- The new eight-speed automatic will be built at the Kokomo Plant under a ZF license.
- Designed for versatility, the gearbox handles up to 600 lb-ft of torque with ease.
- Sadly, the Charger Sixpack likely won’t be offered with a manual transmission option.
Not long after reports surfaced that the ICE-powered Dodge Charger Sixpack might hit the streets sooner than originally planned—a claim Stellantis has neither confirmed nor denied—new information suggests the muscle car will come exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The gearbox in question is said to be the 880RE eight-speed automatic. This transmission is based on ZF’s fourth-generation design and is built at the Stellantis Kokomo Transmission Plant. It can work with traditional ICE models, as well as mild-hybrids and plug-in hybrids, and is tough enough to support up to 600 lb-ft (813 Nm) of torque.
Read: New Dodge Charger Spotted Feeling Gassy, Sporting A Sixpack
Before it was killed off, the old Charger was sold with a TorqueFlite 8HP70 eight-speed automatic. In addition to supporting various powertrains, Mopar Insiders says the new 880RE is suitable for rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and 4×4 configurations. The box should also offer up snappy changes while still being refined.
It should be an improvement over the old TorqueFlite eight-speed. some muscle car enthusiasts—including us—may be disappointed by the lack of a manual gearbox in the new Charger Sixpack. While this omission isn’t entirely surprising, the decision to forgo a stick shift option will undoubtedly diminish the model’s appeal for certain purists.
Two versions of the Charger Sixpack are in the works. Both will use the same basic 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged Hurricane inline-six that Jeep premiered a couple of years ago. The entry-level version delivers 420 hp and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque, while the flagship version will be good for 550 hp and 550 lb-ft (746 Nm). Both will come with all-wheel drive as standard and should offer plenty of straight-line performance.
The all-electric version of the new Charger will be the first version to hit the market, with initial deliveries expected before the end of this year. The ICE-powered Charger Sixpack was originally going to land in late 2025, but according to new reports, it may start to arrive at US dealerships as early as next summer.
