Though the legendary Hemi V8 is gone, Dodge is making it clear that muscle cars will thrive in an electric-drive world, and there’s no better proof point than the all-new 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona.
But in addition to its retro-flavored styling and all-new interior, the 2024 Charger offers more than a powerful electric drivetrain rocketing the car to 60 mph in a claimed 3.3 seconds. Since an EV doesn’t work for everyone, Dodge will also build Chargers equipped with internal combustion engines (ICE) producing up to 550 horsepower.
First to arrive, the 2024 Charger Daytona two-door will offer dual-motor, all-wheel drive electric powertrains in R/T or Scat Pack specifications. Later, in early 2025, the four-door Charger Daytonas will be available, as well as Charger SixPack models with your choice between two turbocharged “Hurricane” inline six-cylinder gas engines.
Looking almost exactly like the Charger Daytona SRT Concept car, the new Charger has a wide stance enhanced by slim LED headlights and a white LED light bar that spans the car’s width. An illuminated Fratzog logo is in the center of a rectangular grille influenced by the 1968 Charger.
The space between the headlights is open, allowing air to flow through something called an R Wing, which looks cool and improves downforce at the front. The rear view mimics the same rectangular shape of the grille, enhanced by Dodge’s LED Ring of Fire taillights and a red Fratzog logo.
So, what is the Fratzog? Dodge first used this symbol on the Polara 500 in 1962 and continued marking its models with the emblem until 1981. Now, Dodge plans to adorn all its next-generation models with the Fratzog.
The 2024 Charger looks good in pictures, and having seen it in person, I can say it looks even better in real life. At the car’s reveal in Detroit, the attending crowd of reporters was taken with the new design, especially when the wraps came off the unexpected four-door model. Surprisingly, the coupe and sedan are identical in length, width, and height, with matching roof lines and interior space.
Dodge will offer the Charger in a range of exciting colors, including Peel Out, Triple Nickel, White Knuckle, and Bludicrous.
Inside, the 2024 Charger is high-tech with digital instrumentation, the latest Uconnect 5 touchscreen infotainment system, and 64-color Attitude Adjustment ambient lighting that wraps around the cabin.
Contributing to the Charger’s sporty nature, the performance steering wheel features a flat top and bottom design and paddles to adjust brake regeneration levels. A PowerShot button on the steering wheel delivers an extra 40 horsepower for 15 seconds of added excitement, bringing the car up to its maximum power rating.
Cloth and vinyl trim the seats, though buyers can opt for Black or Demonic Red leather. High-back seats with fixed headrests are also available. I sat in a Charger equipped with these optional high-back seats, and they have excellent bolstering for good comfort and support.
You can carry adults in the back seat, but the space is slightly smaller than the outgoing Charger’s. The coupe and sedan offer the same interior room, but access to the rear seat will be easier with the four-door.
Most people don’t consider utility when buying a muscle car, but the Charger offers good cargo space under its large rear hatch. That’s right. The new Charger is a sportback. Dodge says you’ll find 22.8 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, expanding to 37.4 cu-ft with them folded down.
The first Chargers to arrive will be the electric Daytona in R/T and Scat Pack trim levels, each equipped with a dual-motor powertrain. The R/T supplies 456 horsepower, while the Scat Pack delivers 590 hp.
But wait, there’s more. Dodge will offer power upgrade kits for the Charger: Stage 1 adds 40 hp, and Stage 2 adds 80 hp. Dodge says a Scat Pack with the Stage 2 kit will reach 60 mph in 3.3 seconds.
So, what’s the range for an electric Dodge Charger? The automaker says the R/T will travel 317 miles on a full battery, while the more powerful Scat Pack covers 260 miles. Both versions use a 100.5-kilowatt-hour battery pack, and Dodge claims it can charge from 10 to 80 percent in just over 30 minutes on a DC fast charger.
Weighing in at just over 5,800 pounds, the new Charger Daytona adds more than 1,000 pounds compared to the outgoing model. Batteries are heavy. To manage the power and mass, the Charger Daytona offers a Track Package installing the largest brakes and tires ever fitted to a production Charger. The 16-inch vented rotors boast six-piston front/four-piston rear Brembo calipers, while the staggered Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 performance tires provide extra grip.
When the gas-powered Chargers arrive in early 2025, the SixPack S.O. (standard output) version of the twin-turbocharged Hurricane 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder will generate a respectable 420 hp. The SixPack H.O. (high-output) version cranks out 550 hp.
From the driver’s seat, you’ll face either a 10.25-inch or a 16-inch digital instrumentation panel married with a 12.3-inch widescreen iteration of Uconnect 5, the infotainment system in nearly all Stellantis models.
In addition, every Charger will have an extensive list of standard and available advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including Active Driving Assist, a semi-autonomous system combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. Upgrades to improve outward visibility include a distance warning system and tire-to-curb camera views.
To address concerns among enthusiasts that an electric muscle car won’t be complete without a roaring exhaust, Dodge has an answer in the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system. The system uses two passive radiators to create a unique exhaust note that Dodge says will rival Hellcat sound intensity levels.
Dodge says the new 2024 Charger Daytona is a proper muscle car that happens to be available as an electric vehicle with all the performance, style, and driving thrills you expect.
The natural rivalry is with the Ford Mustang family, including the gas-engine coupe and Mach-E electric. But the Charger is larger than a Mustang, so it can also compete with numerous ICE and EV models across mass-market and premium brands, from the BMW i4 and i5 to the Tesla Model 3 and Model S.
Nevertheless, the Charger remains a muscle car at heart, and in that respect, I expect it to stand apart from the growing crowd of EVs, at least for a little while.
Dodge is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of March 1, 2024, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the Dodge website or your local dealership.
Perry Stern has worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years and has always been a car enthusiast. Driving almost every new car on the market, Perry has written for multiple publications in addition to his work for JD Power.com. Recently relocated to southeast Michigan, Perry is still crazy about cars, especially his 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
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