It is almost impossible to fathom a stock inline six-cylinder powering a Dodge pickup into the 8s at 148 mph, but Morgan Evans proved this is indeed a reality with her twin-turbo Hurricane-powered Ram. She went 8.89 at 149 at Orlando Speedworld in Florida
Not your average, every day appearing 8-second Ram truck.
We were blown away back in February when Allison Kovalik became the first person to run in the 9s with Dodge Hurricane I6 twin-turbo power at Sick Week. She recorded a 9.988 at 132.83 in her Hurricane I6-powered Dodge Dakota at South Georgia Motorsports Park.
But there is just a huge difference between the 8s and the 9s. Evans’ elapsed time was an insane 8.89.3 at 149.10 mph with a 1.602 60-ft. time. You can almost hear the HEMI guys crying, short-circuiting their keyboards with a flood of V8 lovin’ tears.
Read it and weep. Not it is not a V8, nor is it a HEMI. Just the new Hurricane straight six with LOTS of boost.
Obviously, she must have a host of trick parts, right? Nope, it uses the factory high-pressure fuel pumps, stock fuel lines and fuel injectors. It’s all about boost — lots of boost — and the ability of the six-banger to hold together under such extreme conditions. Her transmission is an 8HP75 automatic and the truck weighs approximately 3,300 lbs.
For those who don’t know, the Hurricane I6 is a 3.0-liter DOHC engine that comes from Dodge (or Direct Connection) with twin turbos. In its most powerful SIXPACK H.O. form, it makes 550 horsepower and 531 lb.-ft. of torque. Dodge is taking orders now for the 2026 Charger Sixpack, bragging this version is the most powerful new car available in the U.S. for under $60,000. That may seem like a lot, but the average price for a new car just went over the $50,000 mark, so if you spread the payments out over six or 20 years, it is almost a bargain.
Dodge claims such a Charger is capable of 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, quarter-mile times of 12.2, and a top speed of 177 mph. We’re guessing elapsed times will actually be in the high 11s, despite the 4,800-lb. curb weight.
A version of the Gen-3 HEMI will probably make its debut in the new Charger in late 2026/early 2027 for traditional muscle car people, but do you actually need it? Very few Buick Grand National owners are disappointed their cars don’t have V8s in them. The twin-turbo Hurricane I6 seems to have unlimited potential based on these early exploits.
