### The 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona: A Daring Entry into the Electric Future
The 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona marks a daring progression for the legendary muscle car brand, merging design elements inspired by its storied past with state-of-the-art electric vehicle (EV) innovations. Dodge’s engineering team faced an ambitious challenge: to develop an electric muscle car that mirrors the appearance, performance, and signature sounds of a classic Dodge. The outcome? An eye-catching two-door electric sedan that excels on public roads, yet shows some difficulties on the racetrack.
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### A Contemporary Interpretation of a Legendary Design
Led by Scott Krueger, Dodge’s design team pursued the philosophy of “heritage, not retro” while designing the new Charger. The result is a streamlined and powerful sedan that captures the essence of the original 1968 Charger without imitating its exact contours. Notable modern design features include an LED strip for daylight running lights and the pioneering “R-wing” at the front, imparting a modern flair to the vehicle.
Measuring 206.9 inches in length, 78.1 inches in width, and 58.9 inches in height, the Charger Daytona is unapologetically substantial, tailored for American roadways and parking conditions. These dimensions make it 2 inches wider than the previous Charger Hellcat widebody, but this increase in size results in a roomy interior. The vehicle comfortably accommodates four adults, and its hatchback design offers up to 37.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the back seats folded down.
The interior of the Charger Daytona further impresses. Ambient LED lighting allows drivers to select the cabin’s color from a range of 64 options, enhancing the feeling of spaciousness. The Android Automotive-based uConnect 5 infotainment system operates via a 12.3-inch touchscreen, accompanied by haptic feedback climate controls. Although the system is user-friendly, some preproduction hiccups, like display delays and mapping errors, indicate that enhancements are needed before the vehicle reaches consumers.
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### Powertrain Choices: R/T and Scat Pack
At launch, the Charger Daytona comes in two all-wheel-drive variations: the R/T and the Scat Pack. Both models utilize a sturdier platform compared to the previous V8 Charger, with the electric version showcasing a 50% boost in rigidity, courtesy of its 93.9 kWh (100.5 kWh gross) battery pack.
#### R/T: Harmonious Performance and Range
Starting at $59,995, the R/T produces 456 horsepower and 404 lb-ft of torque, featuring a “Power Shot” function on the steering wheel that temporarily elevates performance to 496 horsepower. Dodge anticipates a range of 308 miles on a single charge, making the R/T a sensible choice for extended journeys. It can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and completes the quarter-mile in 12.6 seconds.
#### Scat Pack: Track-Optimized Power
Retailing at $73,130, the Scat Pack ramps up the excitement with 630 horsepower (670 with Power Shot) and 627 lb-ft of torque. This variant accelerates to 60 mph in a mere 3.3 seconds and finishes the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds. However, the Scat Pack compromises range, featuring an EPA-estimated 240 miles per charge. It also includes dual-valve adaptive dampers and enhanced brakes, making it more tailored for track performance.
Both models support DC fast charging, allowing a rise from 5% to 80% in just 32.5 minutes using a 350 kW charger. While AC charging peak is at 11 kW, Dodge has not yet disclosed complete 0–100% charging durations.
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### On the Road: A Sleek Cruiser
During a drive through Phoenix, the Charger Daytona R/T demonstrated itself to be a smooth and comfortable cruiser. The monotone dampers efficiently absorbed bumps in the road, and the cabin remained tranquil in Auto mode. Despite this, preproduction quirks, such as a powertrain warning light and an overly generous range prediction of 8.5 miles per kWh, underscored the need for additional refinement.
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### On the Track: A Mixed Experience
While the Charger Daytona excels on public roads, its performance on the track is less convincing. The Scat Pack’s substantial 5,767-pound weight becomes noticeable during high-speed maneuvers, leading to understeer and a lack of stability in sharp turns. Although the vehicle’s performance on the drag strip is notable, with a 0–60 mph time of 3.3 seconds, issues with the launch control system hindered the experience during testing.
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### Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust: An Electric Vehicle That Roars
Among the Charger Daytona’s standout features is its Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system, which utilizes a combination of transducers, passive radiators, and a 600-watt amplifier to generate a synthetic engine roar. This system is engineered to replicate the growl of a V6 engine.
