There have previously been two Dodge vehicles bearing the “Charger” namesake up until now, with the first one hitting the pavement back in 1969. It was a very souped-up version of the original Charger and was thrillingly commandeered as a NASCAR number driven by Richard Petty.
Now this name is permanently here to stay, as the Daytona coupe is the first fully electric vehicle for the Stellantis brand. Many purists are incredibly excited for next year’s continued offering of a four-door internal-combustion model, as there are those among the masses who are not quite ready to embrace the transformative and very rewarding power sources of tomorrow. This year’s model takes a few design cues from the legendary original Charger, along with a healthy dose of elements from the fast and furious outgoing Challenger.
After being spotted at auto shows frequently over the past year, what is surely the most advanced Dodge to ever hit pavement will be screeching onto lots nationwide shortly. The model proudly boasts up to 607 horsepower, and a next-generation cockpit with a very cool widescreen infotainment system. To properly emulate a thoroughly-supercharged V8 prodigy, this vehicle was implemented with a 400-volt propulsion system. Every model will be all-wheel-drive, with the Daytona R/T brandishing more than 456 horsepower and 404 lb-ft of torque.
The Daytona Scat Pack will be coveted by those who are looking to fulfill their cravings for the ultimate pavement-scorching experience, mightily laying down 630 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. The Scat Pack Version propels from 0 to 60 in just 3.3 seconds, while adamantly destroying the quarter-mile in just 11.5 seconds. The brand-new “Power Shot” mode instantaneously heaps on another 40 horsepower for just 15 seconds, which guarantees a rich dose of threshold-challenging muster!
You’ll be edging things down to a stop confidently with the addition of new 16-inch vented Brembo brakes, and different drive modes to satisfy every dedicated motor-head’s mood. The suspension is a fully-independent multi-link setup and uses the largest tires ever put into Dodge-backed motion. The EV will be wearing unique 21-inch wheels mounted with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 305/35ZR front and 325/35ZR tires. The Brake by Wire eBoost feature is an excellent application of regenerative braking, which occurs nice and gradually when decelerating.
This year’s model is even going to boast a “Donut Mode” that gleefully locks the front wheels and disengages traction control. There’s also launch control, a drift mode, and a race prep mode that thoroughly conditions the battery for peak performance. Various promotional documents have claimed that the new Charger’s weight distribution is as close to 50/50 as possible, and the very ample Level 2 charging time is right around 5.5 hours. Getting there quickly won’t be a problem, so if you can locate a Level 3 charger, fully re-juicing will take just 32 minutes.
The new interior is as driver-focused as ever, and you’ll also have the 64-color ambient lighting system to make things more springlike or prepare for the nocturnal hours depending on your driving style. We know the true vintage muscle lovers out there are going to love the design language of the new interior, as it mimics the original 1968 model’s raw and sincere vibes. The infotainment screen aligns with the currently expected 12.3 inches, and one “incredibly supersonic” available upgrade is the 18-speaker Harmon Kardon system.
