered vehicle. Instead, it is a full-on NHRA Factory Stock Showdown race car. Furthermore, it is one of the first projects under the revived SRT banner. Crucially, they engineered a brand-new aluminum Hemi block in just a few months. In addition, they chose to debut it in a Charger body. They could have easily used a body-in-white Challenger if they only planned to sell limited numbers. Yet, they chose the new platform.
Let’s rewind a few years. Previously, Mopar Insiders showed us a Hurricane-powered Drag Pack prototype. Specifically, the Direct Connection team rolled out a twin-turbo Hurricane Drag Pack. If Dodge really believed the future of the Drag Pack was the Hurricane, that concept would have reached production. Instead, they pivoted back to the Hemi. They realized customers will not spend big money on a Hurricane race car. Therefore, they built a new aluminum V8. They would not engineer a new block just for a handful of race cars. This is a proof of concept. Basically, it proves the Hemi works in the new Charger architecture.
The Regulatory Waiting Game
My friend Tim Kuniskis has stated that ever since COVID, processes take longer than before. Even going to a restaurant is different now. Similarly, certifying an engine takes significantly more time. Therefore, the Sixpack serves as the placeholder while the recertification process happens. However, the future lineup is already taking shape. For instance, we already have 670 horsepower and 550 horsepower variants. But they are just getting started.
History is often an indication of where a company is going. When the last generation launched, we saw a progression from 3.5 liters to 6.1 liters, and eventually to the Hellcat. SRT is back as a dedicated division. This gives them focus. Consequently, they are pushing performance to the next level. They hear the customers. They know the showroom needs excitement. Although they cannot move as fast as dealers want, they are working on it.
Timeline For The 2027 Release
If you own a 2023 Last Call vehicle, you have a decision to make. Do you want the newest thing on paper, or do you want the engine you dream about? I believe the Hemi Charger will show up as a 2027 model. Furthermore, these new cars will solve the traction issues of the past. Based on the Sixpack performance, the new platform has all-wheel drive and modern launch control. Consequently, these will be the best handling Dodge vehicles ever made. They simply need the right engine.
Here is the exact timeline I project. December 2nd, 2025, marked the birthday of the Hurricane Charger. Next, Roadkill Nights in 2026 will be the perfect stage for the reveal. I believe Dodge will pull the cover off a street-legal Hemi Charger there. For example, we could see a 5.7-liter return, a 392 Scat Pack, and a 6.2-liter Supercharged Hellcat. Finally, production would likely begin around December 2026 for the 2027 model year.
Dodge has proven they can fit both Hurricanes and Hemis in the same vehicle. Therefore, they can play both sides of the coin. They can keep regulators happy with the twin-turbo inline-six. Simultaneously, they can satisfy the Brotherhood of Muscle with the V8. The question is not if it is coming. Instead, the question is whether you are willing to wait. I am waiting. I believe this will be the best Mopar car made outside of the Viper. So, hold your 2023 trade-in. Watch what Dodge does over the next 12 months. Be ready to pounce when the Hemi order banks open.
