The successor to the Dodge Charger is announced for production.
Dodge on Friday teased a production version of the coupe that will essentially replace the Challenger coupe and Charger sedan, revealing photos of what it calls a "pre-production model" in a Facebook post.
The coupe, which is expected to be fully unveiled later this year, appears to be very similar to the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept first unveiled in 2022. Dodge had previously suggested that this concept would be a preview of a production EV. Production of the Charger and Challenger ended at the end of 2023.
While Dodge is dropping the V-8 engine in favor of an electric motor, it is retaining the retro styling that has been a hallmark of the current Challenger. However, the Daytona SRT concept is not a tribute to the 1970 Challenger, but strongly resembles the 1968 Charger of "Bullitt," "Dukes of Hazzard," and "Fast and Furious" fame. That seems to have carried over into the production version.
The Daytona SRT concept also featured an all-wheel-drive powertrain that Dodge said could deliver up to 800 hp and a "multi-speed" transmission that offered distinct shift points like those of internal combustion vehicles. Dodge is expected to use the new STLA Large platform for the Sterantis. The Sterantis is one of four EV-specific architectures developed by the automaker for future electric models.
Dodge has also previously unveiled the Banshee, a drag racing version of the Daytona SRT concept that, similar to what Dodge did with the Challenger, can be sold to drag racers through the Direct Connection parts program This is believed to be a preview of a drag-pack version of the production model that can be sold to drag racers through the Direct Connection parts program, similar to what Dodge has done with the Challenger.
Along with the electric version, a gas powertrain is widely expected to appear. The automaker's Hurricane Turbo inline six-cylinder will likely be placed under the hood of these future muscle cars.
While the production version of the Dodge Charger Daytona (or whatever it will eventually be called) will most likely not feature a V-8 engine, Dodge has not yet finished developing a V-8 engine. Dodge will release a special edition "Last Call" version of its V-8 Durango SUV in 2024. With Sterantis' focus on electrification, Dodge's V-8 will likely end with this model for a while.