Dodge resurrects Super Bee, now with 600hp
A straight-six and RWD on the fly? Not a new M car, the latest track-focused Charger
It would be reasonable to suggest that the latest generation of Dodge Chargers hasn’t exactly hit the spot, critically or commercially. Replacing the previous car was always going to be difficult, though making a twin-turbo straight six heavier, worse-sounding than the old V8 and no faster once up and running really didn’t help its chances. And that’s before even thinking about the EV.
This is plainly the model that Dodge hopes can turn the Charger’s fortunes around, the 2027 Super Bee. A familiar name from Mopar legends of old, and with a familiar remit this time as well: take a standard Charger (now known as the Sixpack if it has the Hurricane engine), upgrade all the important bits to make it better to drive - and faster, most importantly - then paint it black and yellow, as became the style with 21st-century Super Bees. Once a dedicated model in its own right, Super Bees have become a popular addition to the modern Dodge Charger lineup. It’s hardly surprising to see it back, put it that way.
There’s much more than just the paint and the badges to this new Charger, too. The 3.0-litre twin-turbo unit will now be punching out 600hp, up from the 550hp in the standard Sixpack, achieved through the introduction of beefier turbos. While exact figures are only targeted for now, 60mph in 3.6 seconds and an 11.8-second quarter mile would surely address some concerns about the Charger’s performance.
As interesting as the new ‘chargers for a Charger, however, is the mention of a ‘heavy duty cooling system’, there to ‘support performance on the track.’ Dodge seemingly has every intention of this being a circuit-ready prospect, something in the mould of the BMW M3 CS or latest Audi RS5 rather than a traditional muscle car offering. To that end, the power is complemented by the option of new dual-valve adaptive damping - the kind of tech that’s being used by Porsche to such great effect. With one there for compression and one for rebound, it means superior damping force can be applied to each part of the stroke, rather than split across the responsibilities. Dodge says the new setup ‘offers a plusher ride in rough-road scenarios and a connected, engaging feeling through tight turns.’
Alongside are Brembo brakes all around, with six-piston calipers at the front and four-piston behind. Given there’s no mention of Super Bee weight loss for the moment, the Charger will need all the braking help it can get: the Sixpack is already a 2.2-tonne machine. Another interesting change for this model denied to the regular Charger is the ability to move from the standard all-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive on the move, where previously it was only possible at a standstill. Useful when the right corner presents itself (on the track, of course, where you can record with an in-built dashcam). The BMW M3 tribute act continues.
Finally, this latest version wouldn’t be a Super Bee without some unmistakable design changes. So, as well as the paint scheme, there are Super Bee graphics, a spoiler, new exhaust tips, and yellow calipers to contrast with the black wheels. Available as both a two- and four-door Charger, the introduction of the Super Bee will aim to rejuvenate interest in Dodge’s six-cylinder muscle car when it arrives next year. And don’t forget that European sales of this Charger have been confirmed; stranger things have happened than a few Super Bee sales here. Certainly more interesting than another grey AMG, that’s for sure...
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And I can’t imagine a more boringly styled car.
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