The all-new multi-energy powered 2024 Dodge Charger has been revealed and will begin showing up on dealer lots by year’s end – at least the electric models. Almost all of the other automotive media has weighed in and shown it off to you, now it’s my turn to tell you what I really think of them.
First, I’m thrilled that the new Charger coupe and sedan look nearly identical to the concept car we saw last year. It wasn’t like the electric RAM REV pickups where the concept was an amazing design shot to the moon and the production model was a ho-hum looking re-grille of the current (and aging) RAM gas powered pickup. So there’s that.
Instead, the all-new 2024 Dodge Charger family starts with a dedicated new platform architecture called STLA-Large that can allow the car to be either a full battery-electric vehicle or accommodate traditional gasoline powertrains. That’s rare and if they did it well they will get accolades for their extra work and forethought.
While electric vehicles will be the default norm by the end of the next decade, not everyone is on board the Good Ship Lollipop yet so being able to also sell gas powered models for a while is smart business until those who aren’t all charged up yet get with the program.
As such, the EV models will be the first to go on sale later this year with the gas-powered models coming online later in 2025. We’ll get to those in a couple minutes. The good news for performance minded gearheads is that the new electric Dodge Chargers will be fast AF, meeting or exceeding the performance benchmarks set by last year’s Hellcat powered monsters.
We’re told the top performance model 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona with AWD and 670 horsepower will rip from 0-60 in 3.3 seconds the Charger Daytona Scat Pack will knock out a quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds. They point out to us that nothing else in the current muscle-car beats that. And they’re right. A lesser powered standard AWD electric powertrain has 496 horsepower.
For those who will miss the loud roar and whine of the Hellcat V8, they’ve devised a sound system called Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust which will emit an artificial “exhaust sound” that is said to be exhilarating and loud. I’ll be honest with you, I’m not yet sold on this concept and will get back with you when I drive one. Seems kind of hokey on its face, but we’ll see.
For whose pining for the gasoline powered Chargers, the V8 is gone for good but the all-new twin turbocharged Hurricane 3.0-liter inline sixes will be on hand in both 420 and 550 horsepower power levels depending on the model you choose. While I love the growing list new high-performance electric cars I’ve driven, I’m also looking forward to see what these are like. With the new Hurricane engines it will be a new era for sure. I hope they sound good.
To be offered in both a two-door coupe and four-door sedan, the styling really speaks for itself so I will pass on describing every little element. You have eyes and can make your own judgements.
Highlights are wheels as large as 20-inches and they are necessary to house its massive 16-inch brakes. Why so big you ask? Well because the electric charger is really really heavy, some 5838 lbs. Yeah you put you and a few buddies in it and you are well on your way to its GVWR of 6,700 lbs.
To make it all work it has a 400V electric architecture utilizing an electric drive module (EDM) front and rear with a huge 100.5 kWh battery pack under the floor about the size of a queen size mattress. Both EDMs integrate its own power inverter, gearbox and motor – each with 335 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque regardless of the model you buy. The various output ratings of the different models is based programming honestly, not so much hardware.
To make this new world all fun and games for the gearhead crowd it has a boat-load of drive modes and features like a push-button PowerShot mode that can add 40 horsepower temporarily, Drag, Track, Drift and Donut modes, Line Lock, Launch Control and more. The list is endless almost, they are really trying hard to make you feel good about all this. Really they are almost too much.
With a multi-link front and rear suspension very heavy duty and an available semi-active adaptive suspension it promises to handle with with the large tires, wheels, brakes it should handle as good as a 6,000 pound car can.
We see the rolling track footage here, but they really aren’t pushing it too hard. I honestly can’t imagine what nearly 700 horsepower all-out in a 6,000 pound car would look and feel like yet. I’m guessing you better stock up extra extra on tires and brake pads for those track days.
It will be a nice car though inside and out. It certainly looks the part, it has the curb appeal. The unique front R-Wing first seen on the concept live on in production – at least on electric powered models. We don’t know about the gas ones yet.
Inside is a semi retro interior in its design but one packed with the technology we are told we want. LED lighting everywhere, big screens everywhere and lots if whizzbang gizmotry to keep us off our phones behind the wheel – or at least have them connected up wirelessly and enjoying all its feature content. I’ll let other channels go on about all that – too much to list. It’s there and it looks all well done.
Notably though it flat top and bottom steering wheel has paddle shifters to control regenerative braking and it has that PowerShot button when equipped. It has the “pistol-grip” shifter too which I’m glad for, it needs a bone throw to the crowd.
Unlike the last generation Charger it has a hatch out back allowing you to get all verse with rear seats that fold flat. It has a 38.5 cubic foot cargo area to boot and there is even a frunk on electric models with an additional 1.5 ft cubic feet. Perfect for your portable charging cable.
In that way it has a 317 mile range for the 496 horsepower Charger R/T and the high-powered 670 horsepower Daytona Scat Pack has 260 miles of go time. If you can find a 350 kWh Level 3 charger, you can get from 20 to 80% charge in about 30 minutes. Level 2 charging like most public and home chargers will take 6-10 hours depending on the AMP rating of the charger – essentially overnight which is fine for most people.
Two-door coupe 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Charger Daytona R/T will begin production in summer of this year. The electric four-door Chargers start production at the beginning of 2025. Gas-powered Chargers also start production early in 2025. All will be built at the Stellantis Windsor, Ontario, Canada Assembly Plant.
