Dodge brings back the Super Bee with 600 horsepower

BY THE CHRONICLE STAFF

One of Dodge’s most recognizable performance names is making a comeback.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Dodge Charger, the automaker has unveiled the 2027 Dodge Charger Sixpack Super Bee, the most powerful gasoline-powered version of the new-generation Charger to date.

The revived muscle car delivers an impressive 600 horsepower, signaling Dodge’s continued commitment to high-performance vehicles even after the retirement of its legendary HEMI V-8 engines.

The Super Bee name first appeared on the Dodge Coronet in 1968 before becoming available on the Charger in the early 1970s. The badge has long represented affordable, high-performance muscle cars, and Dodge says the newest version is designed to honor that heritage while embracing modern engineering.

Instead of a V-8, the new Super Bee is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six engine.

Engineers equipped it with larger Garrett turbochargers, a revised intake system, upgraded intercooler and a new engine calibration, boosting output to 600 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The performance numbers are impressive.

According to Dodge, the Super Bee can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and complete the quarter-mile in 11.8 seconds, placing it among the quickest production muscle cars currently available.

The upgrades extend well beyond the engine. Dodge stiffened the suspension, added adaptive dampers, installed massive 20-inch wheels wrapped in high-performance Goodyear tires, and fitted the car with large Brembo brakes designed to withstand repeated hard stops on the track.

Two new drive modes—Drag and Track—allow drivers to tailor the car’s performance for straight-line acceleration or road-course handling.

Inside, the Super Bee features sport seats with added side bolstering and a new Drive Experience Recorder developed by Cosworth. Similar to systems found in Corvette and Cadillac performance models, the technology records lap times, vehicle data and driving videos to help enthusiasts improve their skills on the track.

The Super Bee will be offered only as a Launch Edition, featuring exclusive graphics, unique badging and a limited selection of exterior colors. Dodge has not yet announced pricing, but industry experts expect it to cost more than the current Charger Sixpack Scat Pack Plus, which starts at just under $62,000.

The return of the Super Bee also reflects a changing era for American muscle cars. While many enthusiasts still miss the roar of Dodge’s HEMI V-8, the company is betting that advanced turbocharging and modern technology can deliver the performance buyers expect while meeting today’s emissions standards.

Whether longtime Mopar fans embrace the six-cylinder Super Bee remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Dodge isn’t ready to give up on the muscle car. With 600 horsepower under the hood and a name that has been turning heads for nearly six decades, the Super Bee is buzzing once again. ■