Now that production of the popular Dodge Charger and Challenger muscle cars has ended, Dodge fans have been waiting for something to get excited about. The community was teased in August of 2022 when the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Banshee Concept was shown during the Dodge Speed Week event.

Since then, the concept has been shown at a few auto shows, but not much new information came to light until mid-October of 2023. Photos of a production-ready Charger body in white were leaked, presumably from somewhere in the body shop at the Windsor Assembly plant. 

While these photos didn’t reveal a lot, you get a better look at the car’s proportions and see that the b-pillarless design of the concept would not make production.

This morning, Dodge surprised everyone by releasing dark photos of a pre-production Dodge Charger Daytona. These photos are intentionally dark to help hide design cues and look like they were at a lot outside of the Windsor Assembly Plant, where the new Charger is being built. 

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These photos have already created quite a stir in the few hours since they have been released, but let’s take a closer look and talk about what we know. We have also lightened the photos up to get a better look.

The 400-Volt Architecture:

Before we begin, it is essential to note that the concept vehicle was in top-of-the-line 800-volt Banshee trim, while this pre-production model is a 400-volt version, so we expect some changes from what we are seeing compared to the upcoming Banshee model. While we are talking powertrains, this is what is expected of the 400-volt architecture. 

The entry-level version, the Dodge Charger Daytona 340, derives its name from its power output—340 kilowatts (kW), equivalent to 456 horsepower. A more potent Charger Daytona 440 will be the next choice for those seeking even more power, producing 440 kW (590 horsepower) on the 400-volt architecture. Both trims will be open to further upgrades to eStage 1 at 370 kW (495 horsepower) and 470 kW (630 horsepower) and eStage 2 at 400 kW (535 horsepower) and 500 kW (670 horsepower) with Mopar’s Direct Connection catalog and a new set of unique “Crystals” coded from Direct Connection to unlock the full potential of the car’s electrical propulsion systems.

The Teaser Shots:

This front shot shows us that the R-wing front end and the lighted Fratzog logo will make production. An LED lightbar runs from the sides of the LED headlights and wraps along the bottom of the R-wing opening. The production car will have an opening hood, but it opens behind the R-wing “grille” and front fascia. We do not yet know if there will be a “frunk” with storage or whether the hood will open just for serviceable items. 

The front bumper features a large horizontal intake housing Stellantis’ new ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Sensor) module. Each side also features a vertical intake, and we don’t currently know whether any of these intakes are functional for battery cooling or just for show. There are front parking sensors and an integrated lip as part of the front bumper as well.

This angled front shot gives us another look, showing us the car’s wide hips that run from a cut line at the front of the door and carry into the top of the rear fascia. The rear fenders also appear to flare out quite a bit, giving the new Charger a wide stance. A staggered tire setup could be in the cards, with one of our sources claiming that the base car will ride on a 305-section width rear tire, and the rear tire does look quite wide in this shot. The fronts appear to be narrower, although we aren’t sure about the width as of yet. There is also a possibility this car is running a staggered wheel size as it looks like this could be on a 20-inch front wheel and 21-inch rear wheel, although that could just be a visual trick due to the angle. 

Along the side, you can see much larger side view mirrors than the concept vehicle and a different style door handle that I would guess is on an electric release.

The rear 3/4 view shot shows us a lot as well. Immediately noticeable is the “fuel door” on the driver’s rear quarter panel; for the EV cars, this will hold the charge port, while for the Hurricane-powered cars, this will be a traditional fuel door. This view also affords us another look at the rear “hips” that widen throughout the front door and under the rear quarter window and C-pillar, terminating at the rear fascia. The Daytona insignia is embossed in the rear bumper between the reflectors; our sources say all the EV cars will carry the Daytona insignia, while Hurricane-powered models will not. You can see the rear diffuser with long stakes on each side to help direct and clean up airflow around the rear of the car. 

There are also more vents on each side of the rear bumper, along with a wide area to mount a license plate, which makes us wonder if this car will be sold in markets other than just North America. The rear hatch (yes, it will be a hatchback) appears to not be closed all the way, as a red cord is hanging out the back. Full-width taillights are featured around the back with two clear lenses on each corner (one on the fixed part of the taillight and one on the opening part attached to the hatch). We also expect a red, lighted Fratzog logo to be integrated into the center of the rear light bar.

Conclusion:

While there isn’t much else that we can learn from these photos yet, it is the best look we have had at the next-generation Charger. Dodge claims availability in late 2024, leading us to believe they will completely skip the 2024 model year and launch the new Charger as a 2025 model. Fans waiting for the Hurricane-powered Charger will still have a bit of a wait as our sources say the launch staggering will be 400-volt two-door models first, 800-volt two-door models second, four-door models launching third, and then Hurricane-powered models coming last. 

We will have much more to tell you about the new Dodge Charger soon, so make sure to stay tuned to MoparInsiders for updates!

Dodge Charger Daytona Image Gallery:

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