Car and Driver Outruns HELLCAT Redeye with Daytona Scat Pack

It's obvious the car has the performance it needs to compete in the segments it competes in. That's a given. Being that Dodge is touting this as an electric "muscle car" being great in a straight line is what the car is meant to do. My thoughts on this car remain that once the car has the semi-solid state batteries which are lighter and offer more energy and Stellantis finally gives this thing a 3-speed gear box, this car will truly be that much more amazing and with better programing, it will offer alot of the drama that a Hellcat would give and then some. This car can outrun a redeye, even if it's less than a second, that still means this car punches right there with one of the most powerful muscle cars Dodge has ever created. That's nothing to complain about in any way shape or form and this isn't even the "SRT" version. I look at this car like I look at the 06-10 Chargers. The 5.7L had like 340hp when it first hit the streets under the Charger's hood. The SRT had 425hp and like 420lb-ft of torque and that was saying something back then and all of them were running the 5-speed NAG-1. Once Dodge gets the hang of this EV performance realm, its game over for everyone else. Between this and the Hurricane powered cars, the Charger is going to be a legitimate monster and if they offer Hurricane Hybrids with that new Gen-4 ZF transmission, Dodge will effectively make everything from the last gen look slow.

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It's obvious the car has the performance it needs to compete in the segments it competes in. That's a given. Being that Dodge is touting this as an electric "muscle car" being great in a straight line is what the car is meant to do. My thoughts on this car remain that once the car has the semi-solid state batteries which are lighter and offer more energy and Stellantis finally gives this thing a 3-speed gear box, this car will truly be that much more amazing and with better programing, it will offer alot of the drama that a Hellcat would give and then some. This car can outrun a redeye, even if it's less than a second, that still means this car punches right there with one of the most powerful muscle cars Dodge has ever created. That's nothing to complain about in any way shape or form and this isn't even the "SRT" version. I look at this car like I look at the 06-10 Chargers. The 5.7L had like 340hp when it first hit the streets under the Charger's hood. The SRT had 425hp and like 420lb-ft of torque and that was saying something back then and all of them were running the 5-speed NAG-1. Once Dodge gets the hang of this EV performance realm, its game over for everyone else. Between this and the Hurricane powered cars, the Charger is going to be a legitimate monster and if they offer Hurricane Hybrids with that new Gen-4 ZF transmission, Dodge will effectively make everything from the last gen look slow.

I think you make a strong case and hope it turns the way you predict. I have stated the opinion that Charger has a real possibility of establishing a niche in the electric car segment as a stand out performer many in that niche might consider. Only problems that surface are the segment is very small, the development you note might take too much time to give momentum to the Daytona. If this article is intended to get hard core Dodge fans into an electric Charger, sorry it will not.

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I think you make a strong case and hope it turns the way you predict. I have stated the opinion that Charger has a real possibility of establishing a niche in the electric car segment as a stand out performer many in that niche might consider. Only problems that surface are the segment is very small, the development you note might take too much time to give momentum to the Daytona. If this article is intended to get hard core Dodge fans into an electric Charger, sorry it will not.

I don't think the daytona was ever meant for the group of hard core dodge enthusiasts to be perfectly honest. Beyond just being a compliance vehicle for the epa, I feel this vehicle is more or less targeted for a crowd with a different mindset. The daytona is more for the crowd that doesn't look at it as "what it should be" based off tradition, this car is more for the crowd that looks at it and thinks "what it could be." It's designed for the programmers, the modern age upcoming kids that always have their phones in their hands with the slim athletic stretch fit suits and all of that. The preppy ones that still want to have an rebellious edge and don't want a Tesla. This is for them. The ones that don't want to get their hands dirty. The Charger Daytona is for them. It's why I say the Charger is set to bridge the gap between a broad range of Mopar fans and bring in a new aspect to the brotherhood of muscle. I think this car could truly have all kinds of different powertrains from EV to Hurricane and Hurricane Hybrids. The same with the rest of the STLA Large lineup. I think that Dodge can have an amazing lineup that covers all of us along with Jeep and Ram and if they can balance all of that out, I would love to see a next gen hellephant viper lineup in a practical size awd two seater sports coupe to compete with the vette. But that's my thoughts

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I don't think the daytona was ever meant for the group of hard core dodge enthusiasts to be perfectly honest. Beyond just being a compliance vehicle for the epa, I feel this vehicle is more or less targeted for a crowd with a different mindset. The daytona is more for the crowd that doesn't look at it as "what it should be" based off tradition, this car is more for the crowd that looks at it and thinks "what it could be." It's designed for the programmers, the modern age upcoming kids that always have their phones in their hands with the slim athletic stretch fit suits and all of that. The preppy ones that still want to have a rebellious edge and don't want a Tesla. This is for them. The ones that don't want to get their hands dirty. The Charger Daytona is for them. It's why I say the Charger is set to bridge the gap between a broad range of Mopar fans and bring in a new aspect to the brotherhood of muscle. I think this car could truly have all kinds of different powertrains from EV to Hurricane and Hurricane Hybrids. The same with the rest of the STLA Large lineup. I think that Dodge can have an amazing lineup that covers all of us along with Jeep and Ram and if they can balance all of that out, I would love to see a next gen hellephant viper lineup in a practical size awd two seater sports coupe to compete with the vette. But that's my thoughts

Unless I’m reading things into your intuitive post, we agree significantly. Indeed the Charger is an elegant performance car, intended for a more refined and mature audience. The BMW or Mercedes AMG crowd.
I drove a BMW 340i coupe for a few weeks and it fit neatly into my Challenger driving size and feel. Its interior materials were better, but the Dodge is faster, more raw around the edges and more aggressive in execution and style. In a survey from BMW I responded that I thought the Challenger was the better all around, more satisfying vehicle. But I bought the Dodge as a modern day “muscle car”. The demographic the Charger is focused on, we agree here, probably would have chosen the more prestigious BMW.
I agree, Dodge needs a Challenger replacement that is more aggressive, V-8 optioned, that modern muscle car that buyers who are now successful or those moving up the latter of success, that those motor heads types want, those like me, who put Mopar performance ahead of faux prestige. Look at it in my eyes: Level 1- Avenger compact coupe with Hurricane four. Level 2- Dodge Challenger with V-8, AWD. Level 3- Dodge Charger Six Pack AWD and Daytona. Level 4- Viper, a mid engine Corvette rival Clearly we have a kind of Dodge performance car path forward for everyone. Do we still agree ?

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Unless I’m reading things into your intuitive post, we agree significantly. Indeed the Charger is an elegant performance car, intended for a more refined and mature audience. The BMW or Mercedes AMG crowd.
I drove a BMW 340i coupe for a few weeks and it fit neatly into my Challenger driving size and feel. Its interior materials were better, but the Dodge is faster, more raw around the edges and more aggressive in execution and style. In a survey from BMW I responded that I thought the Challenger was the better all around, more satisfying vehicle. But I bought the Dodge as a modern day “muscle car”. The demographic the Charger is focused on, we agree here, probably would have chosen the more prestigious BMW.
I agree, Dodge needs a Challenger replacement that is more aggressive, V-8 optioned, that modern muscle car that buyers who are now successful or those moving up the latter of success, that those motor heads types want, those like me, who put Mopar performance ahead of faux prestige. Look at it in my eyes: Level 1- Avenger compact coupe with Hurricane four. Level 2- Dodge Challenger with V-8, AWD. Level 3- Dodge Charger Six Pack AWD and Daytona. Level 4- Viper, a mid engine Corvette rival Clearly we have a kind of Dodge performance car path forward for everyone. Do we still agree ?

Nearly 100%! I would love for the Dart name to be brought back but this time, they do it right.

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