While the all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona debuted first, the new Charger Sixpack models are now reaching customers. Powered by Stellantis' twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-6, this gas version is what many muscle car enthusiasts were truly waiting for.
This modern six-cylinder powertrain invites a look back at Mopar's interesting history with six-cylinder performance, notably in Australia. Over fifty years ago, Chrysler Australia built the Valiant Charger R/T E-49, featuring a "Hemi Six Pack." This was not a V8, but a triple-carbureted 265-cubic-inch inline-6 producing over 300 horsepower.
At a time when U.S. muscle cars were losing power due to emissions rules, this Australian engine delivered V8-level performance. The Charger R/T E-49 could run the quarter-mile in just over 14 seconds, proving a straight-six could be a legitimate muscle engine.
Today's Hurricane-powered Charger Sixpack feels like a modern reinvention of that Aussie spirit. Both engines offer competitive performance as alternatives to traditional V8s. For new owners of the Hurricane-powered Charger, it's a chance to appreciate its innovative Australian ancestor.