Stroll by your native Dodge vendor, and you may doubtless discover just a few remaining Chargers and Challengers left on the lot. Manufacturing may need ended for the duo final December, however the glut of remaining inventory is not an accident. The automaker labored with its sellers to make sure they nonetheless had product accessible because it ready to launch the next-generation Charger.
The model plans to have fewer than 2,000 Charger and Challengers on heaps when the 2024 Charger Daytona EV begins to reach later this 12 months, in line with Dodge model’s new CEO, Matt McAlear, who spoke with Motor1 earlier this month, however it’ll proceed to have a restricted lineup for the foreseeable future.
Dodge
Dodge will start constructing the coupe variations of the brand new electrical Charger Daytona R/T and Scat Pack fashions someday this summer season, a choice he mentioned was made lengthy earlier than he took over as boss on June 1. A number of years in the past, automakers went all-in on their electrical automobile plans, laying out bold timelines to transform their lineups to battery energy, together with Stellantis.
“We’re placing our greatest foot ahead,” McAlear advised us. “As excited as I’m that that is an EV, we’re not going to market this as the brand new EV.” He mentioned Dodge did not got down to make a automobile with the perfect drag coefficient or the perfect vary. “We went out to design the perfect muscle automobile.” Â
The Charger Daytona Scat Pack with the usual Stage 2 bundle will launch with 670 peak horsepower, 627 pound-feet of torque, all-wheel drive, and a $75,185 beginning worth. The quickest model will attain 60 miles per hour in 3.3 seconds and full the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds. Dodge has already teased that there can be an much more highly effective Banshee variant, however are hardcore SRT followers actually able to convert from fuel to electrons?
“Some are. Some aren’t,” McAlear admitted, including that clients do not turn out to be EV converts in a single day.
Dodge
Dodge
Nonetheless, he mentioned he is inspired by the truth that Dodge has “the youngest demographic within the mainstream trade, and so they have the very best propensity to undertake electrical,” which can be true, however the model has spent twenty years cultivating a following that is solely been fed more and more high-powered V-8 Hemi engines. This regular V-8 weight loss program has set sure expectations for Dodge’s clients, one which kilowatts and electrical motors may not be capable of fulfill.
The STLA Giant platform underpinning the brand new Charger is worthwhile with the electrical powertrains and versatile sufficient to fulfill client demand. Whereas Dodge is launching the electrical two-door first, adopted by four-door Daytona manufacturing early subsequent 12 months, it can even have a combustion-powered model known as the Charger Sixpack.
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It should sit beneath the all-electric automobiles whereas driving on the identical platform. It’s going to have some styling variations and have the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane straight-six already supplied in Jeep and Ram, making 420 or 550 hp in SO and HO variants. The Sixpack would be the cheaper entry level into the brand new Charger lineup, however combustion-loving Dodge consumers should wait to purchase one.
Manufacturing will start within the second half of 2025, leaving the Charger Daytona to fend for itself as a premium providing in Dodge’s thinning lineup till subsequent 12 months. The Charger Daytona R/T is cheaper, at $61,950 to begin, almost $30,000 greater than the outgoing, V-6-powered Chargers and Challengers.
The 2024 Hornet begins at $32,995, and the Durango is $42,265, which provides McAlear loads of room for the “mainstream efficiency” merchandise he feels a future Dodge lineup has to help. He additionally needs to proceed to push SRT because the model’s halo. Bringing merchandise to market with out an SRT or ultra-performance ingredient “doesn’t represent the place we wish to proceed to develop as America’s efficiency model,” he mentioned.
“It must be the suitable nameplates which are performed within the Dodge method that stand out within the sea of sameness,” McAlear mentioned, unable to supply any hints about upcoming merchandise. This can be a massive activity when horsepower is affordable with battery-electric powertrains.
Dodge hopes options like its Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust may also help differentiate the electrical Charger from different BEVs, however we’ll have to attend to see how shoppers react as soon as it is on sale. There was vocal on-line criticism of Dodge’s shift to electrical powertrains, and total client sentiment towards EVs is starting to wane, particularly in America.
The Charger Daytona EV is a “new, higher, sooner” muscle automobile, in line with McAlear, however Dodge should work to persuade its followers to observe it into a brand new period. It might alienate the fanbase it labored so laborious to develop, and the debates about Dodge’s path will proceed till the brand new Charger hits the highway and clients can expertise it for themselves.
“If there wasn’t debate, if there wasn’t consternation, I feel I would be extra nervous,” McAlear mentioned.
