V8 fans rejoice! 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona previews our electric muscle car future
The next-generation 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona EV has been previewed for the first time signalling a new era for the American muscle car.
Locked for launch late in 2024, the pictures posted on Instagram by the US car-maker are of a late-stage prototype rather than the finished item. But the lack of camouflage gives us the best impression yet of how the next-generation For Mustang rival is shaping up.
Set to be available with both all-electric power and traditional combustion power, the battery-powered versions will carry the Daytona nameplate that still resonates with diehard muscle car fans.
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First shown as a concept back in 2022, the new prototype stays true to the show car, which itself was inspired by the current Challenger and seven decades of Dodge muscle-car lineage.
In the flesh, the concept comes with flared arches, a dramatic rising beltline and proportions that can be traced back to the very first Charger that went on sale back in 1966.
The only way you’ll be able to tell if you’re looking at the zero-emission version, aside from the lack of tailpipes, is the Daytona comes with a subtle illuminated logo on the grille. The EV also gets an entirely enclosed nosecone since the electric powertrain it packs needs less cooling.
When it’s introduced the Charger Daytona is expected to be offered in three versions – a single-motor rear-wheel drive that will pump out 300kW; a dual-motor all-wheel drive with 500kW and at the top of the tree, a triple-motor version that churns out a mighty 660kW.
The last powertrain has actually been developed by Maserati for its GranTurismo Folgore and will see the Charger inherit an 800-volt electrical architecture in place of the 400-volt system the two lesser models have.
That means the most powerful battery-electric Charger Daytona will be the fastest to charge and capable of receiving a top-up at a rate potentially up to 270kW, with a 10-80 per cent charge taking little more than 20 minutes.
As well as the advanced EV power, the Charger will also be offered with traditional petrol power – but it won’t be a V8. Instead, the Mustang fighter will get a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline ‘Hurricane’ engine that will produce at least 373kW and 664Nm of torque.
Full details will be revealed following its launch, possibly at November’s LA motor show.
There’s still no official word if the Dodge Charger Daytona will ever be exported to Australia but it’s not looking good right now as both the Dodge and the Chrysler brand are no longer available Down Under.
LMAO. It’s not a Mustang rival unless they make an ICE version. This thing will flop hard after initial sales if it’s EV only.
No thanks. I have a Chrysler 300, love it. So sad it’s no longer being made. Will be going back to GM products.
I can’t imagine anyone getting excited about a charger that has some sissy electric motor. These cars and muscle cars like them are popular fur a reason. They follow a very similar formula. The only electric we want is the battery and alternator. May as well just be a generic looking Tesla
Sorry, but being a Mopar fan since the 60’s I feel the new look does nothing for the Dodge Charger. It is too much of a drastic change and takes away from the Chargers strong looks. Now it looks like a blend in to look like other makes. Too bad.
Well, if Dodge’s gonna do electric cars, they must will make golf carts, you come back out with the challenger should have come out with Dakota with the big himmy motor on it. Pistol rip force speed and the charger should either been a 66 model. Update it like you did the challenger with the bumpers and/or the 68 69 70. But you guys didn’t do that so good luck i’m trying to sell cars
Yeah, no. Just no. Knock it off with this war on ICE’s and V-8’s.
ICE power for me. Sorry but EV’s aren’t feasible for everyone and the cost of replacing the batteries is cost prohibitive after 10 years or so because of vehicle value depreciation. In the summer I drive my GOOD CAR… A 1963 Dodge 440 sedan and if something does need to be fixed, it is easy to diagnose it and to do the repairs. I live in a cold climate where winter temperatures can exceed -40°F below zero and the few people here who bought EV’s after 1 winter have sold them as they don’t work well in extreme cold. Also, the power grid is not capable of supporting the projected numbers of EV’s being called for.
This is terrible no muscle car fan is happy about this tin can
The dolt that wrote this article is clueless. A V8 fan will never rejoice over an EV. And probably never buy one either if given a choice.
A 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona “golf cart” EV is no Mustang ICE fighter.
There’s nothing to rejoice about with an ev. I’m sure it’s fast and I’m sure it’s nice but it’s still not a V8 and the only thing charger about this is the plug you use to charge it. I’m sure they will sell some to rich liberals but ultimately it will be a failure. We don’t need a fake exhaust sound we need a real motor. For the sport how can you supe up an ev? Buy a bigger battery or bigger magnet there is no sport to this as far as I can see. I’m not am engineer or anything so maybe there is but it won’t be what it was.
Pure trash nobody wants this crap a V6 pls then it’s going to more expensive than a hellcat dodge will be bankrupt soon