Hey Charger! New Dodge EV muscle car boasts wild acceleration, crazy weight and a name famous in Australia

US car-maker Dodge has released pictures and full details of its all-new Dodge Charger Daytona that heralds a new era for the all-electric muscle car when sales begin in Q3 2024.

Built to replace the ancient 19-year-old Dodge Charger and Challenger, the headline news is the all-new from the ground up 2024 Charger Daytona is built on an all-new platform and gets dual-electric motors that offer up to 500kW and performance in another league compared to the old supercharged V8 Charger Hellcat.

Dropping the Challenger name, the new Dodge Charger is available as either a two-door coupe of four-door sedan, with the ‘Daytona’ name signifying the EV powertrain.

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That move of course will have resonance in Australia where the two-door Valiant Charger was a cornerstone of the Aussie Chrysler line-up in the early 1970s, subject of the iconic ‘Hey Charger’ ad campaign and the movie Alvin Purple.

There is no word at this stage on right-hand drive production, which will be vital if the latest all-new generation of Dodge Charger has a chance of making it Down Under.

Combustion power will also be offered alongside the zero-emission Charger Daytona, but the last generation’s famed 6.4-litre supercharged HEMI V8 is no more. Instead, the only choice will be a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder that won’t arrive until early 2025.

Dwarfing the car it replaces, the new Charger Daytona measures in at an imposing 5248mm long, 2028mm wide and stands 1497mm tall, resting on a long 3074mm wheelbase.

That means it’s as much as 203mm longer and a considerable 127mm wider than the old Charger and Challenger.

Worse still is the weight gain, the new Dodge Daytona EV tips the scales from an alarming 2648kg.

Luckily, behind the wheel thanks to epic power you’re unlikely to notice its excessive mass.

Underpinned by the Stellantis group’s latest STLA Large platform, the Charger range is topped off by the battery-electric Banshee versions that have yet to be revealed. They feature an 800-volt electrical architecture and a two-speed transmission.

Lower-powered Charger EVs make do with a 400-volt platform, but all come with dual e-motors all-wheel drive and a 100kWh battery.

At the entry level, the Daytona R/T dual-motor produces 370kW/548Nm and with a Stage 1 30kW power boost can launch from 0-60mph (0-97km/h) in just 4.7 seconds. The quarter mile (402m) is completed in a claimed 13.1sec, while top speed is 221km/h.

There’s also a faster-still Scat Pack trim that with a Stage 2 power-up (worth 60kW) boosts total power to 500kW and 850Nm of torque.

Against the clock that drops the 0-60mph dash to just 3.3sec. The quarter mile pops up in an in incredible 11.5sec, however top speed falls slightly to 216km/h.

To achieve the quickest acceleration, Dodge says owners must punch the Power Shot button on their steering wheel that adds a further 30kW boost to maximum performance off the line.

Despite its blocky looks and emphasis on performance the range isn’t too bad thanks to the best efforts of its big 100kWh battery. According to Dodge the R/T can cover up to 510km on a single charge while the Daytona Scat Pack is capable of travelling up to 418km between top-ups.

Speaking of which, the new battery can only be replenished at a peak rate of 183kW. That means a 5-80 per cent charge takes around 33 minutes.

Both Charger R/T and Scat Pack both come standard with new Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system that is claimed can generate as much noise as the old Hellcat. Luckily, there’s also a Stealth mode for those who are on friendlier terms with their neighbours.

No audio clips of the production car have been released but engineers say the sound generator is capable of matching the beat, cadence and tempo of the old supercharged V8.

From launch the R/T base model has 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, while the faster Scat Pack gets larger 20-inch wheels and racing bee logos, rather than R/T badges.

Inside, the new Charger gets twin screens – 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.3-inch infotainment – as well as wireless phone charging, ambient lighting and an updated version of the pistol grip shifter.

The coupe is said to offer up to 1090 litres of cargo space when the rear seats are folded, while the Daytona also comes with a handy 42.5-litre front trunk (frunk).

Classic vinyl and cloth seat upholstery is standard, with black or red Nappa leather optional. There’s also the further choice of a pair of more supportive sport seats with fixed head restraints.

All Chargers come with Auto, Eco, Sport, Wet/Snow and Track driving modes. There’s also a launch control and line-lock burnout feature.

To unleash the true hooligan in you you’ll need the Scat Pack because that trim unlocks a further Donut Mode that allows the Charger to rotate at will.

If that’s not silly enough a further Drift Mode with three slip angles will also be available that tweaks the adaptive dampers for smoother more seamless sideways fun.

Furthermore, the Scat Pack will be available with a Track Pack that adds bigger 16-inch Brembo brakes with six-piston font callipers, wider 305-section front and 335 rear Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tyres, adaptive dampers and a dashcam and data logger to record your hot laps on your circuit of choice that could make you YouTube famous for the right or wrong reasons.

Prices have yet to be released, but the Daytona R/T is expected to start well north of $US50,000 ($A76,900).