Dodge’s new, electric Charger brims with macho muscle and fake noise

Published: 06 March 2024 Updated: 06 March 2024

► New-generation Dodge Charger goes electric
► Four-door model and V6 to come in 2025
► First car to use Stellantis STLA Large platform

Dodge has unveiled its production-spec, battery-electric Charger muscle car – following on from its controversial SRT Banshee concept.

The brand claims the new-generation to be the ‘world’s first and only electric muscle car’, brimming with confidence that going zero emission is the future of high-powered, super-macho muscle machines. That said, Dodge says it will also offer a straight-six-powered model, as well as a four-door version in 2025. So not *that* confident, obviously.

This one’s electric?

Yup, although you wouldn’t really be able to tell upon first glance. It still looks like a familiar muscle car, with the Charger’s most classic design details as preserved as possible after the transition. The long front end, as always with Chargers, features a wide oblong area for the lights and badge to be housed into but, this time, doubles as a massive front spoiler that directs air flow over the car. Dodge calls it the ‘R-Wing’.

Inside, it’s as cocooning as it always is inside a low-roofed muscle car. A moulded centre console and chunky dashboard design shrouds a digital instrument cluster (10.25-inches as standard, or available with a larger 16-inch option) and a 12.3-inch central screen.

Give me some tech specs!

There’s lots to talk about, and a lot of the Charger’s clever stuff is dripping with names that have a whiff of fragile masculinity. SIXPACK! POWERSHOT! ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT! And so on…

Fundamentally, the new electric Charger is the first car to use the STLA Large platform, an ‘EV-native’ architecture that’s being rolled out across all of Stellantis’ brands. Other cars to use the platform include the new Jeep Wagoneer S, as well as what will replace the Alfa Romeo Giulia in 2026.

For the Charger, the platform runs a 400-volt architecture (STLA Large can also run 800-volt), features a 100.5kWh battery pack and an electric motor on each axle for all-electric all-wheel drive. Two models of electric Charger have been announced: R/T and Scat Pack. The R/T model benefits from 496bhp, while the Scat Pack model churns out 670bhp – enough for a 3.3sec 0-60mph sprint. Both electric Charger models feature an e-boost function called ‘PowerShot’, which adds 40bhp of extra shove for 15 seconds, and more Charger variants will come in time.

And, as predicted from the concept car, the production model features the new ‘Fratzonic exhaust’, which claims to deliver ‘Hellcat levels of sound intensity.’ Essentially, it’ll rev like a traditional muscle car – albeit with a slightly digital undertone.

On top of that, Dodge is offering a range of performance options to further enhance your muscle car. The Track Package (available for the Scat Pack) upgrades the standard brakes to six-piston front/four-piston rear Brembo ones from the previous-generation SRT model, mixed-width Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tyres and adaptive dampers.

Every Charger benefits from a selection of drive modes, as well as ‘Line Lock’ (the ability to do clean burnouts), Launch Control (fairly self-explanatory) and Race Prep (a mode that pre-conditions the battery pack for high-performance driving or drag racing.

Inside, Dodge’s ‘Attitude Adjustment’ tech translates to fairly substantial ambient lighting customisation and the car has an in-built drive recorder so you can video your hot laps or drag sprints. For Scat Pack, there’s also a donut mode and drift mode included, too.

And, if you don’t want an electric one, Dodge has you covered. A ‘SixPack’ twin-turbo straight-six powered combustion model (that develops 420bhp or 550bhp) will launch in 2025 – as will a four-door model.

By Jake Groves

CAR's deputy news editor, gamer, serial Lego-ist, lover of hot hatches

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