Because of the Charger’s long history, Dodge’s recent choice to stop making the Hemi V-8 was especially sad for Mopar fans. Ontario, Canada’s Stellantis Brampton Assembly Plant, started making the last two 2023 Dodge Charger and Challenger models at the end of last year. The Charger is coming back to life with all-wheel drive and electric motors instead of its Hemi V-8 engines and superchargers. Stellantis’ modular STLA Large frame will be used to make the 2024 Charger, which will come in R/T and Scat Pack trim levels. For the first year, the Charger will only have an electric engine. The car that runs on electricity will now be called the Charger Daytona. Starting in 2025, Dodge will make gas-powered Sixpack models with Stellantis’ Hurricane twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine. The 2023 Charger and the new 2024 Charger Daytona will not be available for a while, so we decided to compare them. Choices for Powertrains Let’s start with the power numbers since we’re talking about powerful cars. The Charger R/T’s Hemi 5.7-liter V-8 engine made 370 horsepower, and the Scat Pack’s Hemi 6.4-liter V-8 engine made 485 horsepower. The new R/T and Scat Pack Charger Daytonas have a 400-volt electrical system and a battery with 93.9 kWh of useful capacity. These are in place of the scary V-8s. There is an electric motor at both the front and back axles of the new Chargers, which powers all-wheel drive. The Scat Pack will be capable of producing up to 670 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, while the R/T will be capable of producing up to 496 horsepower and 404 pound-feet of torque during its peak performance. A 15-second “Power Shot” feature is what led to the best numbers. The “Power Shot” gives you a 40-hp boost for up to 15 seconds at a time until the battery dies. Dodge says you have to wait 30 seconds between uses. Electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to go faster than gas-powered cars because their electric drivetrains have more power and instantaneous torque. Dodge says the Scat Pack takes 3.3 seconds to reach 60 mph and the R/T 4.7 seconds. The Scat Pack from the previous generation did the same acceleration run in 3.9 seconds. If you believe what Dodge says, the battery will last for 260 miles in the Scat Pack and 317 miles in the R/T. Details about sizes and shapes Charger Daytona has clearly never been hungry. The length has grown from 120.2 inches to 121 inches, which means the car has become longer. From nose to tail, the new car is 206.6 inches long, which is a lot longer than the old model, which was 198.4 inches long. Also, it covers a lot of ground. The new Charger is 79.8 inches across, which is 4.4 inches wider than the old model and just 0.1 inches smaller than a Ford F-150. The good news is that a bigger size means more usefulness. The cargo area now has an amazing 23 cubic feet of storage space, up from 17 cubic feet before. Since the engine was removed from the front, a new storage area with two cubic feet of extra room has been added. In terms of style, the new car looks a lot like the Charger Daytona concept that has been shown off for two years. Between the improved headlights, the lit Fratzog emblem is easy to see. There isn’t an engine bulge because there isn’t a V-8 squished under the hood. However, the hood has big rakes on it that are probably used to spread airflow through the front R-Wing, which is attached to the bumper. From inside The inside of the new type is easy to spot. The dashboard has a big, flat-bottomed steering wheel that surrounds the digital dash and a multimedia screen in the middle. Instead of just one size, the new car’s instrument panel comes in two: the R/T’s screen is 10.3 inches, and the Scat Pack’s is 16.0 inches. We were glad to see what looked like climate control buttons under the infotainment screen because we were afraid that touchscreens would finally take the place of physical buttons. A pistol-grip selector has replaced the large gear switch from the old version. “Attitude Adjustment” lighting is another name that Dodge uses for the new lighting inside the car. Cost to Expect Unfortunately, prices are expected to go up a lot because of electrification. The base prices for the 2023 Charger R/T and Scat Pack were $46,660 and $53,520, respectively. The electric versions are expected to be a lot more expensive, though. The 2024 R/T from Dodge is likely to cost around $60,000, and the 2024 Scat Pack will cost around $7,000. The Hurricane-powered six-cylinder gasoline cars that will be on the market next year will stay cheaper for model fans who aren’t ready to spend that much money or give up an engine.
