I’m about to drive one of the crucial controversial vehicles of the 2020s that isn’t a Cybertruck. That’s proper, I’m getting behind the wheel of the all-new and all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona, Fratzonic “exhaust” and all. Earlier than I take this massively highly effective out on the roads of Phoenix and on the observe, I wish to know what you wish to learn about it.
I imply, this automobile is extremely necessary, not simply to Dodge, however to Stellantis as an entire. It’s an automaker that badly wants a win, so it’s pinning a variety of its hopes on the reimaged muscle automobile. Certain, it doesn’t have the V8 roar of previous Dodge Challengers and Chargers, however what it loses in loud noises it makes up for with… loud noises and a ton of pace. Proper now, this automobile is a particularly unknown amount. We’re among the many first folks to drive it, and earlier than you ask, no. I’m not driving the internal-combustion-powered Daytona Six Pack. It’s all EV for me. That’s extra attention-grabbing than a turbocharged inline-six, anyway.
Whereas we don’t know the on highway and on observe driving traits of the brand new two- and four-door Charger Daytona, there are nonetheless some boilerplate numbers we will get out of the best way. It runs on Stellantis’ modular STLA platform, and at launch, it’s going to be provided with two trim ranges: Charger Daytona R/T and Charger Daytona Scat Pack – not dissimilar to the naming scheme of the older Dodge siblings. Each vehicles include a 100.5-kWh battery pack operating on a 400 Volt structure and have a single motor on every axle. Dodge says the motors can generate as much as 335 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque every, and the rear motor comes with a mechanical limited-slip differential.
The R/T is the much less highly effective of the 2, nevertheless it’s no slouch. Dodge says its motors put out a mixed 456 horsepower (that quantity jumps to 496 while you hit the PowerShot) and 404 lb-ft of torque. These numbers are sufficient to get this large automobile from 0-60 in simply 4.7 seconds. Hold your foot in it, and also you’ll cross the quarter-mile in 12.6 seconds and hit a prime pace of 135 mph. It’ll additionally get an EPA-estimated 308 miles of vary.
The Scat Pack is the place the actual efficiency is. It ups energy to 630 horsepower (670 with PowerShot engaged) and 627 lb-ft of torque. That’ll rocket the automobile from 0-60 in simply 3.3 seconds. It’ll hit 1 / 4 mile in a fast 11.5 seconds and go on to an equivalent prime pace of 135 mph.
We additionally know that that is going to be one large automobile. Stellantis says each vehicles weigh nearly 5,700 kilos – which is about 1,600 kilos heavier than the previous Charger V6 AWD and over 1,200 kilos greater than a Charger Hellcat. Vehicles are heavy now. That’s simply the best way it’s. It’s obtained the bodily dimension to match its weight with a 121-inch wheelbase, 206.6-inch total size and a 79.8-inch width with out mirrors.
The automobile can be going to come back with Dodge’s Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system, which can apparently ship “Hellcat ranges of sound depth,” in response to Dodge. I don’t know the way true that’s simply but, however I’m keen to search out out.
Anyway, I feel that’s sufficient out of me for now, as I’m simply too excited to maintain tying. Why don’t you head on down under to let me know what burning questions you’ve got in regards to the Dodge Charger Daytona R/T and Scat Pack. I’ll do my greatest to reply all of them. Additionally, I don’t care for those who don’t suppose Dodge needs to be making it or not. I feel it’s a cool concept, and what I say goes.
