Dodge Charger Finally Receives a Hemi V8, But It Can't Be Driven Home | Carscoops

      The 2026 Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak is equipped with a supercharged V8, carbon fiber panels, and a parachute to prepare it for NHRA competition.

      Dodge's Charger Drag Pak follows in the footsteps of the Challenger Drag Pak.

      This sub-8-second powerhouse features a 5.8-liter supercharged V8 with forged internals.

      Only 50 units will be produced by Riley Technologies, starting at a price of $234,995.

      Would you prefer to hear the good news or the bad news first? Let’s start on a positive note: Dodge has finally done what everyone has been hoping for by installing a V8 in the new Charger. The downside is that only 50 units will be made, and none will be legal for road use.

      The 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection has an exceptionally lengthy name and an even more extensive list of mechanical enhancements, transforming it from a standard Sixpack coupe into a specialized drag strip machine.

      Engineered to carry forward the motorsport legacy of the previous Challenger Drag Pak, the Charger is designed for grassroots NHRA competition, claiming the ability to conquer a quarter-mile in under 8 seconds.

      At the heart of this performance is a 354 cu-in (5.8-liter) Gen III Hemi V8, featuring a forged crank and rods, complemented by a Whipple 3.0-liter twin-screw supercharger.

      This motor is an advancement of the one that established and continues to hold a 7.6-second NHRA Factory Stock Showdown record. It powers the rear wheels through a Coan Racing XLT three-speed automatic transmission, delivering an unspecified horsepower to a Mark Williams Enterprises 9-inch rear axle with 4.30:1 gears.

      View the underside images in the gallery; you’d never imagine an axle could look so appealing.

      With carbon body panels

      As a dedicated drag strip champion, the Charger boasts more than just a powerful engine and robust driveline. It replaces the stock steel and plastic hood, doors, hatch, and front fascia with carbon fiber alternatives, reducing weight by 100 lbs (45 kg) compared to the Challenger Drag Pak.

      It also features a custom suspension system including an adjustable four-link rear setup, new knuckles and anti-roll bars, adjustable camber shims, and coilover shocks at each corner.

      Weld Racing and Mickey Thompson provide the wheels, with the front measuring 17 inches in diameter but only 4.5 inches wide, while the 15-inch rear wheels are nearly as wide as they are tall, at 11 inches.

      A unique detail is the Frazog logo found on the small wheels of the wheelie bar. There’s also a line lock to assist with warming the Dodge’s rear tires prior to the starting line, along with lightweight four-pot brakes and a parachute for stopping the Charger after the finish line.

      Caged, yet still carpeted

      Despite all these serious modifications, the interior still resembles a Charger and remains reasonably comfortable. It includes carpet, stock door cards, and dash structures, accompanied by two racing buckets, harnesses, a cage, Pro-Comp analog gauges, and a quick-release steering wheel, making it clear that this is not a regular production car.

      The Drag Pak is the inaugural racecar initiative from Dodge’s restructured SRT division, and the Hustle Stuff name references the tuning parts and information catalogs produced by Chrysler in the 1970s for drivers upgrading and racing the original Dodge and Plymouth muscle cars.

      View it at SEMA

      Only 50 vehicles will be manufactured, each prepared by Riley Technologies in Mooresville, North Carolina, and priced at $234,995 plus taxes. Buyers can select from 18 exterior colors beyond the standard white and three different graphics packages, along with various technical options for serious racers.

      These include lightweight packages for the engine and driveline, a carbon seat kit that saves approximately 9 kg (20 lbs), and a comprehensive data-collection package.

      The Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak will make its competition debut at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida, from March 5-8, 2026. However, it will be on display at the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals this weekend and at SEMA 2025 in Las Vegas starting November 4, alongside a Moparized Dodge Sixpack Charger concept.

      Perhaps at SEMA 2026, we will see a production Charger featuring a V8 at Dodge’s exhibit.