Dodge unveils 2026 Charger R/T powered by 420-hp SIXPACK engine

Dodge reported details of the 2026 Charger R/T with a 420-hp twin-turbo SIXPACK engine, AWD and updated design. Explore the specs and lineup context.

Dodge has expanded the new generation Charger lineup with the gasoline-powered 2026 Charger R/T, introducing a model that becomes the most powerful entry-level muscle car currently offered by the brand. The car also plays a central role in Dodge’s new multi-energy strategy, where internal combustion and fully electric powertrains coexist within the same model family.

The Charger R/T is powered by a new 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six engine from the SIXPACK family. In its standard-output configuration, the engine produces 420 horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque. That output allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 4.6 seconds and complete the quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds.

This new powertrain replaces the previous 5.7-liter HEMI V8 used in the earlier Charger R/T. Compared with that model, the updated version delivers 50 additional horsepower and 73 lb-ft more torque. Performance improves accordingly: the sprint to 60 mph is half a second quicker, and the quarter-mile time drops by 0.6 seconds.

Another defining feature of the 2026 Charger R/T is its standard all-wheel-drive system. The setup also includes a selectable rear-wheel-drive mode that can direct all available torque to the rear axle, preserving the traditional driving character long associated with classic American muscle cars.

The eighth-generation Charger also introduces a redesigned body with a wider stance and a practical liftback layout. This configuration increases cargo capacity to 37.4 cubic feet in the rear, with significantly more usable space available when the rear seats are folded down.

The R/T forms the entry point to the broader 2026 Dodge Charger lineup. Above it sits the Charger Scat Pack, which uses a higher-output SIXPACK engine producing 550 horsepower. The lineup also includes the fully electric Charger Daytona Scat Pack, delivering 670 horsepower and capable of reaching 60 mph in approximately 3.3 seconds.

Together these models illustrate Dodge’s multi-energy approach, offering both combustion and electric propulsion within a single performance family.

The Charger R/T serves as the most accessible model in the range. In the United States it carries a starting MSRP of $49,995, with orders already open and the first vehicles expected to reach dealerships within the coming months.

The launch also carries symbolic weight for the brand. The year 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the Dodge Charger, a nameplate that first appeared in 1966 and has since become one of the most recognizable icons of American performance cars.

With the new R/T, Dodge signals that the character of the Charger will continue to evolve rather than disappear. The twin-turbo inline-six SIXPACK engine represents a modern interpretation of that tradition, aiming to balance contemporary efficiency with the performance identity that has long defined the Charger name.