Latest news with #ChargerDaytona
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Trump's Tariffs Claim Another Victim: 2026 Dodge Hornet Production Postponed
Production of the 2026 is being postponed, as first reported by and confirmed to by Stellantis. The Hornet, including the , is built in Italy alongside the and therefore hit with a 25 percent import tariff. Dodge wouldn't confirm whether any 2026 Hornets will be built or if the will skip the 2026 model year. Things aren't looking great for the Dodge Hornet. The compact SUV, which arrived for the 2023 model year, managed to move 20,559 units in 2024, but sales took a nosedive in the second quarter of this year. Now, it seems that the Hornet's future is up in the air. Dodge is delaying production of the 2026 model as a result of the Trump administration's recently imposed tariffs on imported cars, as first reported by Automotive News. A Stellantis spokesperson confirmed the postponement to Car and Driver, stating that production of the Dodge Hornet "is postponed for the 2026 model year as we continue to assess the effects of U.S. tariff policies." The Hornet is currently built at a factory in Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy, alongside the mechanically related Alfa Romeo Tonale, and is therefore subject to a 25 percent import tariff. Stellantis did not confirm whether this meant that the Hornet would skip the 2026 model year entirely or if there is a possibility that a run of 2026 Hornets will be assembled later. Dodge sold 4108 Hornets in the first quarter of this year, down from 7419 in the first quarter of 2024. But sales really suffered in the second quarter, with just 1539 Hornets finding homes, down 64 percent from the same period the year before, when Dodge sold 4299 Hornets. Through the first half of this year, Hornet sales are down 52 percent year-over-year, although it is still the second-bestselling Dodge, as the electric Charger Daytona has struggled to take off; the Challenger was discontinued after 2023, and the gas-powered Charger Sixpack has yet to arrive to replace the previous combustion-engined Charger. The Hornet also isn't the first Dodge to face tariff-related challenges, with Dodge reducing the Charger Daytona lineup to just the Scat Pack, dropping the base R/T model for 2026 as sales of the Canada-built electric muscle car remain slow. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
Miami Herald
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Ford and Chevy Should Be Worried About the Return of SRT
The recent announcement of the return of the Dodge SRT (Street and Racing Technology) division is big news for muscle car lovers. The sub-brand was once known for infusing its vehicles with nuclear levels of power. Case in point is the drag strip-ready yet still street-legal Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, which could launch from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 1.66 seconds and housed a supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 engine good for 1,025 horsepower. No other American carmaker was doing anything close. SRT and the legendary HEMI V8 are both making a comeback, and they're just what the ICE doctor ordered. Ford and Chevy should be paying close attention-because Dodge might be about to rewrite the rulebook again. SRT's storied past emerged back in the '90s with the Dodge Viper RT/10. SRT-powered models were given badging indicative of the cylinder count, as well as notifying bystanders that SRT-badged vehicles were meant to dominate both the street and the track. The Dodge Neon SRT-4, Chrysler 300 SRT-8, and the Viper SRT-10 were some of the brand's best examples in the division's earliest years. In 2012, Chrysler sought to turn SRT into a standalone brand. The 2013-2014 SRT Viper was its first model. Its 8.4-liter V10 engine churned out 640 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. 0-60 happened in 3.5 seconds, and the SRT Viper topped out at 206 mph, further cementing SRT's place in performance car history. More recent models under the SRT name included the 2006 Charger SRT8 (425 hp), the 2015 Challenger SRT Hellcat (707 hp), and the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk (707 hp). These vehicles weren't just fast-they were otherworldly. Nobody was doing muscle the way SRT was. When Ford released the 760-hp Mustang GT500 and Chevy made the 650-hp Camaro ZL1, SRT fired back with a 797-hp Challenger Redeye. Then, in 2023, came the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, a car that was powered by a modified 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8 engine, producing 1,025 horsepower on E85 fuel and 945 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 mph took a record 1.66 seconds, and the car crushed the quarter-mile in 8.91 seconds at 151.17 mph. All this, and it was street legal, too. SRT was upping its own game and rewriting the rules of the power wars. Following the demise of SRT, Stellantis showed the world the future of muscle cars with the all-electric Charger Daytona in May of 2025. Not only did the new Charger Daytona look the part of the next-gen Charger, but it also boasted a radical simulated exhaust system known as the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust. It had all the promise of muscle car style along with performance to match. The Charger Daytona arrived in two trims: a Scat Pack boasting 670 horsepower and a Daytona R/T model good for 496 horsepower. Sadly, not many customers went for it. In response, Dodge slashed prices and then decided to kill off the entry-level Daytona R/T for 2026. It turns out muscle car lovers don't really like electric power, regardless of how quick the car might be. Early dealer reports show units sitting on lots, with buyers hesitant to pay $60K–$70K for what feels like a less alive version of the muscle cars they grew up loving. Dodge's fan base has always craved drama: roaring V8s, tire smoke, and straight-line irresponsible speed. So far, the Daytona EV hasn't delivered that in the way Dodge's customers wanted. Whether or not the slowdown of the electrification tsunami played a part might not even be material. More than bad timing, the switch to an electric Dodge muscle car was a bad decision. When SRT-powered ICE cars disappeared (the current Dodge Durango SRT is the only vehicle remaining), lovers of their products lamented the loss of some of the coolest street rods of the modern era. Everyone was moving toward electrification, and Stellantis did not want to get left behind. It took less than a year for things to go south for Stellantis and their foray into electric muscle. In a surprising turn of events, insider reports and engineering leaks suggest that Stellantis may be reversing course, at least partially. Sources within supplier networks and Mopar tuning circles have revealed that new, gas-powered V8 development is underway, and not just for legacy support or crate engine sales. The focus? A new-generation 6.6-liter and potentially revised 6.4-liter naturally aspirated and supercharged HEMIs, likely to appear in limited-production or retro-inspired Dodge vehicles wearing SRT badges. That's where the return of SRT-tuned gas models and HEMI-powered variants could flip the narrative. It gives Dodge a second swing at keeping its muscle car image alive without fully abandoning internal combustion-and that's something Ford and Chevy might not be prepared for. Ford has wisely stayed with gas power for its iconic Mustang. The Mustang GT and Dark Horse are legitimate high performers, and the F-150 Raptor R proves they haven't abandoned V8 power for their off-road beast either. While it may be moving toward electrification, Stellantis' EV move for its Charger Daytona is likely to dampen any electric Mustang the brand was considering in the near future, potentially opening the door to a hybrid Mustang instead. If Dodge relaunches even a limited-run V8-powered SRT lineup, Ford may suddenly look cautious and conservative by comparison. Imagine Dodge dropping a next-gen Challenger with a supercharged HEMI under the hood, a six-speed manual, and a 0–60 time under 3.5 seconds. That could steal headlines-and buyers-from even the most powerful pony cars Ford still has left. And, no, the 850-hp Mustang GTD doesn't count in this battle because it costs an insane $328,000. The good news is that the next-generation Mustang GT500 has already been seen testing, purportedly with a "Legend" supercharged V8 that will likely exceed the 760-hp output of the last one. Ford will need everything it can muster if SRT makes its return the way we think it will. Chevy is in a tougher spot than Ford now that the Camaro is no more, and while a rumored electric replacement is in development, there's no official timeline. Again, the Charger Daytona's lackluster sales might be the shot across the bow that Chevy heeds as it thinks about its performance future. It's more likely that the next electric Camaro will be an SUV, copying the path of Ford's successful Mustang Mach-E. That leaves Chevy's only true performance car as the Corvette-and while the Stingray, Z06, and ZR1 are incredible, they're not muscle cars, especially since the Corvette's 8th-generation has a mid-engine layout. If Dodge revives HEMI V8-powered Chargers and Challengers and puts them in a $55,000–$75,000 street bruiser with SRT DNA, Chevy won't have an immediate answer. In other words, while Dodge may reenter the muscle game with V8 guns blazing, Chevy's performance portfolio has a big 'ol muscle-shaped hole in it. Even if it's not exactly profitable for a gas-powered Camaro to make a return, the statement a next-gen Camaro ZL1 or Z/28 could make would be impactful in the segment. Yes, horsepower wars are real, but at the end of the day, it's about the visceral sound and feel of a rear-wheel drive monster with a V8 engine rumbling under the hood. Nobody buys a gas-powered, raucous muscle car as a daily commuter car. They buy it because it's infused with history and passion. The real danger in SRT's and the HEMI's return isn't just specs-it's the spirit of what gets muscle car lovers going. In an era where performance is being redefined by batteries and software, SRT and the HEMI V8 represent something raw and very American: unfiltered, mechanical, emotional driving. Stellantis has figured out the hard way that people don't just buy Dodge muscle cars because they're fast-they buy them because they make them feel alive in a way electric propulsion can't. The roar of a HEMI, the smell of burning rubber, the unapologetically angry design language-that's what Dodge customers crave. If Stellantis brings that back, even in small volumes, it'll be resounding in a dying segment. Ford and Chevy should be concerned now that SRT and its HEMI V8 are returning to take back the muscle car crown. While Ford and GM might be hedging their bets on electric futures, Dodge appears to be revisiting its storied street rods in a way the world might not be prepared for. Whether it's a limited-edition HEMI throwback or a new-age Challenger with 800 horsepower and no regard for anyone's eardrums, SRT won't be playing around. Is the electric Challenger Daytona dead? No, but it will certainly have some noisy stablemates to keep it company. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Car and Driver
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Dodge Charger EVs Aren't Loud Enough to Alert Pedestrians: Recall
Dodge is recalling 8390 Charger Daytona EVs because some are not emitting a legally required exterior sound. The recall affects 2024–2025 Charger Daytona coupes, which can be fixed with a dealer-installed software update. While Dodge dealers have already been notified, owners are expected to be contacted by July 10. The electric Dodge Charger Daytona's big party trick is its Fratzonic "exhaust" system, which is essentially an external noisemaker. It's designed to trigger the same auditory sensations as a gas-powered muscle car, but the success of that effect is debatable. Either way, 8390 copies of the two-door Charger EVs that are roaming the streets are being recalled because some of them might not meet the legal threshold for how loud an EV must be. This is important to help alert pedestrians and even other drivers. The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) requires that hybrids and electric vehicles meet a certain sound level and have sound characteristics. View Interior Photos James Lipman | Car and Driver According to a recall report that was submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on June 12, 2025, the amplifiers that make the exterior sound may have incomplete software, which is the reason for the recall. This affects certain 2024 to 2025 Charger Daytona coupes, as they don't meet the FVSS's required "2-band alert" and "relative volume change." As part of the voluntary recall, the automaker says it will inspect all affected models and update the amplifier software, if necessary. Dodge dealers have already been notified, and owners should be contacted by July 10. Eric Stafford Managing Editor, News Eric Stafford's automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual '97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a '90 Honda CRX Si. Read full bio
Motor 1
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Dodge Recalls Charger EV Because It Isn't Legally Noisy Enough
Electric vehicles are much quieter than combustion-powered cars. However, they're not supposed to be totally silent. Federal law requires EVs to emit a sound for pedestrians and other drivers, but it seems Dodge might have produced a number of Charger Daytonas with amplifiers that fail to make any sound at all. The recall affects 8,390 2024-2025 Charger Daytona models. According to the recall notice, Dodge built the vehicles between April 30, 2024, and March 18, 2025, with amps that might have an 'incomplete software upload, which may prevent the emission of exterior sound.' Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 This sound, in theory, should be totally separate from the car's standard " Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust ," which uses speakers mounted in the rear bumper to replicate the sound of a rumbly V-8 engine. Even with that feature switched off, the Charger is still legally required to make a sound of some kind at lower speeds. The automaker began investigating the problem on April 17, meeting with engineers and the supplier while reviewing warranty data, field records, and customer assistance records. It decided to issue a voluntary recall for the affected vehicles on June 6. Dodge will begin notifying affected owners around July 10, as their vehicles might fail to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The dealer will inspect the vehicle and update the amplifier's software if it fails to make a sound. Check Out More Dodge Charger Daytona EV News: 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona EV: Pros & Cons Dodge Charger EV Owners Are Reporting Unintended Acceleration Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Motor 1
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
2025 Dodge Charger Daytona EV: Pros & Cons
This isn't your granddad's Dodge Charger. Though it may look somewhat like the Chargers and Challengers of old, the 2025 Charger Daytona Scat Pack is an entirely new thing, with a fully revamped interior and a fully electric powertrain. A Charger without a V-8 might sound like heresy, but this car is still charming in a number of ways. Unfortunately, the electric Charger becomes less charming when you see the price tag. With an as-tested sticker of nearly $80,000, it's far more expensive than the last-generation car. Factor in the weak range and the clunky infotainment system, and even the quickest Charger EV becomes a tough recommendation. Quick Specs 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Motors Dual Permanent-Magnet Battery 100.5 Kilowatt-Hours (93.9 Kilowatt-Hours Usable) Output 670 Horsepower / 627 Pound-Feet 0-60 MPH 3.5 Seconds (Est.) Base Price / As Tested $64,995 / $78,970 The Good Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 Excellent Design Luxurious, Well-Styled Interior Impressive Performance Though the new Charger may appear awkward in pictures, it looks fantastic in real life. The 'Bludicrous' paint job pairs excellently with the boxy form and striking fascias, catching the eyes of onlookers as I cruise silently by. Whereas most EVs are lifeless blobs, the Charger Daytona echoes a sense of purpose and strength. The Charger is also a big car. At 206.6 inches long, it's over 8 inches longer than the outgoing Challenger. The hatchback rear provides ample storage space, though there's no frunk. That extra length is obvious inside, with the Charger's interior offering ample space to stretch out. The back seats are actually usable, too; I was able to comfortably fit four adults inside without any complaints. Beyond the physical space, I enjoy the interior's design. The sweeping dash melds into the doors well, and the pistol-grip shifter is satisfying to use. There are two displays mounted to the dash, a 16.0-inch unit for the driver and a 12.3-inch screen for the infotainment system. Both are bright and crisp, making the cabin a nice place to spend time. Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 And while I'll always prefer a V-8 to electric power, I have to commend the Charger Daytona's performance. It's stonking quick off the line, and claws itself out of the hole and into illegal speeds quickly. Like most EVs, that power seems to die off once you've eclipsed 90 miles per hour, but before that, it's a rocket. It's not just straight-line speed, either. Despite the Charger's chunky 5,838-pound curb weight, it can dance around corners. That's thanks to the huge 325-section-width Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar 3 tires out back, and the standard dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup. Slowing things down are a set of hefty 16.1-inch discs with Brembo calipers. There are a host of different toys to play with, too, like Drift mode, Track mode, Drag mode, and even Donut mode. If you need a kick in power, there's a button labeled 'PowerShot' on the steering wheel, which maxes out the dual motors to give the full 670 horsepower for 30 seconds. Gimmicky, yes. But also very fun. The Bad Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 Messy Infotainment System Half-Baked Synthetic Exhaust Sound Lackluster Range Too Expensive While the Dodge Charger Daytona's interior is a nice place to spend time, the infotainment system hangs over it like a dark cloud. The company's Uconnect 5 operating system is a cluttered mess, with a slew of different menus and bunched-up buttons that make it nearly impossible to navigate, especially while driving. There's a new section specifically to show the powertrain's EV status, like power flow and charging info. But I found myself constantly sticking to the wireless Apple CarPlay instead, simply to avoid dealing with the native operating system. Those with Android phones won't have to worry; there's wireless Android Auto connectivity for your phones, too. That's not the only piece of tech on the Charger I don't like. While I'm generally pro faux exhaust sounds for EVs, the Daytona's ' Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust ' doesn't do it for me. Dodge got so close to making this work, but fumbled at the goal line. While the sound itself, which emanates from a subwoofer mounted in the rear bumper, is awesome, it's not paired with any sort of fake gears or shifting, like you'd find on a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N . Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 That means when you're driving around with the Fratzonic exhaust turned on, it sounds like you're driving a V-8-powered car with a continuously variable transmission. It's foolish in its execution, rendering the sound suitable only for stoplight rev-offs or confusing people in parking lots. On the move, it just made me nauseous. Whether you keep the exhaust turned on or not, you'll be disappointed by the Charger Daytona's range. With a full charge, I was only able to squeeze 208 miles from the 93.9-kilowatt-hour usable battery pack, an average of just 2.2 miles per kilowatt-hour. That's pretty dismal for a 2025 model-year EV, much less one this expensive. To be fair, the range would be far better with a set of more efficient tires. Speaking of price, the Charger Daytona isn't exactly affordable. The Scat Pack's starting price of $66,990, including destination, is bolstered by those aforementioned drive modes, as well as a host of active safety systems, like lane management, intersection collision assist, and cross-path detection. A head-up display and a mechanical limited-slip differential are also standard. Our tester came in at $78,970 thanks to the pretty blue paint job, a $3,200 'Scat Pack Stage 2' package that adds 80 horsepower, and the $4,995 Track package, which adds stuff like the Brembo brakes, heated and ventilated sport seats, adaptive damping, and those Goodyears. Truthfully, I don't think you need any of that, except for the paint. It's not like anyone will be taking this thing to the track, after all. Competitors Audi A6 E-Tron BMW i4 Lucid Air Mercedes-Benz EQE Polestar 2 32 Source: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 More on the Charger Dodge Charger EV Owners Are Reporting Unintended Acceleration The Dodge Charger EV Is Already Outselling the Supra in 2025 Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Specifications Motor Dual Permanent-Magnet Battery 100.5 Kilowatt-Hour (93.9 Kilowatt-Hour usable) Output 670 Horsepower / 627 Pound-Feet Drive Type All-Wheel Drive Speed 0-60 MPH 3.5 seconds (est.) Maximum speed 136 mph (Electronically Limited) Weight 5,838 Pounds (mfr.) EV Range 216 Miles (EPA) Seating Capacity 5 Cargo Volume 23.0 / 37.0 Cubic Feet On Sale 5 Base Price $64,995 As-Tested Price $78,970 Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
