Dodge Launches Next-Generation Charger in Europe, Bringing Electric and Gasoline Muscle to a New Era
Dodge is opening a bold new chapter in its performance legacy as the iconic American brand introduces the next-generation Dodge Charger to European customers, marking a major milestone in the vehicle’s six-decade history. Celebrating the Charger’s 60th anniversary in 2026, Dodge is reintroducing one of America’s most recognizable muscle cars to European roads with an entirely new lineup that blends traditional performance values with advanced technology and multi-energy powertrain options.
The arrival of the eighth-generation Dodge Charger signals more than a model update. It represents a transformation of the muscle car formula, designed to satisfy changing customer expectations while preserving the unmistakable attitude and driving emotion that have defined the Charger nameplate for generations. For the first time, European buyers will be able to choose between fully electric and gasoline-powered versions of the Charger, reflecting Dodge’s philosophy that performance matters more than the type of propulsion under the hood.
The next-generation Charger will be available in both two-door and four-door body styles, offering customers a combination of classic muscle-car proportions, aggressive styling and modern digital technology. Whether powered by electricity or internal combustion, Dodge says the new Charger has been engineered to remain true to the spirit of the original while evolving for a new generation of performance enthusiasts.
A New Era for a Legendary Muscle Car
Few vehicles have left a mark on automotive culture like the Dodge Charger. Since its debut in the 1960s, the Charger has become synonymous with American muscle, blending aggressive styling with powerful engines and straight-line performance. As the automotive industry transitions toward electrification and software-driven vehicle architectures, Dodge has chosen to modernize the Charger without abandoning the personality that made it iconic.
Built on Stellantis’ STLA Large multi-energy platform, the new Charger was designed from the beginning to support both battery-electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrains. This flexibility allows Dodge to offer two distinctly different driving experiences under a single model family while maintaining consistent styling, performance capability and emotional appeal.
According to Dodge, the new generation remains rooted in the brand’s “performance-first” identity, ensuring that regardless of powertrain choice, customers still receive a muscle car experience defined by acceleration, driver engagement and unmistakable road presence.
Dodge Charger Daytona: The Brand’s Electric Muscle Car Vision
Leading the next-generation lineup is the Dodge Charger Daytona, which Dodge describes as the world’s first all-electric muscle car. Designed to bring electric propulsion into the muscle-car segment without sacrificing excitement, the Charger Daytona introduces a high-performance battery-electric platform capable of delivering strong acceleration, all-wheel-drive traction and advanced digital functionality.
The Charger Daytona will be offered in Scat Pack and R/T trims, both powered by a 400-volt electric architecture paired with a 100.5 kWh battery pack. Standard all-wheel drive comes through a dual Electric Drive Module setup, with one motor mounted on each axle to provide immediate torque delivery and enhanced traction in a variety of driving conditions.
At the top of the lineup sits the Charger Daytona Scat Pack, which produces 500 kW, equivalent to approximately 670 horsepower. This version is engineered for maximum performance, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds and completing the quarter mile in an estimated 11.5 seconds. Dodge positions the Scat Pack as the quickest and most powerful all-wheel-drive muscle car in its segment, offering a level of acceleration that rivals some of the world’s leading high-performance vehicles.
For customers seeking a more accessible entry into electric muscle performance, Dodge also offers the Charger Daytona R/T. Producing 400 kW, or around 536 horsepower, the R/T variant reaches 60 mph in approximately 4.2 seconds and completes the quarter mile in about 12.4 seconds. While slightly less aggressive than the Scat Pack, the R/T still delivers substantial performance with a balance of power and everyday usability.
To further strengthen performance capability, Dodge offers an optional Track Package for the Charger Daytona Scat Pack. This package includes upgraded 16-inch Brembo brake rotors with fixed red calipers, staggered 20-inch wheels, adaptive damping suspension and the Drive eXperience Recorder, allowing drivers to capture and analyze performance data during track sessions.
Maintaining Driver Engagement in the EV Era
Dodge has worked to ensure that electrification does not diminish the emotional experience traditionally associated with muscle cars. The Charger Daytona incorporates several unique performance features aimed at preserving driver engagement.
One notable feature is PowerShot, activated through a dedicated steering-wheel button, which temporarily delivers an additional 40 horsepower to maximize acceleration during high-performance driving situations.
Dodge has also introduced the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system, a distinctive technology designed to create a performance-inspired sound experience for the electric Charger. Unlike traditional EVs known for silent operation, Dodge believes muscle cars should maintain an emotional soundtrack, making the Fratzonic system a defining characteristic of the Charger Daytona.
From a design perspective, the Charger Daytona introduces several visual differentiators, including the aerodynamic R-Wing front pass-through and illuminated Fratzog badging, modernizing the vehicle while maintaining a connection to Dodge heritage.
Fast charging capability also plays an important role in the Charger Daytona’s usability. Using DC fast charging at up to 350 kW, the battery can charge from 20% to 80% in approximately 27 minutes, depending on charging conditions. Additionally, a quick 10-minute charging session can add up to 110 kilometers of driving range, improving convenience for long-distance travel and daily commuting. Dodge also backs the battery system with an eight-year or 160,000-kilometer warranty.
Inside the cabin, Dodge combines performance-inspired ergonomics with premium comfort and technology. The Charger Daytona features a driver-centric cockpit that includes leather performance seats, heated and ventilated front seating, a heated flat-top and flat-bottom steering wheel, regenerative braking paddle shifters and a redesigned pistol-grip shifter.
Drivers can also personalize the cabin environment through the Attitude Adjustment lighting system, which offers 64 selectable interior color options.
SIXPACK-Powered Charger Keeps Traditional Muscle Alive
While Dodge is embracing electrification, it has not abandoned gasoline-powered performance. Alongside the Charger Daytona, the company is launching the SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger, preserving the combustion-powered muscle-car experience with an all-new engine configuration.
The gasoline-powered Charger uses Dodge’s 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbocharged inline-six engine and comes standard with all-wheel drive. Importantly, the system also features an on-demand rear-wheel-drive mode, enabling drivers to send full torque to the rear axle at the touch of a button for a more traditional muscle-car driving feel.
The SIXPACK Charger will also be offered in Scat Pack and R/T variants.
The high-performance Scat Pack version uses the High Output Hurricane engine to produce 550 horsepower, allowing the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 3.9 seconds while completing the quarter mile in 12.2 seconds.
Meanwhile, the R/T variant produces 420 horsepower and reaches 60 mph in roughly 4.6 seconds, completing the quarter mile in around 12.9 seconds. Dodge positions this model as a more affordable and balanced option that still retains the strong acceleration and emotional appeal associated with the Charger name.
The adoption of a twin-turbo inline-six represents a major engineering shift for Dodge, replacing traditional V8 configurations while maintaining the aggressive character expected from a muscle car. Dodge says the Hurricane engine delivers rapid throttle response, strong torque output and a sound profile intended to preserve the emotional excitement of traditional performance driving.
Performance Technologies Across Both Powertrains
Regardless of whether customers choose electric or gasoline power, Dodge has integrated several performance technologies intended to maintain the Charger’s driver-focused identity.
Multiple drive modes allow drivers to customize throttle response, steering feel and vehicle behavior depending on driving preferences and road conditions.
Performance-oriented features such as Launch Control and Line Lock reinforce the Charger’s drag-racing heritage. Launch Control provides repeatable standing starts with selectable levels of launch intensity, while Line Lock enables controlled rear-wheel engagement for burnouts and drag-strip preparation.
The Charger lineup also incorporates track-oriented functionality, particularly in higher-performance trims, allowing owners to explore straight-line acceleration, dynamic handling and circuit-focused driving.
Designed for European Expectations
For the European market, Dodge has tailored the Charger lineup with premium “Plus” trims aimed at combining performance, comfort and advanced technology.
Standard equipment includes 20-inch wheels with three-season tires, power-adjustable front seats, illuminated door handles, proximity wake-up technology and full-width LED lighting systems. Interior technology highlights include a wireless charging pad, a 16-inch digital instrument cluster, a Head-Up Display and a surround-view 360-degree camera system with tire-to-curb visibility.
Additional customization options include the Blacktop Package with dark styling elements, a fixed panoramic glass roof, Demonic Red performance seats and an 18-speaker Alpine Pro audio system.
Connectivity is supported through Dodge’s I-DUV system, which provides real-time vehicle monitoring, geofencing alerts, theft detection and EV-specific charging functions for electric models.
The new Charger also features a broad suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including Blind Spot Detection, Traffic Sign Recognition, Automatic Emergency Braking, Drowsy Driver Detection and Level 2 Assisted Driving capabilities.
Fabio Catone, Head of Brand for Dodge in Europe, said the next-generation Charger successfully preserves Dodge’s performance identity while embracing the future of mobility.
According to Catone, the Charger enters a new era without losing the performance, emotion and attitude that have defined it for decades, while giving European customers the flexibility to choose the powertrain that best suits their preferences.
European Orders Open as Deliveries Near
European customers can now place orders for both the Dodge Charger Daytona and the SIXPACK-powered Charger through Dodge’s official European importer, KWA, and its dealer network.
To mark the launch, buyers of the new Charger will receive a letter of authenticity signed by Dodge CEO Matt McAlear, certifying the vehicle as an officially imported European model. Customers will also receive an exclusive welcome kit celebrating the beginning of their ownership experience.
Additionally, Dodge is introducing launch-phase incentives for Charger Daytona buyers, including special pricing for home charging equipment and installation services through Free2move.
Pricing for the next-generation Dodge Charger in Europe starts at €66,000, with first customer deliveries expected to begin in September 2026.
As Dodge celebrates 60 years of Charger heritage, the introduction of the next-generation model demonstrates how the iconic muscle car is evolving to meet changing market demands while preserving the spirit that made it a legend. Whether powered by electricity or gasoline, the new Charger aims to prove that muscle performance can continue thriving in an era defined by technological transformation.
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