The beginning of a new era for the Dodge Charger is marked by a period that communicates in the language of electric mobility, encompassing two internal combustion engine variants as well. The latest generation of the American muscle car presents itself with a zero-emission configuration, featuring a pair of motors – one for each axle – generating a combined 670 horsepower in the Scat Pack version or 496 horsepower in the R/T version. In its most powerful iteration, the world’s first electric muscle car achieves 0 to 60 mph (96.5 km/h) acceleration in 3.3 seconds.
The new STLA Large platform (refer to the image below), introduced for the first time on the new Charger, will also allow the installation of internal combustion engines. However, these are not traditional V8 engines but rather modern 3-liter twin-turbo inline-6 engines named Hurricane, offering power in two stages – 420 or 550 horsepower. These engines will be paired with all-wheel drive and an 8-speed automatic transmission from ZF. Production of the initial units will commence at the Windsor plant in Canada in mid-2024, with heated versions becoming available in 2025 along with a five-door body style.
Dodge assures that the Charger’s entry into the electric era has not altered its DNA, emphasizing this through a design that avoids excesses and draws inspiration from the clean lines of the 1968 Charger. A common feature across all Charger models is a white LED strip running across the entire width of the car. At the rear, there is also a “fire ring” where red LED lights form a circular pattern. The interior of the passenger space includes a 12.3-inch central screen on the console, complemented by a 10.25- or 16-inch instrument cluster.
The modern dashboard, with its lines and textures, pays homage to the iconic dashboard of the 1968 Dodge Charger. The flat-bottomed steering wheel is performance-oriented and equipped with paddles for regenerative braking control. Seats come standard with fabric and faux leather upholstery, with the option to choose black or red Nappa leather. Notably, the cargo capacity is enhanced by the rear hatch, offering more than 1,000 liters with the rear seats folded, along with an additional 42 liters from the front compartment (available only in electric variants).
In the R/T version, the electric Dodge Charger is expected to provide a range of up to 510 km, decreasing to 418 km in the high-performance Scat Pack variant. Both cars can be charged from 20% to 80% in just over 27 minutes: the R/T with a 350 kW fast charger achieves approximately 27 km per minute, while the Scat Pack achieves 13 km per minute. The safety equipment is comprehensive, featuring collision warning, emergency automatic braking, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality. Due to the batteries, the weight of the Dodge Charger is substantial, amounting to 2,650 kg.
