2026 Dodge Charger SIXPACK: How Canada-Built All-Wheel Drive Changes Winter Driving for Performance Fans in the Maritimes
February 17 2026,
Muscle cars and Canadian winters have never been natural allies. For decades, rear-wheel-drive performance vehicles spent the cold months parked in heated garages while their owners drove something practical. The 2026 Dodge Charger SIXPACK changes that equation. Built at the Windsor Assembly Plant in Ontario and powered by the 3.0-litre Twin Turbo Hurricane inline-six engine, the Charger SIXPACK delivers up to 550 horsepower — with standard all-wheel drive on every model. For Maritime performance enthusiasts navigating icy Highway 2 commutes and snow-covered back roads around Edmundston, this is the first muscle car engineered to handle all four seasons without compromise.
The full Charger lineup — electric Daytona and gas-powered SIXPACK models alike — features all-wheel drive as standard equipment. Dodge has positioned the next-generation Charger as the world's only all-wheel-drive muscle car. That claim carries real weight in New Brunswick, where winter conditions test every vehicle from November through April. The SIXPACK models add the sound and feel of a turbocharged gas engine to a chassis already proven in Michigan's Upper Peninsula winter testing program.
The Hurricane Engine: 550 Horsepower From Six Cylinders
The Charger SIXPACK H.O. (High Output) runs the 3.0-litre Twin Turbo Hurricane engine producing 550 horsepower. This is the same engine family found in the Ram 1500 lineup and the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, adapted here for a performance car application. The Hurricane's twin-turbo design delivers strong torque across a wide rpm range, giving the Charger responsive acceleration from a stop and sustained power through highway passes.
The SIXPACK lineup also includes an S.O. (Standard Output) variant in a four-door configuration, offering the same Hurricane engine architecture at a different power level. Both variants share the STLA Large platform, the same modular architecture that underpins the electric Charger Daytona. Production takes place at the Windsor Assembly Plant — the same facility producing Chrysler minivans and undergoing a major expansion with over 1,700 new employees hired for a third production shift.
Standard AWD and Winter-Ready Features
Every 2026 Charger — regardless of powertrain — includes the following winter-oriented features as standard equipment:
- All-wheel drive: Standard across the entire lineup, distributing power between front and rear axles based on traction demand
- Wet/Snow Mode: Uses traction control, Electronic Stability Control and torque bias logic to maximize grip in harsh conditions, splitting torque equally between front and rear when needed
- Mechanical limited-slip differential: Mounted on the rear axle, this system sends power to both rear wheels rather than allowing a slipping wheel to spin freely — a direct improvement in ice and packed-snow traction
- Drift/Donut Mode: Switches the drivetrain to rear-wheel drive with adjustable traction control intervention, allowing controlled oversteer for enthusiast driving in safe, open environments
These are not optional packages. Every Charger SIXPACK rolling off the Windsor assembly line arrives with this full suite of traction management built in.
How the SIXPACK Compares to Previous Chargers
The previous-generation Charger relied on rear-wheel drive as its default configuration, with all-wheel drive available only on select V6-powered trims. That meant performance-oriented models — the ones buyers actually wanted — were rear-drive only. In a Maritime winter, that limited the car to fair-weather use or required serious investment in winter tires and careful driving.
The 2026 Charger eliminates that trade-off entirely.
|
Feature |
Previous Gen Charger (R/T, Scat Pack) |
2026 Charger SIXPACK H.O. |
|---|---|---|
|
Drive layout |
Rear-wheel drive |
Standard all-wheel drive |
|
Engine |
5.7L / 6.4L HEMI V8 |
3.0L Twin Turbo Hurricane I6 |
|
Power (H.O.) |
Up to 485 hp (6.4L Scat Pack) |
550 hp |
|
Winter drive mode |
Not available |
Wet/Snow Mode (standard) |
|
Limited-slip differential |
Available on select trims |
Standard (mechanical) |
|
Canadian built |
Brampton, ON (now idle) |
Windsor, ON |
The shift from Brampton to Windsor production also carries broader significance. Windsor Assembly is currently operating three shifts to meet demand, while the Brampton plant remains idle. For New Brunswick buyers, the Windsor-built Charger means their vehicle comes from one of Canada's most active automotive production facilities.
What Maritime Drivers Gain
New Brunswick's winter driving conditions are specific and demanding. Route 2, the Trans-Canada Highway corridor through Madawaska County, sees heavy snowfall, freezing rain and black ice from late November through March. Side roads around Edmundston, Saint-Basile and Grand Falls face even less maintenance during storms.
The Charger SIXPACK's standard AWD system responds to these conditions automatically. Wet/Snow Mode recalibrates torque distribution, throttle sensitivity and stability control without requiring the driver to shift into a different setting mid-storm. The mechanical limited-slip differential works at the hardware level — it does not depend on software intervention to function, meaning it responds to traction loss instantly.
For drivers who previously kept a performance car as a second vehicle — summer only — the SIXPACK makes a case for year-round use. The 550-horsepower H.O. variant is not a watered-down compromise for winter capability. It is the full performance experience with traction infrastructure built into every corner of the drivetrain.
Built in Canada, Driven in New Brunswick
The Charger SIXPACK's Canadian manufacturing origin matters beyond national pride. Windsor Assembly's multi-energy production line — capable of building both electric Daytona models and gas-powered SIXPACK models on the same line — positions the facility as one of Stellantis' most versatile plants in North America. The recent hiring expansion and third-shift launch signal long-term production confidence.
For Maritime buyers, Canadian assembly also means shorter supply chains and availability that is not subject to cross-border import delays. The SIXPACK H.O. and S.O. models are reaching Canadian dealerships now.
Your Next Charger Is at Rendez-Vous Chrysler
The 2026 Dodge Charger SIXPACK is the first gas-powered muscle car built for every season in New Brunswick. With 550 horsepower, standard all-wheel drive and a Canadian assembly line behind it, this Charger earns its place on the road twelve months a year. Contact the sales team at Rendez-Vous Chrysler in Edmundston to schedule a test drive and explore the full SIXPACK lineup.
