The Dodge Charger has worn three very different engine philosophies: big-block V8s in the 1960s, supercharged Hemi V8s in the modern sedan, and today a choice between a twin-turbo inline-six and a battery-electric drivetrain. Here is how the Charger’s engines evolved, with the output figures that defined each era.
A note on horsepower ratings
Classic muscle-car figures are SAE gross ratings, measured on a bare engine without accessories or a full exhaust. Since the early 1970s, US ratings have been SAE net, measured as installed. Gross numbers run noticeably higher for the same engine, so a 1969 rating and a 2023 rating are not directly comparable.
The classic era: 440 Magnum and 426 Hemi
The second-generation Charger of 1968 to 1970 is the one most people picture. In R/T form, the standard engine was the 440 Magnum V8, rated at 375 gross horsepower, and the famous option was the 426 Hemi, rated at 425 gross horsepower. The Hemi’s hemispherical combustion chambers were race-derived, expensive, and rare in street cars — which is why Hemi-equipped Chargers are now among the most valuable of the era.
The modern Hemi sedan, 2006 to 2023
The Charger returned for 2006 as a four-door sedan, and the Hemi returned with it. The table follows the key V8 versions.
| Version | Engine | Output (SAE net) |
|---|---|---|
| Charger R/T | 5.7L Hemi V8 | 340 hp at launch, later 370 hp |
| 2006–2010 Charger SRT8 | 6.1L Hemi V8 | 425 hp / 420 lb-ft |
| Charger SRT8 / SRT 392 and Scat Pack | 6.4L (392) Hemi V8 | 470 hp, later 485 hp |
| 2015–2020 Charger SRT Hellcat | 6.2L supercharged Hemi V8 | 707 hp |
| 2021–2023 Charger SRT Hellcat | 6.2L supercharged Hemi V8 | 717 hp |
| 2021–2023 Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye | 6.2L supercharged Hemi V8 | 797 hp |
| 2023 Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak | 6.2L supercharged Hemi V8 | 807 hp |
The 6.1-liter SRT8 is a useful milestone: its 425 net horsepower matched the 1969 Hemi’s gross figure, meaning the modern car was clearly stronger in real terms. The supercharged Hellcat then pushed a four-door family sedan past 700 horsepower, and every Hellcat variant is built around premium fuel — supercharged engines are exactly the case our octane guide describes as needing it. Production of the Hemi Charger sedan ended after the 2023 model year.
The new generation: Sixpack and Daytona EV
The current Charger, available as a two-door and a four-door, dropped the V8. The gas version uses the Sixpack, a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six making 420 horsepower in R/T form and 550 horsepower in Scat Pack form. The electric Charger Daytona Scat Pack makes 630 horsepower, rising to 670 with its temporary PowerShot boost. For the first time, the most powerful Charger you can buy new is not the gasoline one.
What the evolution says about American performance
The Charger’s path mirrors the wider market: displacement gave way to supercharging, and supercharging is giving way to turbocharged sixes and electric motors. Ford took a similar route in its trucks, where turbo V6s now outsell the V8 — see our 2025 F-150 engine guide — and electric performance models like the Mustang Mach-E GT now deliver acceleration that once required a big V8.
Historical ratings per manufacturer data compiled by automobile-catalog.com; modern ratings per Stellantis and Dodge announcements, September 2026. Photos: HJUdall (CC0) and MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
