Dodge Introduces New HurriCrate Engines And Charger Junior Roadster Body

Dodge is celebrating Direct Connection’s 50^th anniversary by announcing new products as well as HurriCrate engines. As the name suggests, the latter are based on the Hurricane inline-six.

The HurriCrate is billed as the company’s “most power-dense street performance” engine family and will be offered in two different guises. The HurriCrate Cat 1 produces 420 hp (313 kW / 426 PS) and 468 lb-ft (634 Nm) of torque, while the HurriCrate Cat 3 boasts 550 hp (410 kW / 558 PS) and 531 lb-ft (719 Nm) of torque.

More: Dodge Introduces 1,025 HP Crate Engine Shared With The Challenger SRT Demon 170

Dodge said both engines have “two low-inertia, high-flow turbochargers for rapid response to throttle inputs.” They’re joined by high-pressure direct fuel injection and a “Plasma Transfer Wire Arc (spray bore) coating in the cylinder bores for an ultra-thin, low-friction wear surface.”

Pricing starts at $10,495 for the HurriCrate Cat 1, while the HurriCrate Cat 3 will set you back $13,745. If that’s too rich for your blood, there are long block variants that cost $7,995 and $11,715.

Speaking of pricing, Dodge is offering $200 and $300 incentives on select crate engines to celebrate Direct Connection’s latest milestone. It applies not only to HurriCrate engines, but Hellcrate HEMI engines as well.

In other news, Direct Connection has introduced a new Charger Junior Roadster body. It draws inspiration from the 2024 model and is billed as a “half-scale version of a full-size NHRA Funny Car body.” Given the shrunken size, it’s designed for the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League and will fit over an 85.5-inch (2,172 mm) wheelbase. The body costs $3,765 and weighs less than 30 lbs (14 kg).

The engines and body will be available starting August 12 at DCPerformance.com.