Dodge Charger EV, gas-powered muscle car revealed

DETROIT — Dodge isn’t abandoning its traditional, gear-headed, high-octane muscle cars for Charger and Challenger owners.

The automaker unveiled the new Dodge Charger on Tuesday as an all-electric vehicle and next-generation gasoline-powered muscle car. This will be Dodge’s first all-electric vehicle.

The legacy vehicle has been in doubt since late 2022, when Dodge said the long-running Charger and Challenger would be discontinued late last year. At the time, the company said electric vehicles would replace them but declined to discuss the potential for future gasoline models.

Offering electric and gasoline-powered versions of the car will give Dodge more flexibility in production as sales of all-electric vehicles grow more slowly than expected. More petrol and electric chargers, including the ‘Banshee’ electric vehicle, will follow the initial vehicle.

Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis called electric vehicles “a game changer for the industry.” At the same time, the new gasoline-powered models will outperform their predecessors’ V-6 engines, as well as some V-8 engines.

“We’re leveraging the performance of the ‘golden era,’ which you know today and you can judge everything by, and we’re leveraging future technology to make sure the (Dodge Brothers’) legacy doesn’t die,” Kouniskis said. media briefing. “The Banshee is going to be our ultimate performer.”

The 2024 Charger EV, called the Daytona, is expected to go on sale this summer with up to 670 horsepower, 627 foot-pounds of torque and a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds.

A two-door electric version will be launched first, followed by a four-door model in the first quarter of next year. Gasoline-powered Chargers equipped with a new inline-six engine are expected to go on sale in 2025.

Kuniskis said pricing for electric and gas-powered models will be announced closer to production. Charger and Challenger gas models currently start at about $33,000 to $96,000.

Both electric and gasoline models will eventually be available in two- and four-door versions, replacing the four-door Dodge Charger and two-door Challenger.The change, authorized by Chief Executive Carlos Tavares, is expected to reduce parts and costs starThe company that owns Dodge told his brand executives.

“Moving Forward 2030” by Stellantis Strategic Plan This includes moving to electrification and more efficient propulsion systems, reducing the global carbon footprint by 50% by 2030, and leading the transport industry by achieving net carbon zero by 2038.

Kuniskis said there are currently no plans to introduce a V-8 or plug-in hybrid electric version of the new Charger, which will be built at the Stellantis assembly plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

The Charger Daytona EV will initially be available in “R/T” and “Scat Pack” models, with 496 horsepower and 670 horsepower respectively. Dodge says the R/T has an estimated range of 317 miles on a full charge, and the Scat Pack has a range of 260 miles.

A feature called “PowerShot” will become standard on Charger Daytona models, providing an additional 40 horsepower in 15 seconds after activation.

“We’re going to replace the superchargers and replace them with kilowatts and PowerShots,” Kuniskis said.

The design of the new Charger is largely based on the Dodge concept car Released in August 2022. It’s a modern yet retro version of the current Dodge Challenger, with a more aerodynamic design but still a muscular feel. Most notably, there’s a large opening at the front for air to pass through, which the company calls the “R-Wing.”