Dodge is still playing defense for the all-electric Charger Daytona as it reaches dealerships. Missing important muscle car features like line lock on what Dodge is trying to convince everyone is a muscle car isn’t helping. Standing burnouts are one of the ways muscle car owners can flex the power under their right foot, and line lock is the cheat code. It’s a system that closes off the brake circuit to lock the wheels at the vehicle’s non-drive end so it can be held stationary while the drive wheels spin up and start burning rubber through friction. It’s neither a complex nor particularly expensive device to manufacture or install, so it’s possible an aftermarket solution will arrive before 2026.
Dodge
Like many automakers, Dodge evolved from being a machine shop that supplied parts and assemblies in the early 1900s to a fully-fledged automaker. The Dodge brothers started building cars in 1914 under the ‘Dodge Brothers’ brand – the company was sold to Chrysler in 1928, originally producing trucks, full-sized passenger cars and compact cars. These days, the brand is known for performance cars like the iconic Charger and Challenger, sold under the Stellantis banner.
- Founded
- December 14, 1900
- Founder
- John Francis Dodge & Horace Elgin Dodge
- Headquarters
- Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.A
- Owned By
- Stellantis North America
- Current CEO
- Carlos Tavares
Line Lock Arrives With The Charger SRT Version
We know line lock will arrive with the SRT version of the Charger EV in 2026 thanks to Motor1, which spoke with Dodge CEO Matt McAlear at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. However, McAlear wouldn’t explain why the line lock feature is delayed, and it’s not clear if it will be an SRT-only feature, but told the publication: “This is a vehicle that truly doesn’t come through over the internet. You have to get behind the wheel.”
Add CarBuzz to your Google News feed.
The all-electric Charger arrives before the gas version, dubbed the Charger Sixpack, which will come with GM’s Hurricane twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six engine tuned for either 420 or 550 horsepower. However, the Daytona Scat Pack Charger EV will be the most powerful variant with its 670 horsepower and 627 pound-feet, at least for now. Dodge is already teasing a Banshee version making around 900 hp – considerably more than the Charger Hellcat Redeye variant and its Supercharged V8 churning out 797 hp. It’s likely the SRT will make more power as well.
Related
Dodge Charger Daytonas Are Hitting Dealer Lots At Varying Prices
Dealers can also still take orders. Some dealers are also, of course, marking up prices, but some are offering discounts, too.
The Reverse Launch Strategy
The last generation of Charger launched with its lesser power models first, and worked up to the level of bananas with the Hellcat variants. Seemingly, Dodge was in a rush to get the electric Charger out before the combustion versions, and that’s a decision it may regret. Electric car adoption deteriorated in the US through 2024 and the incoming presidential administration is determined to prop up the oil companies, which means doing its best to scupper the adoption of alternative fuels in general, and EVs specifically.
The good news is that the Charger’s V6 Hurricane engines will be twin-turbo and capable of being truly vicious engines. We saw what Dodge could do with a V8 and a supercharger, and 420- or 550-hp variants out of the gate is a strong start. The outgoing Chargers regular Hemi V8 makes 370 hp, a full 50 hp less than the entry Hurricane V6. Once the combustion Charger reaches the market, Dodge will have options about which car to focus its ability to create insane power on.
Source:
Motor1
News Summary:
- The Charger Daytona Won’t Be Able To Do a Burnout Until 2026
- Check all news and articles from the latest Tech updates.
- Please Subscribe us at Google News.