2026 Charger Sixpack: The Hurricane Straight Six Breakdown
Over the weekend, Dodge unveiled the upcoming Sixpack Charger that does away with the EV drivetrain for the twin turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane straight six that comes in a SO (standard output) version delivering 420 horsepower or an HO (high output) version boasting 550 horsepower. Both models use an updated eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, and come standard with a limited-slip rear differential, launch control, and line lock to satiate a gearhead’s desire for some modern-day Mopar fun.
The Hurricane GME T6 straight six isn’t exactly brand new for this year; it debuted in the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer SUV and made it into the Ram 1500 trucks for 2025. Stellantis started development of this twin-turbo inline six in 2013 after recognizing the success of Ford’s EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engines in their trucks and SUVs. The design is loosely based on another Stellantis engine, the Hurricane GME T4 four-cylinder found in Jeeps, Masaratis, and Alfas. They share the same bore and stroke, deck height, bore spacing, and other design features.
The SO and HO versions of the Hurricane share a lot of parts, but there are some differences. Those differences are how the SO version makes 420 hp at 5,200 rpm and 468 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm, and the HO makes 550 hp at 5,700 rpm and 531 lb-ft at 3,500 rpm. So we are going to break down those differences with info directly from Stellantis.
We Still Play With Blocks
The engine block is cast from A356 aluminum and does not feature iron or steel liners like you are used to seeing in other aluminum block engines. Instead, the Hurricane straight six utilizes a modern technology called Plasma Transfer Wire Arc (PTWA) coating in the cylinder bores for an ultra-thin, low-friction wear surface. A steel alloy wire is melted at 4,150°F, which is then rotary sprayed onto the walls at high velocity, bonding the steel to the aluminum. It is then honed for a fine cross-hatch pattern for oil retention. This process is cheaper to manufacture and saves a little weight, too.
The deck surface is a closed-deck design for strength, and the steel main caps are reminiscent of the Gen III Hemi, featuring a four-bolt design with the two outer bolts cross-bolted to the deep skirt block. A variable-displacement oil pump tailors its oil flow and pressure output to meet demand. The chain-driven oil pump has a vane-type pressure stage and a single georotor scavenge stage. The Hurricane also has six pressure-activated piston cooling jets and an oil cooler.
The Valvetrain Is Up Top
The cylinder head is cast from the same A356 aluminum as the engine block and is a four-valve-per-cylinder dual overhead cam (DOHC) design. Intake and exhaust cams are chain-driven and have independent variable cam timing, with up to 60 degrees of advance on the intake and 55 degrees on the exhaust. The intake valves are solid stainless steel at 1.240in (31.5mm) diameter, and the exhaust valves are sodium-filled stainless at 1.063in (27.0mm) diameter. All valves are opened using a hydraulically adjusted lash system with roller finger followers. As of writing this article, cam specs have not been publicized, but we do know that the SO and HO versions share the same exhaust cam but have different intake cams.
The Rotating Assembly
The Hurricane straight six uses a forged and twisted steel crankshaft and forged powdered steel high-strength connecting rods. The rods are a cracked-cap I-beam design with bronze bushings for full floating DLC-coated wrist pins. For the SO Hurricane inline six, the pistons are made from die-cast aluminum with a coated skirt and a cast-in iron top ring land for extra strength. The SO compression ratio comes to 10.4:1. The HO version steps up to a forged piston that also has coated skirts and a hard anodized top ring land for extra strength. The HO compression ratio comes to 9.5:1.
Controlling Fuel And Spark
The fuel system for the Hurricane straight six is electronically controlled direct injection. The mechanical high-pressure fuel pumps are chain-driven, from a dedicated shaft, and run at 5,075 psi with a single fuel rail for the injectors. The SO and HO Hurricane inline six uses the same pumps, but the HO version uses two of them. The SO injectors are rated at 87 lb/hr at 1,450 psi, and the HO injectors are rated at 109 lb/hr at 1,450 psi. The SO’s horsepower rating is based on using mid-grade 89-octane fuel, but 87 can be used as well. The HO Hurricane requires premium fuel.
The Hurricanes use the tried-and-true coil-on-plug ignition, but utilize a somewhat new to the OEM ion-sense coils. These coils do a more technologically advanced, real-time version of reading the color of spark plugs to gauge combustion quality. A sensing circuit within the coil detects the electrical current through the gases inside the combustion chamber before and after the spark plug ignites, using the spark plug’s own electrodes. This ion-sense can also be used to determine knock and misfire, too, helping the ECU continuously fine-tune the air-fuel mixture.
Twin Garret Turbos
Both the SO and HO utilize twin turbos that bolt directly to the cylinder head. The exhaust manifold is integrated in the cylinder head and is water-cooled. The front three cylinders feed the front turbo, and the other three cylinders feed the rear turbo. The SO Hurricane six cylinder has a single inlet water-to-air cooler and a 68mm diameter single throttle body, while the HO Hurricane uses a dual inlet cooler and a 74mm diameter single throttle body to handle the extra airflow and cooling needs.
Each version uses different-sized turbos, with the SO using Garrett turbos with a 50mm compressor and 44mm turbine pushing a max PSI of 22 pounds, while the HO gets slightly larger Garrett GT2054 turbos with a 54mm compressor and 48mm turbine with a max boost pressure of 30 psi. The 510-horsepower HO Hurricane in the Wagoneer has a max boost pressure of “only” 26 psi.
To handle all the heat these high boost pressures can generate, the Hurricane six-cylinder engines utilize a low-pressure cooling system that is completely independent from the engine’s cooling system. Keeping this system separate from the engine cooling system allows it to run at cooler temperatures for better performance and heat control, and also cools the turbo bearing housing itself for long life.
The New Hurricane Straight Six Chapter
With the Hurricane straight six, Dodge’s Sixpack Charger offers a modern twist on classic Mopar muscle and performance, delivering turbocharged grunt with cutting edge engineering. From its PTWA-coated block to its ion sense ignition and twin water cooled turbos, every element is purpose built for power, durability, and drivability. Whether buyers choose the 420 horsepower SO or the 550 horsepower HO, they’re getting more than just a replacement for V8 muscle, they’re getting a high-tech, all-weather street brawler that’s ready to write the next chapter in Dodge performance history.
