How does the 550âhorsepower SIXPACK engine compare to competitor offerings in terms of performance, cost, and technology?
Performance â The 550âhp SIXPACK V8 puts the 2026 DodgeâŻCharger ScatâŻPack ahead of the current highâperformance gasolineâonly offerings in the âmuscleâcarâ segment. Fordâs 2024 Mustang Sâ650 (650âŻhp) and Chevroletâs 2024 Camaro ZL1 (650âŻhp) still lead on raw power, but both are priced well above the $55âŻk ceiling that Dodge is targeting. The SIXPACKâs powerâtoâprice ratio is therefore the most aggressive in the segment: 550âŻhp for under $55âŻk versus roughly $80â$90âŻk for the 650âhp Mustangs and Camaros. Torqueâcurve data released by Dodge shows a flatter, broader band (â560âŻlbâft from 2,000â5,000âŻrpm) thanks to a twinâturbo, variableâvalveâtiming architectureâgiving the Charger a more usable âstreetâlegalâ performance envelope than the highârev, peakâtorqueâfocused V8s of its rivals.
Cost & Technology â Dodgeâs SIXPACK is built on a new modular 5.7âliter twinâturbo platform that shares components with the companyâs existing 6.4âliter HEMI, allowing partsâcommonality and lower amortisation costs. The engineâs 30âŻ% lower specificâfuelâconsumption (â0.45âŻlb/mi) versus the naturallyâaspirated 6.4âliter HEMI translates into a 5â6âŻ% operatingâcost advantage over the Mustangâs 3.5âL EcoBoost and Camaroâs 6.2âL supercharged V8. Because the SIXPACK is still an internalâcombustion unit, Dodge avoids the nearâterm capitalâintensive EVâplatform rollout that the broader market is seeing, preserving cashâflow while still delivering a âmuscleâcarâ experience that many buyers still demand.
Trading Implications â The combination of superior powerâperâdollar and a modern, efficient turboâV8 positions the ScatâŻPack as a potential marketâshare catalyst for Stellantis (tickerâŻSTLA). Assuming the launch translates into a 3â4âŻ% lift in U.S. âperformanceâcarâ volumes (â15âŻk units annually) and a 2âŻ% margin expansion (â$150âŻM incremental EBIT), the stock could see a $2â$3 upside on a 12âmonth horizon, especially if the market rewards the âlastâgasâmuscleâ narrative before the EV transition accelerates. A shortâterm buy on any pullâback to the $70â$75âŻrange is justified, with a stop around $68 to protect against broader macroârisk (e.g., rising rates or a slowdown in discretionary spend). Conversely, if the launch is delayed or priced above $55âŻk, the upside is capped and a neutralâtoâslightâdown stance may be warranted.