You can stop the groaning, folks, everything’s gonna be alright! That’s the thought I’m going to impart as we tell you more about the new 2024-25 Charger models that Dodge unleashed on March 5, 2024 to the citizens of the world.
But, first, let’s back up a bit: you can continue your groaning because the Hemi V8 is no more. There is no replacement V8 in the cards either. However, confirming rumors, the Charger isn’t an EV-only vehicle. Let’s examine what Dodge has in store for America and the nether reaches of Earth.
The Charger will appear in both four-door and two-door configurations. The latter will be a source of joy to many enthusiasts who have had an issue with the Charger name being applied to a four-door, but that issue will continue to exist as long as a four-door Charger continues to exist. The truth is that Dodge already had a two-door Charger – the company just so happened to call it Challenger.
The first Charger to be available for street takeovers will be the two-door 2024 Charger Daytona, with the Florida namesake being only used for EVs. Two levels will be available: R/T and Scat Pack. The R/T will have Direct Connection’s Stage 1 kit that kicks power to the realm of 496 horsepower; the Scat Pack will feature the Stage 2 kit for a robust 670 horses. Both feature dual motors and, like all Chargers from this point, all-wheel drive. And y’know that cool “R-Wing” front end with the pass-through opening? That’s only for the Charger Daytona and not the ICE-powered model.
When the 2025 model year dawns, the Stage kits will be optional, though no word on the power output of the base Daytona. What we do know is that R/T and Scat Pack Daytonas will have a respective estimated range of 317 and 260 miles from a 93.9-kWh battery.
Additionally, the Charger Daytona Scat Pack will offer exclusive drive modes that include Track, Drag, Drift, and Donut. An optional package for the Scat Pack will be Track Pack, which will include adaptive dampers with a set of upgraded Brembos with 16.1-inch rotors with fixed two-piece front calipers though, interestingly, introductory 2024 Charger Dayona R/Ts will also receive these tweaks. Additional Track Pack equipment will include 20-inch wheels (11 inches wide up front, 11.5 inches out back) and a performance data recorder.
For the 2025 model year, both the four-door body style and the gas-powered Charger Sixpack will hit showrooms. The Sixpack will feature a twin-turbo six offering 420 horsepower, with a high-output version offering 550 horses. The current plan for the 2024 intro is for the Six Pack to be available as a four-door and the high-output version to be available as a two-door, and it isn’t yet known if Dodge will expand availability for both ICE engines to be available on both body styles.
And then there’s the Banshee. Later in 2025, the Charger Banshee will play the role of Hellcat EV. According to Car and Driver, the Charger Banshee will have 800-volt architecture (which is twice the Daytona’s) and a two-speed transmission unique to the model. Expected power is over 807 horsepower and expected ETs are in the 10s.
Yes, the Hemi is dead, long live the Hemi! Yet the future is always an exciting proposition so we’re excited for new Dodge blood after a solid run of the previous Charger and Challenger. Can we see a comparison test among an old Hellcat, high-output Charger Sixpack, and a Charger Banshee? To that, we’ll proclaim, “Bring it on!”
Source: www.classiccars.com