Dodge has by no means been a really forward-thinking firm. Automobiles like the outdated Charger and Challenger had been made to remind you of the glory days of the American muscle automobile. They’d huge engines, had been as massive as medium-sized yachts and weren’t nice at going round a nook. Now, the 110-year-old automaker is seeking to change all of that with the introduction of the 2024 Charger Daytona EV.
The brand new Charger is being billed as the primary electrical muscle automobile (since you actually shouldn’t rely the Mustang Mach-E), so for the primary time in a very long time, Dodge is forward of the curve. Nonetheless, whereas the Charger Daytona might have a totally fashionable drivetrain that might make it really feel like each different massive EV on the market if utilized incorrectly, the engineers and designers at Dodge put in sufficient considerate, attention-grabbing and foolish touches to make it really feel like an actual muscle automobile. I’m nonetheless undecided if the electrical Charger truly is one or not, however that is about as near an EV muscle automobile as you’re going to seek out.
Full Disclosure: Dodge flew me out to Phoenix, put me up in a pleasant resort, fed me and let me unfastened on the Radford Racing College all so I might check out the 2024 Charger Daytona.
I spent quite a lot of time with each variations of the Charger Daytona which might be presently being provided, the R/T Stage 1 and the Scat Pack Stage 2, each on observe and on the highway. The Daytona does quite a bit to make you assume it’s an actual, bona fide muscle automobile however, all of its muscle-y traits pale compared to its most muscle automobile attribute: the way in which it drives. What I imply by that’s it’s rattling quick in a straight line, and all of it type of falls aside within the corners. That’s what being an actual muscle automobile is all about. The Charger Daytona is happiest in lengthy sweepers reasonably than the tight stuff, and it’s very at dwelling stepping into a straight line.
Dodge says the R/T’s dual-motor setup makes 456 horsepower (or 496 for 10 seconds while you hit the Energy Shot button) and 404 lb-ft of torque. That’s sufficient to get this 5,698-pound, 206.6-inch-long liftback coupe from 0 to 60 mph in simply 4.6 seconds. It’ll blast you down the quarter mile in 12.6 seconds, very strong for a “base mannequin” automobile, and it’ll go on to a prime pace of 135 mph. Oh, and also you get a 308-mile EPA-estimated vary from the 100.5-kWh battery.
The Scat Pack shares the motors because the R/T, simply cranked as much as 11 on this utility. They pump out a mixed 630 horsepower ( or 670 for 10 seconds while you hit the Energy Shot button) and a whopping 627 lb-ft of torque. Vary from the same-sized battery pack takes a success to only 241 miles, however the 0-to-60 time drops to only 3.3 seconds and it could actually dispatch the quarter mile in 11.5 seconds, in response to Dodge. Prime pace stays the identical at a gear-limited 135 mph. Belief me once I say it’s each bit as fast as Dodge says it’s.
I used to be in a position to do a handful of drag strip runs, and even with my dogshit response time of 0.870 (I obtained distracted), I used to be in a position to get this 5,767-pound behemoth down the quarter-mile in 11.74 seconds at 118 mph. All of the whereas the Fratzonic chambered exhaust was screaming behind me. Remember the fact that with me and my passenger included, the Scat Pack factor was most likely clocking in round 6,200 kilos. It’s no slouch. I used to be, after all, aided by the Drag mode that loosens up from the entrance multi-link suspension, stiffens the rear multi-link and provides you full energy, however nonetheless. My one gripe with the Charger’s pace is that you just don’t really feel it. I regarded down on the speedometer climbing extremely shortly, however I by no means felt like I used to be going that quick. I’m undecided what that’s all about — possibly I’m too jaded by even quicker EVs.
Sadly, for the way good it’s on the drag strip and taking place lengthy sweepers on the highway, the Charger Daytona begins to crumble on a decent racetrack or actually twisty again highway. I didn’t drive the R/T on observe, however I assume its traits could be related or most likely a bit worse than the Scat Pack. The Scat Pack’s steering is okay, type of par for the course in the case of heavy EVs, however it struggles mightily to get round turns. The entrance finish likes to push, even in Observe mode. The one technique to actually defeat that’s by trailbraking, as a result of giving it extra energy simply washes it out extra.
One other difficulty was feeling like I used to be struggling to carry on to the squircle steering wheel in high-G corners. The 12-way observe seats are very cozy, however even with adjustable bolsters, they didn’t maintain me in notably nicely. I discovered myself clinging to the steering wheel simply to remain upright. That’s not an awesome feeling while you’re pushing 100 mph going right into a flip at Radford’s 0.70-mile dealing with course. Earlier than the tires do lastly surrender, you’ve obtained quite a lot of grip due to the staggered Goodyear Eagle F1s measuring 305/35R20 up entrance and 325/35R20s out again. Nonetheless, on a tough launch, you possibly can smoke the rears. It’s fairly sick if I’m being sincere. To be honest, the outdated Charger and Challenger weren’t precisely observe stars both, so that you shouldn’t be too shocked to seek out out their successor, whereas vastly improved, nonetheless isn’t as nimble as a stripped-out Miata.
On the highway, each vehicles are unimaginable cruisers. I’m most impressed with the Charger’s suspension. It won’t translate completely to the observe, however I discovered each vehicles to have a particularly snug trip over even the bumpiest roads Phoenix needed to supply. It’s obtained fairly a twin character, as the Charger Daytona does on the whole. You’ll be able to crank it as much as Sport or Observe mode and take heed to that Fratzonic “exhaust” bellow, burble and vibrate, or you possibly can click on over to Auto and the entire thing quiets all the way down to a really nice, near-luxury automobile driving expertise. The very fact it has a 121-inch wheelbase most likely aids in its consolation. No, I don’t care for those who assume it’s too lengthy. It ought to be even longer. Whereas representing a brand new period of muscle vehicles, the brand new Costr nonetheless feels a hell of quite a bit like muscle vehicles of outdated.
I ought to take a while to speak about one thing I’ve already talked about a few instances: the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust. Find it irresistible or hate it, this is likely one of the centerpieces of Dodge’s new automobile. I’ll be sincere, once I first heard it in idea type just a few years in the past, I wasn’t actually in love. Let me let you know, it sounds a lot better in particular person. For many who are unfamiliar with this entire Fratzonic factor, I ought to point out it’s not only a speaker. Mainly, it’s a complete system of chambers beneath the Charger Daytona joined with woofers and mid-range audio system. It’s presupposed to be a mixture of digital and analog noise, and it largely will get there. Because it seems, the “Fratzog” identify and brand aren’t new. They had been round within the ‘60s by way of the early Nineteen Eighties.
It’d sound corny to say, however I swear it does an awesome job of constructing you overlook you’re in an electrical automobile. I’m not kidding, people. There have been a few instances once I was driving down the highway, “exhaust” screaming, and I forgot I used to be being pushed together with electrons reasonably than an enormous V8. That isn’t to say it simply appears like a daily ICE exhaust; it’s totally different. There are quite a lot of noises occurring that sound in some way each from the previous and future. And you already know what? Should you don’t prefer it there are many different EVs on the market that drive alongside silently. I believe what I get pleasure from most in regards to the exhaust, apart from its wildly loud startup and shut-down noise, is the actual fact it’s a bit foolish. It is a Dodge muscle automobile for Christ’s sake. It’s presupposed to be foolish. I’ll by no means get why folks hate enjoyable, even when it’s ineffective in most real-world purposes. It’s a noise as loud as a Hellcat motor with a goofy identify. How will you not prefer it?
The Charger has extra critical behind-the-scenes stuff along with its foolish bits. It’s constructed on Stellantis’ SLTA Giant 400-volt structure that’s being shared throughout the corporate; I want it was working an 800-volt like quite a lot of different fashionable EVs, however that received’t occur till the SRT Banshee mannequin. Dodge says you possibly can recharge the Charger’s 100.5-kWh battery (93.9 kWh of which is usable) at as much as 183 kW on a 350-kW charger. That’s not precisely world-beating, however Dodge says it could actually cost from 5 to 80 p.c in 32.5 minutes, which isn’t dangerous. With a normal Degree 2 charger, that point balloons to six.8 hours in each the R/T and Scat Pack. The R/T and Scat Pack’s 308 miles of vary and 241 miles of vary, respectively, aren’t world-beating, however while you’re transferring this a lot tire and mass down the highway, there’s solely a lot you are able to do. There are additionally a handful of regenerative braking ranges to select from, together with full one-pedal driving.
Dodge’s engineers and designers spent quite a lot of time sculpting the brand new Charger Daytona to be as slippery as potential whereas chopping by way of the air to supply the absolute best vary numbers. What they obtained was a automobile that generated a hell of quite a lot of controversy. Some folks dig the way in which this automobile appears, others hate it. I’m someplace within the center. I believe its greatest angles are the entrance and rear head-on views. That’s the place I see probably the most affect from Dodges passed by. Even the entrance three-quarter view isn’t too shabby. The one place the place the design doesn’t actually work for me is the again three-quarter space above the rear wheels. I simply really feel like some ratio is off, and it makes the rear wheels, that are very massive, seem like too small. Styling is all the time subjective, although, so your outcomes might range. Among the extra noticeable aero-focusing design cues will be discovered up entrance and out again. In entrance of the hood, Dodge put on this actually neat R-Wing that channels air over the hood cleanly. Out again, the most important factor you’ll discover is the actual fact it’s a liftback, and that’s so sick. Dodge did it to increase the roof and enhance aerodynamics, and what it offers you is a fully large trunk and opening. It makes you notice that every one vehicles ought to be liftbacks.
Inside, the Charger Daytona is a much more modern-feeling automobile than the sedan and coupe it replaces. In fact, there are screens. Two, actually. Within the center, there’s a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen working Stellantis’ Uconnect 5. As for the gauge cluster, all Scat Packs include a reasonably huge 16-inch display screen whereas lower-end R/Ts make do with a ten.25-inch display screen, however the greater one is non-obligatory. Regardless, all of this screeny-ness works fairly nicely. Layouts are clear and straightforward to grasp, and you’ll put a ton of data within the gauge cluster. Nevertheless, the system is a bit laggy for my liking. A couple of instances I discovered myself double-clicking and ending up on the flawed menu as a result of the flight took so lengthy to register. Granted, these had been all pre-production vehicles, so possibly that’ll get sorted out earlier than launch. Who is aware of? Oh, there’s additionally a heads-up show that may give you no matter pertinent data you possibly can need.
On the subject of different security tech like a 360 digicam, adaptive cruise management and lane-keeping help, these are all fairly stellar too. I give Stellantis quite a lot of shit, however it quietly makes top-of-the-line driver-assist suites within the automotive trade, which makes the Charger Daytona much more of a strong automobile for long-distance driving. Between the Degree 2 automated driving system and cozy ass seats (whether or not they’re the bottom seats within the R/T or the tighter buckets of the Scat Pack), you possibly can eat up miles on this factor.
The switchgear was fairly fantastic. I imply, it’s largely stuff you’d discover in different Stellantis merchandise, so take that for no matter it’s value. Whereas nearly all the pieces is managed by way of the touchscreen, some controls, like these for the local weather system, are reserved for bodily buttons. Properly, they’re haptic, however I suppose that’s higher than nothing.
Total, the remainder of the inside is pretty good. It’s not a luxurious automobile, however it’s an enormous improve over the earlier Charger and Challenger. Supplies decisions are all fairly strong for a “muscle automobile.” The R/T I drove had a really neat 3D sample on the door playing cards that gave it a pleasant look when the ambient lighting was turned on. It felt like onerous, low cost plastic, however at the very least it regarded cool. The Scat Packs all had a carbon-fiber-looking plastic of their place, which felt extra premium however definitely not as distinctive. I additionally respect that regardless that that is Dodge’s most superior automobile ever, designers nonetheless discovered room for loads of plastichrome. Don’t fear, muscle lovers, it’s nonetheless obtained a “Pistol Grip” shifter, even when the one factor you’re shifting is PRND.
One other factor the Charger Daytona does nicely is present inside area. This factor is very large from the skin, so at the very least that continues inside. It’s not hyperbole once I sat this coupe has the roomiest again seat I’ve ever been in. Rear passengers within the coupe have 36.9 inches of headroom and 37.2 inches of legroom. It’s the identical dimensions the four-door automobile may have, in response to Dodge. No area is sacrificed up entrance, both. I had loads of room for my 6-foot-1 body. I did have some bother discovering a snug driving place, although. I’d have appreciated it if the seats went down one other half-inch or so. I’m oddly formed, so your outcomes might range. There’s additionally tons of cargo room. Dodge says the rear hatch can swallow 22.8 cubic toes of your issues (37.4 cubes with the rear seats folded), and if that’s not sufficient, there’s a modest (and non-obligatory) frunk that may take an extra 1.5 cubic toes, which is nice sufficient in your charging cable, I suppose.
It’s possible you’ll be questioning simply how a lot all of those electrical muscle-y goodness prices. Properly, people, it ain’t low cost. The Charger Daytona R/T begins at $61,590, together with vacation spot and the obligatory Stage 1 Package deal, and the one I drove was $70,970 as examined. A bump as much as the Scat Pack will get that value to $75,185, and for those who add just a few choices just like the obligatory $3,200 Stage 2 Package deal, the $4,995 Plus Group, the $2,995 Solar and Sound Package deal, the $3,495 Observe Package deal and some extra odds and ends, you get an $85,965 as-tested value. That could be a lot for a Dodge, however you do get quite a lot of efficiency, and you’ll rely on the actual fact the vehicles will qualify for the total $7,500 federal EV tax credit score for those who lease them — for now, at the very least. If these are costs you’re keen to pay, then excellent news: two-door Charger Daytonas are simply beginning to hit sellers as 2024 fashions for regulatory causes. On January 1, they’ll change to being 2025 fashions. We are able to anticipate to see the four-door Charger Daytona in addition to the internal-combustion-powered Charger Sixpack someday in the course of 2025.
All the time I used to be on this program, Dodge representatives and even its CEO talked to me about bringing the muscle automobile into the electrical age and defeating “boring” electrical vehicles. I believe the oldsters who labored on this automobile obtained it many of the manner there. It has all the proper sounds, appears and efficiency of an actual muscle automobile. My solely difficulty is that it isn’t fairly visceral sufficient. Positive, the Fratzonic exhaust helps a bit, however it’s nonetheless not all the way in which there. It doesn’t even matter if the Charger is type of crappy on the observe. Muscle vehicles are presupposed to be like that. There’s only a lifelessness and refinement that comes with electrical vehicles that makes it really feel a bit, I don’t know, sterile. Nonetheless, for a automobile that shares its structure with midsize crossovers, the Charger Daytona EV is a hell of quite a lot of enjoyable. I’m simply not fairly positive if it’s a real article or a really spectacular cosplay.
