All-new Dodge Charger Daytona reborn as an EV
2024 Dodge Charger Daytona drops V8 muscle for electric power
When Dodge first announced that both the Charger and Challenger were going away, some couldn’t believe that the automaker made such an announcement. The automaker then made another announcement that both cars will not be going away entirely and will instead be transformed into all-electric vehicles.
Fans weren’t exactly thrilled about this as both muscle cars are synonymous with V8 power under the hood. But with parent company Stellantis seriously embracing electrification in the long run, something had to give. And despite the appeal of the outgoing Charger & Challenger, both vehicles are way overdue for a full model change.
Fast forward to 2024, and we now have our answer. After first previewing it via the Charger Daytona SRT concept, Dodge has officially unleashed the 2024 Charger Daytona EV, and boy is it packing plenty of impressive technologies. Available as a coupe and as a four-door sedan, the all-new Charger Daytona essentially goes back to its roots as a two-door while still offering a more practical saloon body. But first, let’s talk about its most important aspect, the powertrain.
As mentioned before, the all-new Charger Daytona replaces displacement with electric power. Thanks to the new STLA Large Platform, Dodge was able to install a 400V architecture along with a pair of electric motors and a high-capacity battery. First up is the “entry-level” Charger R/T which already makes an impressive 506 PS and 548 Nm of torque. It can catapult itself to 97 km/h from a standstill in 4.7 seconds and hit a 221 km/h top speed.
Next is the more powerful Charger Scat Pack which doles out a more impressive 680 PS plus 850 Nm of pull. Thanks to the added power, the Scat Pack can sprint from 0 - 97 km/h in a brisk 3.3 seconds and it can hit the quarter mile in just 11.5 seconds. This feat can only be achieved, however, when the driver activates “Power Shot” at the base of the steering wheel which unlocks an extra 40 PS of power for 15 seconds at a time. Interestingly, the Scat Pack has a lower top speed of around 216 km/h.
Both the R/T and Scat Pack Chargers come with a massive 100 kWh battery pack. The former can travel up to 510 km while the latter has a claimed cruising range of up to 418 km. With a standard 11 kW charger, Dodge says both vehicles can be recharged from 5% to 80% in roughly 7 hours. But when paired with a 350 kW DC fast charger, recharging time is cut down significantly to around 33 minutes.
Style-wise, the Charger Daytona EV takes inspiration from the concept it was based on. The result is a sleek-looking exterior that pays homage to the classic first-generation Charger while still incorporating modern design touches. The front fascia serves up a modern redesign of the Charger’s original imposing front end and features the old-school “Fratzog” logo.
The rear and side, on the other hand, harken back to the distinct lines of vintage muscle cars with their broad shoulders, wide rear quarters, and massive doors. Like the front end, the rear also comes with the Fratzog logo and is accompanied by a full-width LED taillight that is equally eye-catching. And as mentioned earlier, customers can choose between a four-door and a two-door version of the Charger Daytona EV.
To distinguish the two vehicles from one another, Dodge put the R/T lettering on the front side fenders for the “base model” R/T while the top-of-the-line Scat Pack comes with the Scat Pack racing bee. In addition, the R/T version comes with 18-inch alloy wheels while the Scat Pack variant rolls on bigger 20-inch Satin Carbon alloy wheels.
Pop the doors open and the Charger Daytona EV greets occupants with a more modern-looking cabin complete with plenty of amenities. Both variants come with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment powered by the latest uConnect5 system, a flat-bottom leather steering wheel, and a pistol grip-style gear selector. Cloth and vinyl seats come as standard although higher-grade models will come with leather upholstery. Other available features inside the Charger Daytona include a wireless charging pad, LED ambient lighting, and sports seats with fixed headrests.
With the Charger Daytona reborn as an EV, does this mean the V8 is truly dead? Unfortunately, the V8 muscle heart of the Charger is truly gone. However, Dodge will also introduce ICE versions of the all-new Charger in 2025. In fact, they’ve already confirmed that it will be getting the brand’s new 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six which is also seeing use in the all-new Ram 1500.
Do you like the all-new Charger Daytona with an EV powertrain? Let us know what you think in the comments.
