Speed demons, rejoice. The Charger is back, both in electric and gas! After Stellantis put the muscle car out to pasture in 2023 in the name of an EV transformation, the company has now reversed course.
Turns out, killing off your most iconic nameplates isn’t great for business. Who knew?
Back from the Grave
The end of the Challenger and Charger was a tough pill to swallow. I’ve driven both. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of a V8 Challenger roaring past 100MPH (on a closed track, with a professional driver, our lawyers remind us).
Editor’s note: What, I was a professional driver once. I was an EMT (volunteer)!
Dodge’s muscle cars weren’t just fast, they were a whole vibe. They felt good to drive, like you were hugging the road. A throwback to an era when gas was cheap, hair was long, and every traffic light was an invitation.
Stellantis had big EV ambitions, so the Charger and Challenger were axed. The problem with that plan? Americans didn’t stop wanting muscle cars. And, in a plot twist absolutely everyone saw coming, Stellantis’ U.S. sales plummeted 15% in 2024. WOOF.
Back on (the) Track
The Charger is returning… with an EV option, sure, but also with several gas cuts for those who like their cars loud and fast.
Key stats for the top cuts:
- Quarter mile in 11.5s
- 0-60MPH in 3.3s (YESSS)
- “PowerShot” button to add 40hp for 10s when activated… interesting, easier than a Nos tank, too!
- EVs releasing first half of 2025, gas-powered I-6s in the second half of 2025, and an electric SRT Banshee at some point in 2026
- MSRPs are TBD, folks are guessing $40,000-$50,000 for the v6s. EVs start from $59,595.
- Get the whole spec list here.
So, if you were mourning the loss of American muscle, dry those tears. The Charger is back. Reserve some time at the track and get ready to clock frankly silly speeds.
Stellantis… if you’re reading this: Challenger when?
The million dollar question: What WILL Stellantis do with that sexy Challenger nameplate?
Hopefully they’re sick of the market kicking them in the face and they won’t just leave the Challenger and Hellcat nameplates to collect dust. Watch this space, gearheads. I’m going try to manifest something really f%$#ing fast.
Retraction: Your correspondent is a knucklehead, and got the cylinder count right in the initial report, but the configuration wrong. An I-6 is indeed a different thing than a V-6! Thank you, surprisingly civil internet people, for pointing out the oversight. Corrected 30 minutes after going to print, I may not be smart, at least I’m fast!
