Well you know the times they are a' changing when one of the most iconic symbols of snarling, unchecked combustion bravado rolls off the assembly line with a battery pack instead of a fire-breathing V8.
The Dodge Charger and Challenger, both cars that this new electric Charger replaces, historically haven't been beacons of change. When Dodge re-introduced the Challenger in 2008 after a 25-year nameplate hiatus, it arrived as a celebration of the past. Its retro styling and big thirsty Hemi were a love letter to the 70s, and it quickly became a symbol as the anti-Prius for those who worshipped SPEED and POWER in all caps.
In the 16 years since, Dodge didn't change the Challenger or the Charger all that much, aside from continually one-upping themselves over and over on just how fast this car could attack a 1/4 mile drag strip. We got new special editions with names like Hellcat and Demon, celebrating the noise and fire brimming beneath their long stout snouts.
So what are we to make of this new Charger, then? And perhaps more importantly what will those who worship Dodge's particular brand of S&P (speed & power) make of this? Well, Dodge isn't totally yanking the rug out from under its core customers. This Charger will arrive in both gasoline AND electric versions.
Gone, however, are the big thirsty V8s. Even the gas-powered Charger will debut with V6 power in 2025. The gasoline versions will top out at 550 horsepower, while the new Charger EV Scat Pack will reach 670 hp out of the gate. It seems Dodge is testing their fan base's commitment to speed and power... if you want more, you'll have to give the electric a look.
This EV Charger hasn't abandoned the past entirely, though. The Charger's retro looks are unmistakably on-brand. Dodge has introduced some engine noise, albeit synthetic from a device they call the "Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust" which they say offers "Hellcat levels of sound intensity", including some vibration (we think it's funny that Dodge is including a device that produces noise and vibration while simultaneously bragging in their press release that increased chassis rigidity reduces vibration).
Dodge has brought two versions of this new electric Charger to the starting gate, and both are "Daytona" coupes. The first is called the Scat Pack, which has 670 horsepower with a 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds. That means in a sprint to 60, this first edition will already outpace Dodge's notorious Demon. That's a good start. The second version is a little more tame, but a lot more exciting than the outgoing Challenger base model. It's called the R/T and offers 496 hp and 404 lb-ft of torque. That's almost 200 hp more than the old entry-level model.
Dodge is fully embracing electric hooniganism with these Chargers, offering modes for drifting, dragging, launching, donuts, burnouts on the line and "race prep" which conditions the battery for peak performance. There's a feature called "PowerShot", which offers a time-limited horsepower boost (too soon Junior!) an available Track Package offering the largest brakes ever offered on a Dodge vehicle. Those big brakes, along with regenerative braking, will help stop what will inevitably be a heavy car - this Charger brings a big battery to the fight - a 100.5 kWh pack that returns 313 miles on the R/T and 260 and on the Scat Pack. We might typically knock weight in a performance car, but this isn't one of those cars. These Dodge have always been a bit bulky and corners have never really been their specialty. Here, it works.
Oh it also an Eco mode on that dash somewhere, but we'd love to know who actually pushes it in this car.
No word on pricing yet, but our eyes are open. With a battery as big as this, we're expecting a premium. The Charger EV will also win the race to market, sold later this year as a 2024 model. The gasoline powered version are due as 2025 models. More to come.
