Production-Ready New Dodge Charger Debuts – V8 Ditched For 6-cyl And EV Power

The production-bound version of the new 8th-gen Dodge Charger debuted earlier today with no V8 powertrain, the latter now replaced by 6-cyl and all-electric (EV) choices instead.

Making headlines in the North American market earlier today was the long-awaited debut of the production-bound Dodge Charger muscle car. Entering its eight-generation phase, the biggest talking point of said model’s debut is the absence of a traditional V8 powertrain.

Instead, the new Charger gains the choice between an in-line 6-cyl turbo, called the ‘Sixpack’, or full electric (EV) powertrains, dubbed as the ‘Charger Daytona’. The model is also available in four-door fastback saloon and two-door coupe bodystyles.

The 8th-gen Charger will come in both two-door coupe and four-door saloon fastback bodystyles, the former set to enter production first this year whilst the latter is slated to start early next year.

Production is set to commence later this year and reports indicate that the Sixpack will be available in 420 HP ‘standard output’ or 550 HP ‘high output’ guises. Both share a 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line 6-cyl heart plus an all-wheel-drive (AWD) setup.

Performance data for the 6-cyl-powered Charger models weren’t released yet, with the brand instead choosing to elaborate on the all-electric Charger Daytona. This EV muscle car underpins the new  STLA Large platform developed by parent firm Stellantis.

The all-electric Charger Daytona model underpins the 400-volt version of the Stellantis STLA Large platform, which houses a dual-motor, AWD setup plus a 100.5 kWh battery pack.

The Charger Daytona EV muscle car will see two guises available at launch – R/T and Scat Pack. Both harness a 400-volt EV architecture, a dual-motor, AWD setup, and a 100.5 kWh battery pack. The latter accepts DC charging inputs as high as 183 kW to enable 20-80% re-charges in 27 minutes.

As standard, the range-topping Scat Pack trimline boasts 630 HP and 849 NM, but the former can be boosted up to near Hellcat-like 670 HP for 15 seconds thanks to a Powershot overboost mode. In turn, this enables said range-topper to despatch 0-60 MPH (96 KM/H) in just 3.3 seconds.

Dodge goes on further to detail the Scat Pack’s ability to complete a quarter-mile (approx. 400-metre) drag in just 11.5 seconds whilst topping out at a claimed 134 MPH (216 KM/H) v-max too. All this electrifying speed comes despite the Charger Daytona Scat Pack tipping the scales at 2,648 KG.

In range-topping Scat Pack guise, the all-electric Charger Daytona outputs 630 HP and 849 NM, thus allowing 0-60 MPH (96 KM/H) sprints despatched in just 3.3 seconds.

As for the base R/T, its dual-motor setup outputs 456 HP and 548 NM instead. This enables 0-60 MPH (96 KM/H) sprints done in 4.7 seconds, quarter-mile a(approx. 400-metre) drag done in 13.1 seconds, and hit a claimed V-max of 137 MPH (220 KM/H) – slightly higher than the short-geared Scat Pack.

Additionally, just like its Abarth 500e cousin, the Charger Daytona adopts a Fratzonic sound generator that supplies an artificial engine sound to match the performance. This, according to Dodge, allows this new EV muscle car to make Hellcat-like noises too.

Dodge did not release performance details for the 6-cyl-powered versions yet, but they will at least boast either 420 HP and 550 HP outputs when they enter the US market early next year.

US prices for both the new 6-cyl Charger and EV Charger Daytona hasn’t been announced yet, but this is expected to be revealed closer to their eventual market release dates. Production of the Charger Daytona EV coupe will kick off first in the summer.

As for the four-doored and 6-cyl-powered versions, these are set to enter production in the first quarter (Q1) of next year (2025) instead.