The automotive world is buzzing with the introduction of the Dodge Charger Daytona, an electric vehicle (EV) that first arrived in late 2024 that’s redefining the muscle car genre.
While purists may debate the shift from roaring V8s to electric propulsion, there’s no denying that the Charger Daytona brings an argument for EV muscle to the table. Here are five compelling reasons to embrace this groundbreaking vehicle.
#1. The world’s first electric muscle car
Dodge has boldly entered the electric era with the Charger Daytona, positioning it as the world’s first all-electric muscle car. With performance and classic looks in mind, Dodge has attempted to replicate as much as there is to love about gas-powered muscle cars in their Charger Daytona EV platform.
In 2024, only the 2-door R/T and Scat Pack variations of the Charger Daytona were available. The R/T trim came pre-equipped with the Direct Connection Stage 1 upgrade kit from a new line of electric performance add-ons by Dodge. This was good for an additional 40 horsepower bringing the R/T to 496 horsepower. The 2024 Scat Pack came with the Stage 2 upgrade kit, good for an additional 80 horsepower and a grand total of 670 horsepower.
| 2015 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack | 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T | 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat | 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 6.4L Gasoline V8 | Dual electric motors | 6.2L Supercharged Gasoline V8 | Dual electric motors |
| Horsepower | 485 hp | 496 hp (Stage 1) | 707 hp | 670 hp (Stage 2) |
| Torque | 475 lb-ft | 404 lb-ft (Stage 1) | 650 lb-ft | 627 lb-ft (Stage 2) |
| 0–60 mph | 4.3 s | 4.9 s | 3.7 s | 3.3 s |
| Top Speed | 175 mph | 134 mph | 204 mph | 137 mph |
| Drivetrain | RWD | AWD | RWD | AWD |
Performance for the Charger Daytona R/T is more akin to that of the 2015 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack, demonstrating the impressive capabilities of electric. However, you’ll still find more torque and thus a quicker 0–60 time in the gas-powered R/T Scat Pack.
That changes when you take the driver’s seat of the Charger Daytona Scat Pack, which despite having less horsepower and torque, beats the original 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat from 0–60 mph by 0.4 seconds.
If something about an electric muscle car still just doesn’t sit right with you, the Charger chassis for the Daytona is soon to hit the road with a gas-powered, twin-turbo, Hurricane inline-6 engine ranging from 420 to 550 horsepower delivered via standard all-wheel drive.
#2. Aggressive, muscular design
The Charger Daytona delivers nostalgic Dodge looks with the return of a 2-door form factor and the square, muscular body lines that have been missing from the Charger design ethos for decades.
For the first time since 1987, the Dodge Charger is available in a 2-door variant.
Dodge rejuvenates its old-school “Fratzog” logo mark to identify its EV lineup.
Classic Charger looks are present, especially in the taillights.
The patent-pending R-Wing is a large aerodynamic pass-through on the front fascia.
#3. Four-door flexibility
While the release of the Charger Daytona marks the bold return of a 2-door Charger, that won’t mean the 4-door version is going away. Both the next-generation 2025 Charger Daytona and Hurricane-powered Charger will soon hit the roads in 4-door form as well.
The front end of the 4-door Charger Daytona variant mirrors that of the 2-door.
Again, the back end retains the same updated yet nostalgic Charger looks of the 2-door.
Official performance specifications for the 4-door Charger Daytona are not yet officially published, but they are expected to closely match those of the 2-door Charger Daytona, with slight changes in acceleration, top speed, and handling ability as additional weight is expected with a longer chassis.
#4. Options and upgrades
Direct Connection power packages
With the rise of electric vehicles comes the question of whether owners will be able to make any modifications to enhance their vehicle’s performance. Through Direct Connection, Dodge has an answer to that question.
As seen with the release of the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T and Scat Pack models, power upgrades are available in stages through Direct Connection, a program established by Dodge that allows enthusiasts to modify their Dodge vehicles without voiding their factory warranty.
Dodge plans to continue with this business model as its journey in the performance EV world continues, and fans of the new Charger Daytona are hopeful for even more customizations to be made available through Direct Connection, like a Stage 3 power package.
A “Track Pack” trim is also available for the Charger Daytona Scat Pack, which adds “dual-valve, semi-active suspension setup with adaptive damping that varies based on the drive mode chosen,” (Dodge Garage).
Charger Daytona SRT Banshee concept
Dodge has teased a concept for an extra-high performance version of the Charger Daytona with a trim named “SRT Banshee,” seemingly an electrified equivalent to the SRT Hellcat trim offered on previous generation Charger and Challenger models.
Dodge has confirmed that the SRT Banshee will be produced, but little is known other than what it might look like. We do know that its powertrain and transmission will be different from the existing R/T and Scat Pack versions of the Charger Daytona.
Photos below tease the “Banshee” badge that may appear on the car, and some styling differences from the R/T and Scat Pack trims which may or may not appear on the production SRT Banshee.
#5. “Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust”
Another concern among muscle car enthusiasts regarding EVs is the lack of a roaring exhaust note. Dodge’s Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust is an industry-first system that brings muscle car sound to an EV.
It uses air chambers and tuning algorithms to produce a 126 dB exhaust note, comparable to a Hellcat engine. The system is throttle-responsive, adjusting tone and volume based on driving input. Unlike synthetic EV sounds, this setup physically moves air to create a deep, resonant exhaust tone.
A new era of muscle
The Dodge Charger Daytona is undeniably controversial, but it’s also a bold step forward. As the first-ever EV muscle car, it maintains Dodge’s performance legacy while embracing electrification. Its aggressive design, flexible 2- or 4-door options, and Fratzonic exhaust system ensure it still looks, feels, and sounds like a true Charger.
For die-hard muscle car fans, an EV Charger may seem like heresy. But with powerful performance, cutting-edge technology, and unmistakable Dodge DNA, the Daytona proves that the muscle car spirit is far from dead—it’s just evolving.
H+H JEEP DODGE RAM
The all-new
Dodge Charger Daytona
