For the past couple of years, Dodge has been trying to reboot the Charger story with a new playbook, and a lot of muscle fans have been reading it with crossed arms. The Charger Daytona EV showed up first with big numbers and plenty of tech, but it never quite scratched that old-school itch. Then the 2026 Charger Sixpack arrived to bring gas power back into the conversation with the twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six, yet plenty of people still heard the same question at every cars and coffee: “Yeah, but when does the V-8 come back?”
That question matters because the Charger name has always carried a certain expectation. This is one of those cars where the soundtrack is part of the product, and for many buyers, a Charger without eight cylinders feels like a band playing the hits with the volume turned down. Even as the industry keeps shifting toward electrification and downsized boosted engines, the Charger is still a symbol of American excess, and the Hemi is basically its calling card.
The good news is the path for a V-8 looks more realistic than it did when the new Charger was first revealed. The current Charger rides on Stellantis’ STLA Large platform, which was engineered to handle EVs, hybrids, and traditional combustion setups. Packaging a Hemi into a space clearly designed with the inline-six in mind was the big worry, but Dodge has already hinted at what’s possible by rolling out a new Charger Drag Pak race car with supercharged Hemi power. If the hardware can live under that hood on a purpose-built strip machine, it gets a lot harder to argue a street version is impossible.
If Dodge does the obvious thing, the menu should look familiar. Think the 5.7-liter Hemi as the likely entry point, the 6.4-liter for the crowd that wants more bite, and a supercharged 6.2-liter for anyone chasing that full-blown Hellcat experience. The wildcard is how Dodge labels everything this time around, since names like R/T and Scat Pack are already being used in the new era. Still, if a blown 6.2 shows up, nobody is going to be shocked if the Hellcat badge makes its loud return.
What makes this comeback extra interesting is the timing. The old rivals have thinned out, and the Camaro ZL1 and Shelby GT500 are not currently sitting on dealer lots waiting to fight. That leaves the Mustang GT as the most direct, traditional V-8 opponent, while a four-door Hellcat-style Charger could also wander into sport sedan territory and start picking at cars like the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. In other words, Dodge would not just be satisfying nostalgia. It could also be carving out a lane that is getting emptier every year.
There’s still a reality check here, though. The Hurricane inline-six is the modern, efficient, high-potential option in this family, and it may end up being the smarter performance play for a lot of buyers. The Hemi’s advantage is not subtle engineering, it’s the feeling, and that feeling usually comes at a premium. If the V-8 Chargers land in late 2026 or early 2027 as expected, do not be surprised if pricing climbs quickly, with estimates floating around $53,000 for a 5.7-equipped model, about $60,000 for a 6.4, and roughly $80,000 for a Hellcat-spec supercharged 6.2. If Dodge sticks the landing, that might be the price of hearing the Charger sound like a Charger again.
Mike Floyd is a finance executive by trade and a car enthusiast at heart. As a CFO with a keen eye for detail and strategy, Mike brings his analytical mindset to the automotive world, uncovering fresh insights and unique perspectives that go beyond the surface. His passion for cars—especially his favorite, the Porsche 911, fuels his contributions to Automotive Addicts, where he blends a love for performance and design with his professional precision. Whether he’s breaking down industry trends or spotlighting emerging innovations, Mike helps keep the site both sharp and forward-thinking.
