Factory Performance is Just the Starting Line for the 550-HP Charger Scat Pack

Muscle cars have always invited modification. That’s because it’s in an automotive enthusiast’s nature to be power-hungry and to tinker. So if we’re provided with a go-fast template, we’ll inevitably start asking: What happens if we turn it up a little? The new Dodge Charger Scat Pack lets tuners answer that question in novel ways. Because under its long hood sits not a typical V-8 but the SIXPACK, a potent 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six. Though this engine offers up to 550 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque in High Output (HO) trim, and 420 hp/468 lb-ft in an “entry level” (SO) trim, for optimizers like us those are merely opening bids. This motor’s clean-sheet design, combined with its mechanical robustness, invites fresh thinking on how to increase output. Beyond this, the new gas-powered Charger’s widebody proportions, independent suspension, and rear-drive (and/or all-wheel-drive) architecture create a highly advanced starting point for your personal build. The SIXPACK is thus perfectly poised to become Dodge’s new tuner playground. Six Cylinders, Serious IntentionsThe SIXPACK comes stock with impressive dyno sheet specs.

Police departments across America have tried all sorts of tactics to discourage illegal street racing and takeovers: increased police presence, infrastructure changes, and plenty more. Louisville authorities have decided to take a somewhat more entertaining approach: they're teaming up with Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live to crush a confiscated Dodge Charger in front of thousands of spectators. According to the—and I'm not joking—KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, the car in question is a 2009 Dodge Charger with a slew of stolen parts, including a 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V-8, the corresponding gearbox, electric modules, exhaust hardware, suspension components, and even the seats. Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers seized it during an illegal street takeover in 2024; investigators reportedly managed to track the parts from Detroit and Indianapolis before they arrived in Louisville. (So before you get too upset that this functioning car are going to the junkyard in the sky, consider that it's basically a bucket of stolen goods.)Now that the investigation has concluded, of course, the car isn’t particularly useful to police.

Rumors of the Hellcat engine returning to the new Dodge Charger are nothing new, but a pair of fresh reports citing internal documents from Stellantis is the best evidence yet of the supercharged Hemi-powered muscle car’s imminent comeback. Initially reported by both Automotive News and Mopar Insiders, these internal planning docs (seen in the Mopar Insiders report) suggest the Hellcat engine will reach production in the Charger at the end of 2027, and be offered for the 2028 model year car. The 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 is also planned to be paired with the ZF 8HP95 automatic transmission and send power exclusively to the rear wheels, unlike every other Charger that now comes standard with all-wheel drive. We certainly weren’t counting on a manual transmission option, though the previous Challenger Hellcat offered it, so it’s little surprise that this new model appears to be automatic-only according to these reports. Additionally, it’s reported that the Hellcat engine will be offered on both the two-door and four-door Charger models. This is only logical, considering Dodge sold a healthy amount of both Charger and Challenger Hellcats in the previous versions.

The US has passed 80,000 public EV fast-charging ports, and new charging stops are getting bigger and packing more power. That’s good news for drivers looking for an open stall. The price story is more mixed: Most networks are holding steady, but Tesla Supercharger costs have gone up. EV charging data platform Paren’s Q3 2026 State of the US Fast EV Charging Industry report finds that operators added 4,106 fast-charging ports at 664 stations from July through September. That brings the US total to 80,964 ports across 14,614 locations.

Matt Nelson is an automotive journalist with nearly a decade of experience in all things cars.  He's spent years working at dealerships in sales, finance, and service. He's since traded in his pens and wrenches for a keyboard, and leveraged the expertise gained from his work experience into a writing career. When it comes to cars, facts, and the truth, Matt’s equal love for all three meant automotive journalism was the only path forward. Ever since the age of six, when he’d spend his time helping his father fix his family’s old Buick, Matt has had a keen interest in anything and everything with four wheels. Naturally, once Matt started working, he ensconced himself in the automotive industry and held positions spanning from car detailer, mechanic, to automotive sales and finance. Because he’s seen it all, driven most, and heard a lot, auto journalism came naturally to him. With a passion for cars like Matt’s, it’s safe to say every article will showcase his penchant for truth, accuracy, and overarching desire to make sense of the modern, complex automotive world. This means every one of his readers can be at the forefront of the most important automotive news.

With Halloween just around the corner, it's nice to see automakers embracing the holiday spirit without taking themselves too seriously. Just last week, Tesla began rolling out a Halloween-themed software update that, as the automaker put it on X, "turns your Tesla into a haunted house on wheels. " Days later, Rivian brought Ghostbusters to its entire lineup as part of its own Halloween surprise. Tesla's Halloween Mode comes as part of update 2026.38.3 and brings along a host of goofy ghost-themed add-ons. For example, you can frighten pedestrians by speaking through Tesla's Boombox feature — the car will now repeat your message in a not-so-robotic but suitably scary voice. There's also a new lock sound available, with your Tesla now growling as you lock the car.