The Challenger nameplate has been part of the Dodge lineup since the early 1970s. The most recent third-generation model went on sale in 2008 and introduced powerful iterations such as the Scat Pack, Hellcat, Redeye and many others. Today, after 16 years, the Challenger no longer exists, at least its name.
With the arrival of the new Charger Daytona, Dodge is ditching the Challenger nameplate for the foreseeable future. A Dodge spokesperson told us in an interview that there are “no plans for a Challenger at this time.” While this may be disappointing for fans eager for a new Challenger, the Charger EV will technically replace the outgoing muscle car.
The Charger is available in two- and four-door configurations with classic trim options such as R/T and Scat Pack. An optional Track Pack is available on the latter. In terms of size, the new Charger Daytona coupe is larger than the Challenger it replaces with a wheelbase of 121.0 inches and an overall length of 206.5 inches, compared to the wheelbase of 116.0 inches and Challenger’s overall length of 197.9 inches. It’s also wider than the Challenger by 8.6 inches; 84.3 inches versus 75.7.
This extra size means more space for the electric vehicle’s passengers and cargo; up to 22.8 cubic feet of cargo behind the rear seats and 37.4 cubes with the rear seats folded flat. By comparison, the Challenger had just 16.2 cubic feet of space. And this new Charger is a liftback version instead of a traditional coupe.
Although it doesn’t have a V8, the Charger Daytona will offer a Hurricane inline-six engine alongside the electric powertrain. The 3.0-liter engine comes with a standard 420-horsepower version and a more powerful 550-horsepower version. That’s more power than the outgoing Challenger’s base V8, but that engine will only be available with an eight-speed automatic transmission. No manual.
In any case, even if the Challenger name has disappeared from the Dodge range, it continues in the spirit of the new Charger Daytona.
