The New Dodge Charger is currently YouTube’s top choice for car builds (or destructions).

      Evan Shanks / Rob Dahm / Cleetus McFarland (edited by author)

      

      

      

      

      

      

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      Sales of the new Dodge Charger are nearly nonexistent, and it poses a concern. We spoke with Dodge CEO Matt McAlear about this back in March, and when asked if it was time to panic, he said it was "too early" to determine that. Several months have passed since then, and I still don’t see many Chargers around—except when I refresh my YouTube homepage. Vloggers and influencers are all over them, which could imply one of two things.

      Either the Charger is becoming a great tuning platform, or it’s a total failure. It all depends on who you ask.

      I want to clarify why so many YouTubers are showcasing Dodge Charger builds on their channels. Dodge provided several of these vehicles to content creators—or at least loaned them out for video production. They aren’t fully functional production models; instead, they are engineering units that cannot be registered for road use. Rather than sending them to the scrap heap, Dodge came up with a more effective way to generate buzz. And hey, it’s working!

      Rob Dahm is one of the YouTubers currently pushing the new Charger to its limits. In his video introducing the project, Dahm mentioned that he has it for two years, during which he plans to transform the SixPack’s boosted 3.0-liter inline-six into a powerhouse.

      

      

      

       Dodge GAVE me a 2026 AWD Charger to Drag Race. We have different plans…

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

       The 2026 Dodge Charger SPOOLS instantly on our 3D Printed Turbo Manifold

      

      

      

      

      

      At present, Dahm is modifying the car to compete at Roadkill Nights, a Dodge-sponsored event, so it’s logical for the brand to support impressive cars at the event. He wasn't going to keep it stock, and on Thursday, he shared a video showcasing the Charger equipped with a new 3D-printed exhaust manifold that enables the larger single turbo to spool up incredibly fast.

      Overall, Dahm seems confident in the Hurricane engine’s capability for significant power production. For what it’s worth, I share his enthusiasm. The only vehicle I’ve driven with this engine is the Ram 1500, and even in that heavy truck, it performs impressively.

      

      

      

       Taking Delivery of My 2026 Dodge Charger (Drag Build)

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

       Removing NEARLY 1,000 LBS From The HEAVY 2026 Charger!

      

      

      

      

      

      However, the Charger isn't that much lighter. This is what YouTuber Evan Shanks is currently tackling with his car that Dodge granted him. Like Dahm, he is entering the same bracket-style competition, and while he has also completed a significant single-turbo swap, Shanks has focused on reducing the weight of the 4,700-pound vehicle.

      In total, Shanks managed to strip the car’s weight by 816 pounds, bringing it below the two-ton threshold. Since it’s not intended for street use, he removed extra seats, airbags, the sound system, and sound-deadening material. This helps address what many see as the new Charger’s main drawback—aside from the absence of a V8 under the hood.

      Dahm and Shanks are just two of the YouTubers modifying new Chargers. They are certainly not the only ones.

      

      

      

       We Bought The Worst Car in America!

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

       Testing The Worst Car In America

      

      

      

      

      

      Cleetus McFarland is producing videos featuring a Charger Daytona Scat Pack EV, but Dodge didn’t give it to him. Instead, he struck a deal with a dealer who sold it to him for $39,485—half of its $78,970 MSRP. I was aware that these vehicles were heavily discounted, but I didn’t realize it could be that low for a new car.

      McFarland has taken a much harsher stance regarding the platform. His latest video is called “Testing The Worst Car In America.” I suppose that’s something you can do when you’re not under pressure to please the company that created it. Anyway, he’s nearly gone full Whistlin’ Diesel with this car, entering it in a tug of war and burning out its tires.

      These three YouTubers together have over six million followers. While there’s some overlap among them, their collective reach is still substantial. Dodge is attempting to manage the narrative surrounding the Charger by providing vehicles to creators like Dahm and Shanks, who will undoubtedly produce engaging content with them. In contrast, McFarland—who has nearly five million followers on his