Some of the anticipated new EVs made its debut on the streets of Chicago this morning as Dodge model CEO Matt McAlear rev’ed onto the stage in a pre-production instance of the 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona EV Scat Pack Stage 2.
Earlier than we get too far, I wish to set your expectations low — I didn’t get to drive the Charger Daytona EV. Not one of the press in attendance for Chicago’s addition to nationwide Drive Electrical Week did, in reality, as a result of the low-slung silver stunner was Dodge CEO Matt McAlear’s private DD, we had been informed, and he needed to, “get it again to Detroit in a single piece.”
Regardless of that, we had been in a position to crawl throughout the new-age electrical Daytona whereas McAlear gave us a presentation and a few Q&A time, and I’ve to say that the match and end of the automotive — even in pre-production spec — appeared a step or two above that of the final Mopar coupe (a 2011 Challenger in “Kowalski” white) that I spent any actual time in.
I additionally need to say, with full objectivity, that the Dodge Charger Daytona EV’s Fratzonic ‘Exhaust’ didn’t elicit the reactions I anticipated.
“That’s silly,” stated the person to my proper, a former Ford electrical engineer who labored on the Maverick and Mach-E groups. “But it surely brings a smile to my face.” McAlear put the Fratzonic into “drag mode,” and rev’ed it once more. “That’s — I don’t wish to prefer it. However I adore it.”
On my left, a sensible, profitable, enticing lady couldn’t maintain again her laughter. “It’s a man factor, for certain.”
My very own notes (hilariously) learn, “You possibly can set the exhaust quantity to 11 so everybody in your block will know the particular boy has a brand new automotive.”
Even so, I did catch myself smiling on the vaguely PS2-ish sound high quality. I’ve fond recollections of taking part in GranTurismo within the USAF Tech College dorms, and the Dodge sounded each bit like that recreation’s digitally recreated large block V8s. I gained’t even publish my video of the automotive (shot on an iPhone 15), as a result of the net movies merely simply don’t do it justice.
Faux exhaust, actual automotive
As Matt McAlear spoke disparagingly in regards to the “value-driven” Dodge model of years previous that bought Neons and Caravans and Journeys for $19,995, he waxed poetic about Dodge and the brotherhood of muscle, invoking scat packs, Hellcats, and Demons, he stated that Dodge was OK with being “that loopy cousin that you simply’re unsure you wish to invite over for Thanksgiving.” The Dodge CEO insists that they’re good with that vibe. They’re snug there, with the folks “who don’t care what others take into consideration them.”
Ignoring each the truth that your racist uncle might be additionally good with that vibe, and the truth that right this moment’s Dodge sellers would in all probability love a seven-passenger crossover they may promote for underneath $25,000 out the door, the Charger Daytona EV Scat Pack 2 delivers a stunning quantity of worth for its asking worth.
For starters, there’s a ton of room within the factor. The proportions scream “muscle automotive” however when you perceive how large these tires and wheels actually are, you’ll consider me once I let you know there’s room for 5 precise people on this factor.
There’s additionally all-wheel drive. Typically seen as essential characteristic right here in Chicago, it turns the Charger Daytona EV Scat Pack Stage 2 right into a automotive that will probably be seen as a possible DD, and never “simply” a good climate pal. With 670 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque accessible at 0 rpm, that AWD helps ship straight line efficiency in addition to all-weather security, too.
Add in the truth that the automotive is eligible for as much as $7500 in lease help from Stellantis (and as much as 7500 further {dollars} from ComEd, if any municipal or state police fleet managers are studying this) make it each quicker, cleaner, and extra inexpensive than the present closest V8 Charger … and that, as they are saying, is progress!
Electrek’s Take
The brand new Charger Daytona actually seems to be the a part of a contemporary muscle automotive, and there’s no query that it’s quicker and extra succesful than any of the basic Mopars from the 60s and 70s. That stated, Dodge appears to be a model that’s extra interested by interesting to the kind of automotive fanatic that appears again on some imagined “golden age” of chest-pounding automotive efficiency from days passed by, and never a model that’s trying to to the long run.
The golden age of efficiency is now. And it’s very, very quiet.
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