Dodge is finally jumping into the electric vehicle (EV) market, kicking things off with a new version of the Charger. The Charger name has a lot of history behind it, so Dodge had to take a unique approach with its first EV.
Coming later this year (price still unknown), the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona will replace the old gasoline Charger sedan and the Dodge Challenger coupe. It’s designed to win over fans with its retro look, muscle-car sounds, and a focus on performance rather than efficiency. And if that doesn’t impress, Dodge will also offer a gasoline version.
The new Charger wasn’t meant to be a direct copy of the classic 1968 Charger, famous from movies like Bullitt and TV shows like The Dukes of Hazzard. However, it’s hard to miss the resemblance. The silhouette closely matches the classic Charger, similar to the Charger Daytona SRT concept shown in 2022.
The classic 1960s Charger had a blunt front end that wasn’t very aerodynamic. To fix that, Dodge introduced a patent-pending aerodynamic device called the R-Wing. This slot in the front fascia helps air flow over the hood more easily. Only the electric versions of the Charger will have this feature, earning them the Daytona badge. The original Charger Daytona was designed for better performance on NASCAR tracks.
While classic Chargers were two-door coupes, Dodge has sold the Charger as a four-door sedan since 2005. With this new design, both versions come together. The new Charger starts as a coupe but will also be available as a sedan starting in 2025. Both body styles will offer electric and gasoline powertrains, and even the coupe has impressive cargo space with its rear seats folded down.
The Charger Daytona introduces the STLA Large platform, one of the four EV platforms Dodge’s parent company Stellantis revealed in 2021. This platform includes a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain with different output levels.
Dodge will launch the Charger Daytona in R/T and Scat Pack versions, each with standard Direct Connection Stage 1 and Stage 2 performance packages. These packages, available at an extra cost after the first production run, give the R/T 496 horsepower and 404 pound-feet of torque, while the Scat Pack gets 670 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque. The maximum horsepower is available only in short bursts via the PowerShot button on the steering wheel.
Dodge anticipates the R/T Stage 1 will do zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and run the quarter-mile in 13.1 seconds. The Scat Pack Stage 2 is expected to hit 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and complete the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds. While these numbers might not be groundbreaking by EV standards, Dodge plans to release an even more powerful SRT Banshee model. Stellantis has mentioned that the Charger’s STLA Large platform can support zero to 60 mph acceleration in around 2.0 seconds.
In 2025, Dodge will add a gasoline engine to the lineup, specifically the 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine known as the Hurricane. Already used in the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs, and coming to the Ram 1500 pickup in 2025, this engine will produce 420 hp or 550 hp in the Charger.
Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis highlighted that the Charger Daytona is an electric muscle car aimed at muscle-car buyers who care more about performance than efficiency. The Charger Daytona will offer an estimated 317 miles of range for the R/T version and 260 miles for the more powerful Scat Pack, both featuring a large 100.5-kilowatt-hour battery pack.
The initial models will use a 400-volt electrical system (future Banshee models will have an 800-volt system), allowing for a maximum DC fast-charging power of 183 kilowatts. Dodge expects the R/T and Scat Pack to charge from 5% to 80% in 32.5 minutes.
These Charger EVs will use the Combined Charging Standard (CCS) fast-charging connector for now, although Dodge’s parent company Stellantis plans to switch to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) eventually. Unlike some other automakers, Stellantis hasn’t yet discussed access to the Tesla Supercharger network for its customers.
On the tech side, Dodge needed to replace the old Charger’s outdated interface and add features that muscle car enthusiasts would appreciate. The Charger Daytona comes with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa connectivity. R/T models have a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, while Scat Pack versions get a 16.0-inch cluster. The familiar Uconnect 5 infotainment system is retained, but with improved display contrast and new graphics, including customizable instrument-cluster views.
The optional head-up display is larger and projects images further away for easier viewing. This new Charger also introduces digital key functionality and the brand’s Drive Experience Recorder for logging audio, video, and data during track outings. Multiple drive modes are available, including drift and donut modes that allow the all-wheel-drive EV to perform like a traditional rear-wheel-drive muscle car.
Big screens and various drive modes are expected in any new vehicle, but the Charger Daytona’s artificial exhaust system is a unique twist. Called Fratzonic, it uses hardware similar to conventional exhaust systems but generates artificial noises through speakers. Although the exact sound is still in development, it’s expected to be as loud as the current Hellcat V8 engines.
The Charger Daytona is not your typical EV—exactly what Dodge was aiming for. CEO Kuniskis said the electric Charger appeals to fans of Dodge’s gasoline muscle cars rather than typical EV enthusiasts. However, it’s not the only EV trying to win over skeptical customers. Other EVs like the Ford F-150 Lightning and GMC Hummer EV have also brought electric power to segments where buyers weren’t initially thrilled about going electric. Big pickup trucks and SUVs are among the bestselling and most profitable vehicles for American automakers, so the Charger Daytona stands out by not being just another big truck.