A Dodge Charger PHEV Could Bridge A Major Gap With Serious Performance

As soon as the concept for the Dodge Charger Daytona was unveiled at the SEMA Show back in 2022, the anticipation for the electrified future of one of the most iconic muscle car nameplates in history grew stronger and stronger. Now that the Charger Daytona has been officially revealed, we now better understand the direction that Dodge will be taking with the Charger, some of which weren’t entirely expected.

What was expected, however, and is now confirmed, is that the first all-new Charger Daytona will be the coupe version released later this year. Considering that the Charger has been a long-standing gas-powered giant in the muscle car scene, many fans were skeptical about the model moving away from the iconic HEMI V-8. However, Dodge unveiled some mighty intriguing plans for the Charger models that will follow the electrified Daytona.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Dodge’s manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including our sister site, CarBuzz.

The Potential With Dodge’s New “Multi-Energy” Platform”

Throughout the Charger’s history up until today, there hasn’t been any other version of the Charger besides an internal combustion engine-powered model, which dates back to 1966. Despite going through a total of seven generations with hybrid and electric cars becoming more and more prominent, Dodge remained firm in delivering gas-powered-only muscle cars.

Despite the flagship 2024 Charger being the all-electric Daytona, the completely redesigned muscle car will be built on what Dodge’s brand boss Tim Kuniskis calls a “multi-energy platform”. This new platform from the Detroit-based brand has the potential to take the Charger to all-new heights, setting the standard for years to come.

Introducing A PHEV Charger

One of the most notable takeaways from the 2024 Charger Daytona’s reveal was the announcement of the combustion engine’s return for the nameplate, which is slated to begin production in 2025 in both coupe and sedan forms and will drop the Daytona badge.

The gas-powered models will feature the new Stellanis’ inline-six Hurricane engine. As well as the excitement of the gas-powered Charger making a return, it sets the stage for yet another version of the Charger to be introduced, a plug-in hybrid. It definitely won’t come as a surprise if Dodge extracts as much potential from the Charger’s new platform, with the model carrying the muscle car banner alone, with Kuniskis having no short-term plans for the equally iconic Challenger nameplate.

Embracing Electrification

Compared to other manufacturers, Dodge as well as other Stellanis-owned brands have taken more time to adapt to the industry shifting to electric power, due to the risk of losing customers with the potential steep price increases for their models. In recent years, mild hybrid systems were rolled out in vehicles such as the Ram 1500 pickup truck, but the technology never managed to find its way into the high-performance muscle cars over at Dodge.

2024 Dodge Charger Daytona Performance Specifications

(Data was collected from Dodge)

Now with the all-new multi-energy platform allowing for both gas power and electric power (or a combination of both), the middle ground between the two has become a much more likely reality. When asked about the potential of hybrid variants of the Charger, Charger chief engineer Audrey Moore says “Anything is possible”, and numerous insiders believe that multiple PHEV Chargers is a likely route for Dodge to take.

The Benefits Of A PHEV Charger

Now that plug-in hybrid cars are becoming increasingly popular choices for buyers across the globe, the benefits that this type of hybrid system can bring are clear. The most obvious benefit is the improved fuel economy compared to gas-powered cars, leading to a much more affordable option in the long run. However, when combined with the performance of the 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six, the potential that PHEV gets all the more enticing.

Becoming One Of The Most Powerful Chargers In History

The raw power of the V-8s that have been under the hoods of the Chargers thus far is a key reason as to why the model is loved by so many. While the gas-powered 2025 Chargers will be fitted with on of two variants of the inline-six Hurricane engine that produces 550 horsepower today, combining PHEV technology with the Hurricane engine champions potentially extraordinary power.

Despite the inline-six Hurricane engine not having been hybridized, the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission present on the Jeep Wrangler 4xe and the Cherokee 4xe is said to be readily available to link up with the Hurricane engine. These two models are now the best-selling PHEV models on the US market, which is sure to inspire those over at Dodge.

While this combination has the potential to produce up to a staggering 700 horsepower, a PHEV Dodge Charger most likely wouldn’t be the most powerful new variant. That honor is expected to be given to the Charger Daytona Banshee, an all-electric model designed to harness all the capabilities of Dodge’s new electric motors on an 800-volt system. To compare, the 2024 electric Daytona models (using a 400-volt system) will produce 496 horsepower for the R/T version, and 670 horsepower through their two electric motors.

Updating The Charger For Efficiency And Practicality

As well as offering classic Charger power, a PHEV variant opens the door for the Charger to be far more practical and usable than ever before. With the massive V-8s, modern Chargers consume their fair share of gas, though not necessarily an extortionate amount considering the car’s size. However, having hybrid technology on hand has to ability to cut costs, even with a smaller inline-six providing the gas power.

Having the ability to run solely on electric power for shorter journeys and in urban environments will also introduce a level of practicality and efficiency to the Charger, without sacrificing any of the power that so many desire from the Charger nameplate.

With many still hesitant to make the full jump over from a combustion engine to an EV, a PHEV is the perfect middle ground for buyers to be introduced to the benefits of hybrid technology while holding onto the thrilling performance that gas-powered Chargers have provided for so many years.

PHEV Success Elsewhere In The Industry

Although the majority of the best-selling plug-in hybrids are found in the SUV or sedan category, a few manufacturers have applied the technology to their performance cars. The outcome has been the production of some of the most powerful and extreme road cars ever made. One of the most notable plug-in hybrid achievements is the Ferrari SF90, which manages to produce 986 horsepower with its 4.0-liter V-8 and three electric motors combined.

Despite a Dodge Charger PHEV more than likely being designed with a different philosophy, the staggering benefits of the additional electric power for cars like the SF90 hint towards the potential it could provide to a muscle car. In the early 2010s especially, in terms of technology, muscle cars were not far behind the sports/supercars of Europe but were starting to fall behind with the rise of EVs. Dodge now has the opportunity to bring the muscle segment right back to the top of the industry for pioneering generational performance, in a way only muscle cars can.

Honoring The Legacy Of The Charger Nameplate

Considering that Dodge hasn’t unveiled any official plans to produce a plug-in hybrid variant of the revamped Charger, it’s safe to say that the potential model won’t be seen until 2026 at the earliest. There was a fair amount of discussion about whether the essence of the Charger would be retained after transitioning to all-electric power. But now Dodge has announced that two gas-powered variants are on the way, this fear has been settled for the most part.

However, by combining both gas and electric power, a PHEV has the potential to appeal to the widest market possible. Not only considering the rise in popularity of PHEVs in the States, which Dodge’s sister company in Jeep currently spearheads, it can introduce an array of electrified benefits to the combustion engine lovers who don’t want to lose the legendary spirit of the Charger.

A PHEV variant also further takes the Charger to new territory, being the first-ever plug-in hybrid muscle as well as the first fully-electric model in the segment. With competitors such as Ford sticking with the V-8 in the ’24 Mustang and Chevrolet ending production of the Camaro, Dodge has the potential to truly stand head above shoulders with a Charger equipped for both performance and efficiency.