From Budget Brawler to 600-HP Flagship: The Super Bee's Journey

Dodge has unveiled the 2027 Charger Super Bee Launch Edition, the most powerful version of the nameplate ever produced. 8 seconds. It also features 16-inch Brembo brakes with six-piston calipers, a first for a SIXPACK Charger.

The Super Bee name, however, traces back to 1968, when Dodge introduced the Coronet Super Bee as a budget-friendly muscle car. Built on the Coronet 440's pillared coupe body, it came standard with a 383-cubic-inch V8 rated at 335 hp, a heavy-duty four-speed manual, and a Hurst shifter.

The goal was to undercut pricier rivals like the Plymouth GTX while still delivering real performance.

A 426 Hemi was available as an option for just $712 over the base price, but only 166 buyers chose it in 1968. Those cars came with a heavy-duty suspension but no air conditioning. The interior was basic, with a vinyl bench seat that reviewers compared to a taxicab's.

For 1969, the Super Bee gained a hardtop body option and an exclusive 440 Six-Pack engine making 390 hp. By 1970, production numbers were falling due to tightening emissions rules, with just 36 Hemi cars built. The name moved to the Charger platform in 1971, where only 5,054 units were produced, including 22 with the Hemi.

After that, the badge went dormant for decades.

The 2027 Launch Edition takes the opposite approach of the original, adding a front fascia that boosts airflow by 30 percent and generates over 100 pounds of downforce at 150 mph. It comes in three colors, Sucker Punch, Shady, and Diamond Black, and will be built at Dodge's Windsor Assembly Plant in Ontario.

Pricing and order details are expected later in 2026.