Here Is What We Know About The 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona, So Far…

There has been a lot of mixed emotions about Dodge’s upcoming all-electric Charger Daytona. Many Dodge fans have been questioning the move away from conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in favor of an electric vehicle (EV) lineup. But as we are exactly two weeks out of the two-door Charger Daytona’s official reveal, we thought we would go over what we know and the rumors surrounding Dodge’s new e-muscle car.

Styling – 

First shown at the Dodge Speed Week event back in August of 2022, the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Banshee Concept set the tone for the production two-door model we are about to see on March 5th. The new Charger Daytona design blends some of the best elements of the 1966 to 1967 Dodge Charger with heavy cues from the 1968 to 1970 Charger models.

Since the debut of the modern-day Charger in 2005 (as a 2006 model), fans have been asking Dodge to bring back a two-door model of the Charger, and that is exactly what they have done for 2025. Gone is the retro-styled Challenger, in favor of a new bold Charger-based two-door.

The front of the Charger Daytona blends the grille design of a 1969 Dodge Charger with some elements from the 1966 models. As EVs don’t need much cooling compared to their ICE counterparts, Dodge continues to have a lower functional grille, which will allow air to cool the front e-motor and the car’s new battery pack. Instead of a traditional grille up high, Dodge has designed what they call the “R-Wing.” Named after Ralph Gilles, the Head of Stellantis Design, the R-Wing allows air to enter where a conventional grille would be and then moves over a shortened hood, which will also act as a frunk or front trunk on the EV models. It has yet to be proven if the R-Wing properly helps with aerodynamics, however, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis did say that the Charger Daytona is expected to be 25% better than the outgoing car.

Looking at the side profile of the car, we can see the classic Dodge “Coke” bottle shape is there underneath the greenhouse. But what caught our eye was the lack of door scallops, a common Charger cue that is even on the current car. Apart from the concept car, the production models will get side marker lights similar to the current car blended into the wheel arches and much larger side mirrors.

The car’s rear gives off a whole 2011 to 2014 Dodge Charger vibe. The squared-off rear with the next-generation signature race track LED taillights looks very similar to those four years of the Charger sedan. Even the rear window has about the same side protrusion as the outgoing car, mimicking that famous Charger “buttress” rear window design from 1968 to 1970.

The new Charger Daytona also introduces a rear hatchback design. After seeing it up close on the concept, the hatchback design opens up the rear for easier access to the cargo area. I can see that it would be a lot more beneficial than the current car’s difficult trunk opening to fit larger items inside the vehicle. The best thing about it is that the design staff did not make the car look like a hatchback. With the rear down, it still looks like a traditional car.

Interior – 

It is expected that the Charger Daytona will carry over the overall design of the instrument panel (I/P) from the concept. The I/P gives the car a very wide look inside, due to a lot of horizontal shapes that include a massive 16-inch curved instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch center screen. The layout reminds us of the new 2024 Ford Mustang GT, with more tablet-like screens rather than being housed in the I/P itself.

A swept line runs atop the I/P and features red ambient lighting with metal accents; we expect that to be carried over as well. On the passenger side of the concept, that line features a metal text in the trim saying “Daytona” and is backlit by that red ambient lighting. Dodge calls their newest adaption of it Ambient Attitude Adjustment Lighting™, which illuminates texture from below, playing with depth and dimension. We wouldn’t be surprised if that detail also shows up on the production model.

There will continue to be a physical turn signal stalk where you would find it in a standard ICE car; the console shifter isn’t a rotary dial or push button, and the center stack features redundant physical buttons. There is none of that only a center-mounted touchscreen to control everything; you don’t have to swipe the screen to go into drive like the new Chrysler Halcyon Concept, and there is an actual gear shifter that features pistol-grip shifter-like looks to it.

Located on the center console of the concept is a power button instead of a push-to-start button. The car is said to not come with a traditional key; instead, an app can be installed on your phone to allow you to enter, start, and shut off the vehicle.

To help open up the interior, there will be an optional panoramic glass roof. We have seen this option on an early prototype testing in Metro Detroit.

While the concept featured a four-passenger layout with a center console that ran between both rows of seats, we believe a more conventional bench seat layout in the back will make it to production. Those rear seats are expected to fold completely flat, allowing the driver to have more interior cargo room than ever thanks to the new hatchback design.

Trims – 

When the Dodge Charger Daytona is revealed, Dodge will more than likely show off just its new 400-volt variant. The high-performance Charger Daytona SRT Banshee, featuring an 800-volt electrical architecture, isn’t scheduled to start production until early 2025, according to our sources.

Instead, the Dodge Charger Daytona will be introduced with three trim levels with two different outputs, our sources say. The Charger Daytona GT will be the entry-level model; it is expected to produce 340 kW (455 horsepower) from a dual e-motor setup. That car should feature a more budget-friendly interior with cloth seats and a smaller 10.25-inch touchscreen, all to keep the cost of the Charger Daytona down.

A second model will be the Charger Daytona R/T. This model should use the same powertrain layout but feature a more luxurious interior with leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a bigger touchscreen, better materials, and even a sporty exterior with the addition of a standard rear spoiler.

A third model for the 400-volt option will be the Charger Daytona Scat Pack. The new Scat Pack model will also receive a dual e-motor setup but will instead feature 440 kW (590 horsepower). So yes, all Charger Daytona models will feature all-wheel-drive (AWD) as standard equipment. The Scat Pack model should offer both cloth and leather interior options, the bigger 12.3-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen allowing the driver to see the latest Performance Pages, a more sporty steering wheel design, and a more bolstered seat design.

Keep in mind, this is just what our sources have been telling us and things could change. But overall, expect that the Charger Daytona lineup follows the same kind of pattern that the outgoing car had.

Direct Connection eStage Upgrades – 

For those who are looking for more power, Direct Connection will offer eStage upgrade kits for both the 340 and 440 powertrains. While the 340 produces 340 kW (455 horsepower), Direct Connection eStage kits can push that powertrain up to 400 kW (535 horsepower) with an eStage 2 upgrade. Charger Daytona 440 owners can upgrade their car from 440 kW (590 horsepower) to 500 kW (670 horsepower) with an eStage 2 upgrade.

These kits can be ordered at delivery or throughout the vehicle’s lifespan. Each of the 400-volt eStage kits is rated as follows according to Dodge:

• 340 Base – 340 kW or 455 horsepower
  • Direct Connection eStage 1 Upgrade – 370 kW or 495 horsepower
  • Direct Connection eStage 2 Upgrade – 400 kW or 535 horsepower
• 440 Base – 440 kW or 590 horsepower
  • Direct Connection eStage 1 Upgrade – 470 kW or 630 horsepower
  • Direct Connection eStage 2 Upgrade – 500 kW or 670 horsepower

Each eStage upgrade will come with specified badging for the front quarter-panel of the car, highlighting the kW output, a special “crystal” designated to that car which unlocks that output (think of it as a Red keyfob from the HELLCATs), and a dealer-installed tune that unlocks the desired performance for the customer.

Color Palette – 

Dodge has always strongly emphasized exterior colors, and it seems they’re keeping this tradition alive for the debut year of the new Charger. Over the last two decades, Dodge has revived several high-impact colors from its iconic 1960s and 1970s muscle cars while introducing new ones that have become iconic in their own right.

According to our sources, eight main exterior colors will be available for the first year of production of the new Charger. Among these, four are returning classics: White Knuckle (PW7), Pitch Black (PX8), Destroyer Gray (PDN), and Triple Nickel (PSE). The four additional hues include Vapor Gray (PAS), Redeye (PR6), After Dark (PPS), and Peel Out (PL4).

In another interesting development, our sources indicate Dodge plans to offer only a black interior color for the first production year of its next-generation Charger.

It’s worth noting that Dodge is likely to unveil limited-edition colors throughout the year in addition to these new mainstream options.

Four-Door Model – 

A four-door model is expected to join the lineup after the launch of the new two-door model. However, our sources expect that model not to reach dealer showrooms until the second quarter of 2025. So for those of you who are holding out for a four-door model of the new Charger Daytona, you can expect to hold out for a while longer.

The four-door is expected to have a slightly longer wheelbase but should be virtually identical to the two-door from the A-pillar forward.

With the reveal only two weeks out, it will be interesting to see if Dodge’s new two-door Charger Daytona has enough pull to persuade Dodge fans to move to electric, given that a lot of them feel that Stellantis-controlled Dodge has lost touch with what the North American market wants in a product.

Be sure to continue to check out MoparInsiders.com, leading up to the March 5th reveal for the latest Charger Daytona news, rumors, and information.