Dodge Charger 2.0: A New Era Dawns for America’s Iconic Muscle Car

America’s representative muscle car, the Dodge Charger
Adapt to the new era
What does it look like, and how does it perform?

Vehicle types representing the US include grand and large sedans, large SUVs for the whole family, pickup trucks that symbolize American identity, and muscle cars that run on wide roads with high-displacement engines. Muscle cars exist only in the US, and representative models include Ford’s Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Dodge’s Charger.

With the Camaro discontinued and other muscle cars less prominent than before, Dodge has introduced a new type of muscle car. Let’s look at what it looks like and how it performs.

Dodge Charger: The Iconic Muscle Car
The V8 Engine is No More

Dodge’s new muscle car, the 8th generation Charger, was unveiled in March 2024. It appeared almost identical to the concept car first revealed in 2022. Its exterior, reminiscent of the 1969 Charger, delighted many enthusiasts. Alongside the 2-door hatchback model, a 4-door sedan version was also introduced, broadening its appeal.

Although the V8 engine symbolizing American muscle cars can no longer be found, the new Charger was unveiled with a completely different powertrain based on a new platform. People who saw muscle cars adapting to the times criticized them, saying, “A Charger without a V8 is no longer a muscle car.”

The V6 Hurricane Engine and Arrival of the Electric Vehicle

The internal combustion engine version Six Pack model is installed instead of the V8 engine. It is equipped with a 3.0L in-line 6-cylinder Hurricane engine and boasts an output of up to 550 horsepower when paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. As an internal combustion engine model, the six-pack version secures engine room space and grill area and presents a different appearance from the electric model.

Besides the 6-cylinder Hurricane engine, the electric model attracted attention. The electric vehicle model provides 400 V and 800 V specifications using a 100.5 kWh battery pack. Combined with an electric vehicle-specific transmission, the maximum output power is 496 horsepower and 670 horsepower, respectively. It is said that it takes about 4.7 seconds and 3.3 seconds to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill, respectively.

A Homage to the 1969 Charger
Cheers for the Design, But What About the Performance?

While performance is important, what really excites people are the design elements. It was made based on the 1969 model, the most legendary of Dodge’s Chargers. The second-generation Charger is one of the most famous models in the US, frequently appearing in various movies and media. It has a large fan base not only among Americans but also overseas.

Despite sedans and SUVs dominating the market, muscle cars significantly influence the US. The substantial changes to the Dodge Charger shocked many, but they also signaled potential shifts in the design and features of future muscle cars.