The next-generation Dodge Charger is here, and the rumors were true. Electric and combustion chargers will coexist in the future. The electric models are all Charger Daytonas, while the gas-powered chargers are branded “Sixpack.” But Dodge doesn’t want buyers to see electric or gasoline cars here. In the eyes of Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis, the new Charger is a muscle car, no matter how the power is produced.
He makes a compelling argument. When production of the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona begins this year, the least powerful version will have up to 496 horsepower. There’s also a 670-horsepower version, each sending power to all four wheels. The ICE Charger is also all-wheel drive and will go into production next year with 420 or 550 hp. At launch, the fastest Charger Daytona hits 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and goes 11.5 seconds in the quarter mile. Dodge claims the new Charger Daytona is the fastest and most powerful muscle car in the world, excluding the crazy 800-volt Banshee arriving next year.
Daytona Deep Dive Magazine
The 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona is launched in two versions: R/T and Scat Pack. Both have a 400-volt architecture and share the same dual-motor configuration, powered by a 100.5 kilowatt-hour battery with a 550-kilowatt discharge rate. R/T is the starting trim, with Scat Pack serving as the top of the line for now. It’s the first vehicle to ride on Stellantis’ STLA Large platform, and with all the EV components plugged in, Dodge says the Charger Daytona has a weight distribution close to 50/50.
Dodge also claims the new Daytona weighs 5,838 pounds, making the old Charger seem positively light in comparison. To help manage weight, Dodge gives the Daytona the largest set of tires ever offered on a factory Charger. Scat Pack versions with the Track Package receive 20-inch wheels wearing 305/35 series tires at the front and 325 at the rear. Behind those front wheels are 16-inch Brembo brakes with six-piston calipers. All Charger Daytonas also feature a mechanical limited-slip differential in its rear electric drive module (EDM).
Up front, the EDM features a wheel end disconnect designed to improve range and efficiency. Dodge claims the R/T has a range of 317 miles, while the Scat Pack and its extra power manage 260 miles between charges. Refueling with a 350 kW fast charger can recharge between 20% and 80% in around 27 minutes.
The Scat Pack is what you’ll need to hit 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and run the quarter mile in 11.5 seconds. The R/T trails at 4.7 and 13.1 seconds, but it’s actually a bit quicker overall. Stay on the throttle and the R/T will reach a top speed of 137 mph, compared to 134 mph in the Scat Pack. Each has a variable ratio, although Kuniskis says a two-speed setup is coming for the Banshee.
The Charger Daytona rides on a multi-link front suspension with an independent rear setup. Semi-active twin-valve suspension with adaptive dampers is optional on the Scat Pack with the Track Pack, and in this case, track doesn’t just mean slip bands. A new race preparation system is designed to give the battery a cooler starting temperature, allowing drivers to complete more laps before heat becomes a problem. There’s a slightly different prep system for quarter-mile runners, and you can even activate line lock to warm up the rear tires before launch. Or, you can remove all that and move sideways with Donut or Drift mode.
Variable power
This is where the caveats come in. The Charger Daytona Scat Pack launches with 670 peak hp and 627 lb-ft of torque, while the R/T has 496 hp and 404 lb-ft. However, these figures are only obtained by pressing the “PowerShot” button on the steering wheel at full throttle. This adds a 40 horsepower boost to the electric motors for 15 seconds, much like a nitrous oxide system on a gasoline car. After each press, you must wait 30 seconds before taking another photo. Without it, the Charger Daytona Scat Pack has 630 hp while the R/T goes down to 456 hp. But wait, there’s more.
For 2024, the Charger Daytona is only available with factory-installed Dodge Direct Connection upgrade kits. The R/T gets a Stage 1 kit that adds 40 hp over stock, so basic math tells us it generates 416 hp in standard trim without the PowerShoot included. The Scat Pack has a Stage 2 kit that adds 80 hp, so it drops to 550 hp before the PowerShot. We asked Dodge for clarification on the power figures; a spokesperson explained that maximum ratings still include the PowerShot boost and that for 2025, upgrade kits will not be standard. Take that as you will.
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Regardless of horsepower, you’ll hear the Charger Daytona through its Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust, which is essentially speakers in a special exhaust-like chamber. Dodge claims the car has the same decibel level as a Hellcat, but as for the nature of the sound, it remains a mystery because Dodge hasn’t finalized it yet.
Two doors or four doors
With the STLA Large platform under the Charger Daytona’s skin, it’s no surprise that it’s not a small car. The new Daytona is 17 feet long and nearly 7 feet wide, whether it has two or four doors. It’s also a liftback model, with the large hatch opening to reveal 22.7 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold the rear seats and space rises to 37.3 cubic feet – certainly not bad for a performance car, but still a few cubes short of the Dodge Hornet. What the Hornet doesn’t have is a trunk, where you’ll find an additional 1.5 cubic feet of storage space for the Charger Daytona.
And yes, the four-door Charger lives on in the new generation. Dodge tells us there are no notable changes between the coupe and sedan, except for the doors. Rear passengers get 36.9 inches of headroom and 37.2 inches of legroom, although things seem a little snug with a traditional transmission tunnel bisecting the cabin. After all, the STLA Large platform is designed to accommodate a variety of gasoline and electric powertrains.
Interior Attitude, Exterior Concept
When Dodge launched the Charger Daytona SRT EV concept, it was touted as a near-production design. In fact, Kuniskis pretty much says it was the final design, except for minor modifications here and there. This includes the ‘R’ wing at the front, forming a passage for air to pass through the grille and sloping hood. The side mirrors now have a traditional shape, but the rest of the Charger’s body reflects the concept. This includes the Fratzog logo on the grille, which may or may not replace the current Dodge dual-stripe logo.
The Charger’s interior is decidedly digital, but there’s no shortage of analog style. The driver has a standard 10.25-inch digital display or an optional 16-inch unit, working with a 12.3-inch central screen. The dashboard lines evoke those of the 1968 Charger, with a pistol-grip shift handle holding station in the center console. Up high, an optional full-length glass roof adds light to the interior, or, if you want something more colorful, Dodge’s “Attitude Adjustment” interior lighting offers a range of 64 colors. These can change depending on what you’re doing, like opening a door or pressing the start button.
Depending on the package and options, interior appointments range from cloth and vinyl seats to Nappa leather on high-back buckets. In the tech department, you’ll find an optional head-up display and Dodge’s Uconnect 5 system offering TomTom navigation, Amazon Alexa compatibility and more. There are a host of standard driver aids, including forward collision warning with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane keep assist, blind spot detection and detection of drowsy driver.
The internal combustion charger
Dodge isn’t ready to release many details about the next-generation gas-powered Charger, which is expected to arrive in 2025. Called the Charger Sixpack, the automaker confirmed it will ride on the same STLA Large platform, although It has a few minor elements. differences in style. The sole engine is the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six already offered in Jeep and Ram vehicles, making 420 or 550 hp. To those hoping for a Hemi V-8 in the midst of the electric revolution, it’s time to say goodbye. We asked Kuniskis directly about this and he confirmed that there was no V-8 in the plan.
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Price and production
The Charger Daytona R/T and Scat Pack will launch this summer in two-door form as 2024 models. The four-door models won’t arrive until the first quarter of 2025, when the inline-six Charger Sixpack will enter in production. Pricing information is not yet available, but since the outgoing Charger R/T costs around $45,000, we think the new Daytona R/T will likely start well above $50,000.
