Dodge is flexing its power with the first fully electric Charger Daytona
Dodge has lifted the lid on its all-new Charger, an icon in the American Muscle scene that has controversially ditched its equally infamous Hemi V8 in favor of an inline-six internal combustion engine or an EV powertrain.
It may be the first muscle car to rely on battery packs and electric motors for power, but Dodge promises that to give it its full title, Charger Daytona will “retain its title as the world’s fastest and most powerful muscle car,” despite a lack of strength. of a growling V8 engine.
Instead, Dodge says its range-topping ‘Scat Pack’ Electric Charger features dual electric motors sending power to both axles for all-wheel drive, with a promised combined output of 630 horsepower. In addition, the American brand has added a PowerShot button on the steering wheel that delivers an extra 40 horsepower for 15 seconds.
Catering to traditional Dodge owners’ penchant for drag racing, this Powershot feature allows the electric Charger to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 130 mph.
However, it also remains relatively practical, with a 400V electric architecture delivering a range of 260 miles in the high-performance Scat Pack models and 317 miles in the standard cars.
Fast charging speeds of up to 183 kWh mean a standard charge from 20 to 80 percent takes approximately 27 minutes. This powerful architecture also allows the battery pack to discharge at rates of up to 550 kW, which is more than the 500 kW consumed by Scat Pack models, indicating that Dodge customers can satisfy their tuning thirst with even more powerful models in the future. the future.
In terms of tuning, Dodge will offer a number of packs and add-ons at the point of sale, allowing owners to prepare their car for the punishment they plan to subject their car to.
For example, a Track Pack stiffens the springs and adds adaptive dampers for better cornering performance, while adding Brembo brakes for more powerful stopping power.
A solid performance
To fill the audible void left by the removal of the iconic V8 sound, Dodge has added what it calls a ‘Fratzonic exterior sound generator’, which is similar to the Abarth 500e’s external speaker system.
According to the American brand, it emits a raw ‘engine noise’ of 126 dB, which is mapped to the accelerator pedal for realistic throttle thrusts. As with the Abarth 500e, it is possible to switch this off if customers want to cruise silently.
Apart from that, the electric Charger and its V6-powered ICE sibling will be indistinguishable as both will be offered in two-door and four-door variants, while both will get the option of a 10.25-inch or 16-inch digital instrument cluster that’s boosted by a next-generation 12.3-inch infotainment display.
There’s no word yet on pricing, but Dodge says the first cars will hit U.S. showrooms before the end of the year. However, we’re still waiting to see if the world’s first electric muscle car is destined for markets beyond US shores.