Dodge has introduced its first electric vehicle, the Charger Daytona, which is also the first electric muscle car. The car is based on the STLA Large platform and is similar in size to the previous combustion version. It has a length of 5.25 metres, a wheelbase of 3,074 mm, and a ground clearance of 14 cm.
The Charger Daytona is a saloon available in both two-door and four-door versions. It features a large tailgate opening to a 644-litre boot, which expands to 1,059 litres when the rear seats are folded down. Additionally, it has a frunk with a capacity of 42 litres.
Inside there is a large instrument display (10.25 inches in R/T, 16 inches in Scat Pack) and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. A head-up display is also available as an option. The steering wheel is flattened at the top and bottom. The centre console houses the start button and a pistol grip gear selector. Ambient lighting provides 270 degrees of illumination from door to door. The seats are optionally available upholstered in Nappa leather and as integral seats with integrated headrests.
The electric Dodge Charger is available with two engine options: The R/T version offers up to 370 kW for short periods, while the Scat Pack version offers up to 500 kW for short periods. Surprisingly, both have four-wheel drive - atypical for a muscle car.
And the hardware is identical in both versions: both have the same 250 kW drive unit at the front and rear. However, only the top-of-the-range version uses the full power of the engines. The same battery is used, with a gross capacity of 101 kWh and a net capacity of 94 kWh. This gives the base version an impressive 510 km range, according to the American EPA standard.
Each drive unit is a 3-in-1 solution, consisting of a motor, a gearbox and an inverter. The electric motors are permanent magnet synchronous motors (PSM). The secondary front axle is mechanically decoupled when not in use, to prevent it from braking when not in use. The use of silicon carbide technology for the power electronics also saves electricity.
Recuperation can be adjusted in three stages using steering wheel paddles. However, the specified deceleration values of 0.1g, 0.2g and 0.3g do not suggest that single-pedal driving is possible.
The battery uses NCA chemistry, which means the cathode is made up of nickel, cobalt and aluminium. This chemistry is much less common than NMC batteries, but is used by Tesla and Audi in the Q8 e-tron. It can deliver up to 550kW of power, so can easily supply the motors with enough power for fast sprints. Although the STLA Large also supports 800 volts, the charger only uses 400-volt technology. The cells are prismatic and the configuration is specified as 104S2P.
The PowerShot mode in the Scat Pack can be activated using a button on the steering wheel, providing an extra 30 kW of power. The car offers various driving modes including Auto, Eco, Sport, Wet/Snow, Track, and Drag. Additionally, the Scat Pack features Drift and Donut Mode.
In Drift Mode, different drift angles can be set, with power mainly coming from the rear. Donut Mode, on the other hand, allows for the rotation of the car around one of the front wheels, effectively destroying the tires. Line Lock Mode is similar, as it completely brakes the front wheels to preheat the rear wheels for drag racing. The car also offers Launch Control for optimal acceleration from a standing start. Lastly, Race Prep ensures the battery is pre-tempered to maximize power output on the race track.
The Charger has a four-link rear suspension, with adaptive dampers available as an option. 18-inch wheels are standard, with 20-inch wheels on the Scat Pack. Mixed tyres are available as an option (305mm front, 325mm rear). Also optional are Brembo brakes (six-piston fixed calipers with 410x42 mm discs at the front, four floating calipers and 410x34 mm discs at the rear); they are said to be the biggest ever fitted by Dodge.
Despite the lack of exhaust fumes, there is even an optional "Fratzonic" exhaust system, which is said to produce a sound worthy of a muscle car.
Production of the two-door version will begin in mid-2024, followed by the four-door version in early 2025. Two six-cylinder petrol versions will follow, with a maximum power output of 410 kW.
Source: Dodge