That Dodge Charger Got a Hemi In It? Only If It’s a Hellcat.

What if the return of the Hemi V-8 in the Dodge Charger wasn’t a given, but only made sense as a Hellcat?

The Sixpack Six-Cylinder Is Already Doing the Job

The 2026 Dodge Charger lineup right now leans heavily on the Hurricane SIXPACK twin-turbo inline-six, and it’s not just holding its own, it’s winning awards. The SIXPACK-powered Charger Scat Pack just took home Performance Vehicle of Texas and Best Interior honors at the Texas Auto Writers Association’s Texas Auto Roundup. That engine makes 550 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque, runs 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, and clears the quarter mile in 12.2 seconds. Those numbers stack up against past V-8 Chargers without breaking a sweat.

Here’s the Part Most People Miss

According to what Dodge leadership has told the press, if a Hemi-powered Charger ever comes back, it won’t be a modest V-8 swap. It would almost certainly have to be a Hellcat-level engine, a supercharged V-8 that matches or exceeds the power of the high-output six-cylinder the car already uses. Anything less simply wouldn’t make performance sense for a muscle car wearing Charger badges in 2026.

• SIXPACK Scat Pack: 550 hp, 531 lb-ft, 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, 12.2-second quarter mile
• Recent honors: Performance Vehicle of Texas + Best Interior, 2026 TAWA Texas Auto Roundup
• Standard AWD across the Charger lineup, two- or four-door
• Packaging challenge: AWD layout and engine bay space make a Hemi swap non-trivial per Dodge execs

Why Packaging, Not Nostalgia, Decides This

At the Detroit auto show, Dodge executives explained that packaging a Hemi under the hood of the new Charger isn’t as simple as dropping it in. All-wheel drive and engine bay space make it a tougher engineering challenge than swapping parts in the old rear-drive LX platform. But the Hellcat’s higher performance profile means it’s the only Hemi that truly fits the Charger’s identity now: anything smaller would be a step backward from what the SIXPACK six-cylinder already delivers.

This doesn’t mean a Hellcat or any Hemi Charger is confirmed. But it does show where Dodge is focusing its performance strategy: high-impact, halo engines that excite enthusiasts rather than lower-power options that could dilute the Charger name. Muscle car purists have long said a true Charger needs a V-8. Dodge seems to be listening, but on their terms.

Building the Hellcat Look Today, Engine Aside

Whether or not a factory Hemi Charger ever lands, the SRT Hellcat widebody stance is already available as a bolt-on upgrade. Vicrez’s 2020 Widebody Kit in SRT Hellcat style brings the flared fenders, aggressive front and rear bumpers, and rocker panels of the factory Hellcat widebody to any 2015-2023 Charger, SXT and GT included, without waiting on Dodge’s next engine decision. It’s the same visual attitude the Hellcat trim wears, built to bolt onto the car you already own.

Would you rather Dodge bring back a modest 5.7L Hemi, or hold out for nothing less than a supercharged Hellcat? Tell us where you land in the comments.

Recommended Product

Vicrez 2020 Widebody Kit SRT Hellcat Style | Dodge Charger 2015-2023

$1,589.00

✓ In Stock

See Details