The launch of Dodge’s twin-turbo, six-cylinder Charger is reportedly being brought forward, and US President-elect Donald Trump is claimed to be one of the factors.
Dodge unveiled the latest-generation Charger in March, which has been followed by the delayed rollout of the coupe that’s first launching with electric power.
Delays haven’t just affected electric examples, with the new ‘Hurricane’ six-cylinder powered Charger ‘Sixpack’ initially due to go on sale in the first quarter of 2025 (January to March), which was later pushed back to in late 2025.
100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
However, specialist publication Mopar Insiders now reports the Charger Sixpack’s launch will be brought forward to the North American summer of 2025 (mid-June to August) – not only due to strong demand for petrol power, but also expected regulation changes after Mr Trump is sworn in as President.
In the leadup to the US election, Mr Trump falsely claimed the US Government has mandates which will require electric vehicle (EV) sales to reach 100 per cent, which he said he would repeal if returned to power.
While the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does have a target for EVs to account for between 35 to 56 per cent of sales on the new vehicle market by 2032, this is not an enforcement or mandate, rather it’s an outline of what carmakers will need to do to meet wider emissions regulations across their fleets.
This EPA target was previously as high as 67 per cent before being walked back in April this year, following cooling demand for EVs.
Regardless of whether the so-called EV mandates are real, Mr Trump has long been a critic of battery-powered cars, and is expected to wind back some of the US’s overall emissions targets, effectively allowing carmakers to produce more internal combustion engines with minimal penalty.
In the case of the Dodge Charger, this will be seen as a big win for fans of the muscle car who’ve been turned off by its move to become electric-only in the first stages of its latest generation.
The Charger Sixpack will be powered by the twin-turbo 3.0-litre six-cylinder Hurricane petrol engine which is also found under the bonnet of the new Ram 1500 and Jeep Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer.
Hurricane engine
In base ‘S.O’ (standard output) guise, it’ll produce 313kW, with the H.O. (high output) increasing this figure to 410kW. Both variants will be all-wheel drive, a rarity in the muscle car segment which the Charger occupies.
By contrast, the electric Charger Daytonas produce between 370kW (R/T) and 500kW (Scat Pack).
Hurricane-powered Chargers are differentiated from electric versions by their Sixpack badges, revised front end (with a larger radiator opening), a ‘power dome’ bonnet and dual-exit exhaust at the rear.
MORE: Dodge Charger Daytona – Electric muscle car debuts, sedan and six-cylinder due 2025
MORE: Dodge Charger EV’s ‘exhaust’ noise teased, fans unhappy
