Dodge Turned the SIXPACK Charger Into 750-HP Tire-Shredding Drift Machines
Dodge just handed gearheads something to scream about. Working with Hemmings, the brand built two 750-horsepower Dodge Charger drift cars and turned them loose at Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge. Both machines started life as ordinary production Charger Scat Packs. From there, the team stripped them bare, yanked out the drivetrain, and rebuilt them into purpose-built sliders. The result is loud, smoky, and unlike anything Dodge has shown on the new Charger platform. So here is how these Dodge Charger drift cars came together, and where you can watch them slide next.
It Started as a “Why Not?” in Death Valley
Like a lot of great car ideas, this one was born on a drive. Dodge CEO Matt McAlear and Hemmings host Mike Musto were rolling through Death Valley in a pack of Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak models when the talk turned to the new Charger. They kept circling back to the SIXPACK engine, the all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, and the car’s ability to run in rear-wheel-drive mode. Before long, “What if?” became “Why not?” McAlear then challenged the crew to build something unexpected. That dare turned into two purpose-built drift cars, and into proof of how far the new Charger can stretch.
Meet the BOOST Coupe and the RPM Drift Taxi
Although both builds chase the same horsepower target, they were engineered for very different missions. The two-door Charger BOOST Coupe is the all-out performance machine, built to slide hard and look mean doing it. The four-door Charger RPM, short for Rapid People Mover, is the crowd-pleaser instead. Think of it as a drift taxi, engineered to strap passengers in for wild ride-alongs during demos. Both cars wear graphics inspired by the new Charger’s Purple Haze paint. The RPM even carries “Rapid People Mover” across the roof, while the BOOST Coupe leans into a grittier, drift-culture look. Best of all, the team pulled both builds together in just 60 days.
How the Dodge Charger Drift Cars Ditch AWD for a Stick
Here is the wild part. The production Charger Scat Pack is an all-wheel-drive car with an automatic transmission. To make it drift, the team threw that formula out. They engineered custom bellhousings, reworked the driveline, and converted both Chargers to dedicated rear-wheel drive with competition-spec manual transmissions. As a result, these are the first manually shifted, SIXPACK-powered Chargers on the planet. Inside, the everyday comfort is gone, too. Now drivers grab a stick shift, work three pedals, and sit strapped into containment racing seats behind a full roll cage. Under the modifications, though, this is still the same SIXPACK muscle-car family that just spawned the new 600-horsepower Charger Super Bee.
Smoke, Boost, and a Nine-Part Build Series
Drifting is a show, and these Chargers deliver. A one-off dual-mode exhaust vents tire smoke straight through hood-mounted blow-off valves, so the car practically breathes fog on command. Under the hood, meanwhile, each build runs its own forced-induction setup. The BOOST Coupe converts the factory twin-turbo system to a high-output single-turbo from Turbosmart. The RPM, on the other hand, runs a heavily modified Turbosmart twin-turbo system. Want to see how it all came together? Hemmings is rolling out a nine-part video series on YouTube that follows Musto, builder Suppy Wejpanich, and pro drifters Corey “The Boss” Hosford and Micah Diaz from concept to completion.
Where to Catch the Charger Drift Cars Next
The Dodge Charger drift cars made their debut Aug. 7 at Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge, sliding around M1 Concourse during the press reveal. Hosford and Diaz handled the driving duties. After that, the party hits the road. A Ram 3500 heavy-duty truck hauls the pair to Gridlife at Laguna Seca on Sept. 18-20, then to FuelFest at Firebird Motorsports Park in Arizona on Dec. 5. So if you love the smell of race fuel and the wail of a boosted inline-six, go ahead and mark your calendar. We will keep tracking the tour here at GT: Garage Talk®.
The Specs
Here is the full build breakdown on both Dodge Charger drift cars, along with the production Charger Scat Pack they are based on. Both machines run on C16 race fuel.
Build Highlights
- Built from production SIXPACK-powered 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Packs
- 750 horsepower (conservative estimate)
- Rear-wheel-drive conversion from standard all-wheel drive
- Competition-spec manual transmission
- Dual-mode exhaust that vents tire smoke through hood-mounted blow-off valves
- MoTeC engine management
- Rear-mounted cooling system
- Bulldog quick-change rear end
- Professional drift suspension and steering geometry
- Complete motorsports safety package, including a full roll cage
Powertrain
- BOOST Coupe (two-door): factory twin-turbo system converted to a high-output Turbosmart single-turbo, with custom competition intake and exhaust
- RPM (four-door): heavily modified Turbosmart twin-turbo system, fully custom-fabricated intake, and bespoke intercoolers, reservoirs, containment boxes, and fluid routing
Engine Management and Cooling
- MoTeC engine management systems
- Integrated 12-inch MoTeC digital displays
- Custom competition intake and exhaust systems
- Rear-mounted cooling packages for better weight distribution and thermal efficiency
- CAD-designed fuel cells and complete custom fuel delivery systems
Drivetrain and Chassis
- Full rear-wheel-drive conversion
- Drift-specific front and rear suspension systems
- Extreme steering geometry for maximum steering angle
- Competition-spec manual transmissions and custom clutch assemblies
- Heavy-duty driveshafts, competition axles, and hubs
- Bulldog quick-change rear differential for rapid gear-ratio changes
- Custom three-pedal clutch system, one-off hydraulic handbrake, and drift-spec master cylinder
Interior and Safety
- Full competition roll cage
- FIA-style containment racing seats
- Multi-point racing harnesses
- Simplified motorsports cockpit optimized for competition
Wheels, Tires, and Body
- American Racing competition wheels
- X-Comp HP performance tires
- One-off hood with integrated vented exhaust outlets
- Widened front and rear fenders for added steering clearance
- Hand-fabricated rear drift wing and custom rear taillight assemblies
The Donor: 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack (SIXPACK H.O.)
- 3.0-liter twin-turbo SIXPACK high-output inline-six
- 550 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque
- 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds; quarter-mile in 12.2 seconds
- Standard all-wheel drive with a selectable on-demand RWD Mode that sends 100% of torque to the rear wheels
- Twin 54mm Garrett GT2054 turbos spinning up to 185,000 RPM with up to 30 psi of boost
- Standard Line Lock, Launch Control, and dual-mode active exhaust
- 15-inch vented rotors with Brembo six-piston fixed front calipers
- 20-by-10-inch wheels