Dodge is trying to burnish its image as a legitimate “muscle” brand as it renavigates its future with a mix of internal-combustion-engine and battery-electric vehicles, in an era where automakers are beefing up and extending high-profit ICE models to make up for stranded capital investments in BEVs, amid slowing consumer demand for all-electrics.

The first two niche performance offerings by Dodge for the 2026 model year are the Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak edition, a restoration of the customizable performance package after discontinuing “Jailbreak” trims of Charger and Challenger after the 2023 model year, and an all-wheel-drive 550-hp Charger R/T Scat Pack.

However, for the Charger, the bigger news perhaps is an engine period, as the vehicle launched with a thus-far low-selling battery-electric propulsion system.

Charger With Both Batteries and Gas

The 2026 Charger lineup retains the battery-electric Daytona variant but gets two ICE models, including a Scat Pack grade with Stellantis’ 3.0L Hurricane Twin Turbo high-output I-6 (i.e. Sixpack HO in this application) producing 550 hp and 531 lb.-ft. (720 Nm) of torque, a variation on the 2024 Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems-winning Hurricane HO engine in the Ram 1500 Tungsten.

Dodge says the mill in the Charger Scat Pack clocks a 3.9-second 0-60 mph (0-97 km) time and a 12.2-second quarter mile, reaching a top speed of 177 mph (285 km/h). The Sixpack standard engine delivers 420 hp on the 2026 Dodge Charger R/T. The ICE Scat Pack grade joins the BEV Scat Pack in the 2026 Charger lineup.

The Sixpack HO engine delivers 88% of peak torque at 2,500 rpm for immediate low-end response and more than 90% of peak torque from 3,000 to 6,000 rpm for sustained performance, Dodge says.

Sixpack-powered Charger models feature standard AWD, but allow for rear-wheel-drive operation.

Knowing that buyers of these muscle trims like to drive recreationally on tracks and black-lake environments, Dodge engineers have dialed in some specific performance features, including the ability to switch to RWD and send 100% of torque to the rear wheels for easier drifting and donut driving, as well as a launch control function, which improves off-the-line acceleration.

Sixpack-powered Charger Scat Pack and R/T will be available in 2-door and 4-door configurations.

The 550-hp 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack is available at a starting MSRP of $54,995. The 420-hp Charger R/T is available at a starting MSRP of $49,995. The all-electric, 2-door 2026 Charger Daytona Scat Pack producing 670 hp starts at $59,995.

“This next-generation Charger lineup delivers the most horsepower and most torque of any muscle car in its class, the widest body of any car in the industry, an award-winning interior and, perhaps most important, what our customers have told us they want: the power to choose what fuels them,” Dodge CEO Matt McAlear says in a statement.

The interior of the Charger Scat Pack features a freestanding, wide-format standard 10.25-in. (26-cm) cluster screen, with a 12.3-in. (31-cm) center display positioned in a center stack angled toward the driver. With rear seats that fold flat, the max rear cargo area is 37.4 cu.-ft. (1,059 L).

A carbon and suede package features real carbon-fiber interior accents and mirror caps, leather/suede high-back performance seats and suede instrument panel wrap, headliner, A-pillars and sun visors. There is also an available Blacktop Package that enhances the exterior with dark badging and 20-by-10-in. “Blacknoise” aluminum wheels with 275/40ZR20 Goodyear all-season tires.

Dodge say interested buyers can place an order for the 2026 Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak and the 2026 Charger Scat Pack with the Sixpack engine on Aug. 13.

A More Dynamic Durango

Customization options for the 2026 Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak build on a foundation of its supercharged Hemi V-8 with 710 hp and 645 lb.-ft. (874 Nm) of torque, providing more than 6 million potential configurable combinations, Dodge claims.

While the Dodge brand has been in sales decline the past few years – down 29% between 2018 and 2024, according to Omdia Automotive data – there has been a spike in Durango demand, increasing 51% in Q2 over Q1 of this year, says Dodge.

“The Dodge Durango is a family-friendly, 3-row muscle SUV with the unique ability to seat up to seven and best-in-class towing at every trim level, and that combination continues to resonate,” McAlear says. “The Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak gives customers the opportunity to make their muscle SUV unique, unlocking color-combination ordering restrictions, (and with) exterior colors, stripes, badges, wheels and brake calipers, to a wide variety of interior options.”

Dodge is offering a lot of colorful choices for the performance Durango. Customers can select from six different wheel options, six available factory exterior colors, six exterior badge-color choices, five seat colors with three seating configurations, five dual-stripe options and four brake-caliper colors and seatbelt colors.

Some buyers can also special-order exterior colors. Designated VIP customers will be offered an opportunity to have their 2026 Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak painted in nearly any color imaginable. A Dodge concierge will work directly with these VIP customers to select their exclusive color.

A “Jailbreak” interior badge stamped into the carbon-fiber trim will signify the personalized configuration. There is a premium group of interior features, including a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and a full suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), as well as an SRT Alcantara steering wheel, SRT black exhaust tips, suede headliner, power sunroof, trailer towing package and Pirelli three-season tires.