New Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak Comes With a V8
With the return of the HEMI V8 engine in Stellantis' long-term strategy for American brands, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the Dodge Charger will soon be offered with a V8.
However, before we get there, the brand's engineers must first find a way to fit the larger engine under the hood of a car that was initially designed with an electric architecture. While Dodge is adding SIXPACK models powered by the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six Hurricane engine for 2026, die-hard fans are clamoring for one thing: the HEMI V8. A little patience will be required, but there’s one way to skip the wait.
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Dodge today unveiled the new Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak, essentially the heir to the Challenger Drag Pak program that has spawned a series of cars for fans of straight-line acceleration since 2008.
Designed for NHRA Factory Stock Showdown competition, this Charger is anything but a simple modified race car. Engineers from SRT (Street & Racing Technology) and Riley Technologies, a renowned tuner from Mooresville, North Carolina, have joined forces to create this formidable new weapon for drag racing.
The Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak becomes the first race car to bear the SRT Performance badge since the latter was revived in July of this year. The division now oversees all motorsports projects from Stellantis' American brands—from SRT models to Direct Connection parts, not to mention Ram's return to the NASCAR Truck Series in 2026.
Based on the latest-generation Charger, the Hustle Stuff Drag Pak features several carbon fibre components including the hood, doors, rear hatch and bumpers, resulting in a weight saving of about 45 kg (100 lbs) compared to the previous Challenger Drag Pak.
Underneath the coupe's body, there is a lighter chassis, a reinforced four-link rear suspension, a new nine-inch axle courtesy of Mark Williams Enterprises, as well as two-way adjustable shock absorbers designed to optimize weight transfers and ensure blistering starts.
Now, what about performance? Drag Pak aficionados won't be surprised to learn that a supercharged 354-cubic-inch (5.8-litre) HEMI V8 powers the car. This mill, which has already proven itself in the previous Challenger, is blessed with a 3.0-litre Whipple supercharger.
The aluminum block features Diamond aluminum pistons, forged connecting rods and an eight-counterweight steel crankshaft. A three-speed Coan Racing automatic transmission, aluminum driveshaft and Mickey Thompson tires complete the list of components specifically designed for closed-circuit racing. The folks at Dodge are confident that the package is capable of running the quarter mile in under eight seconds.
Only 50 units of the new Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak will be produced, each one receiving a serialized plaque on the supercharger cover. In addition, 18 exterior colours are available including several classics such as B5 Blue, Sublime, Go Mango, Frostbite, Sinamon Stick and Plum Crazy. And as if that weren't enough, as many as three graphics packages can be specified, too.
The base price is set at $234,995 USD before taxes and other fees. Dodge opens the reservation process today. The first Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak will be on display at the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals this weekend before heading to the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas (November 4-7).