DETROIT — Dodge will not abandon its conventional, gearhead, high-octane Charger and Challenger house owners with its next-generation muscle automotive.

The automaker on Tuesday revealed the brand new Dodge Charger as an all-electric automobile in addition to a next-generation gas-powered muscle automotive. Will probably be the primary all-electric automotive from Dodge.

The normal automotive has been in query since late 2022, when Dodge stated manufacturing of the longstanding Charger and Challenger would be discontinued on the finish of final 12 months. At the moment, the corporate stated an EV would exchange them, declining to debate the potential for future gasoline fashions.

Providing EV and gas-powered variations of the automobile will permit Dodge to be extra versatile in the case of manufacturing, as gross sales of all-electric autos have been rising more slowly than expected. Extra gas- and electric-powered Chargers, together with a “Banshee” EV, will observe the preliminary autos.

Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis referred to as the EV a “recreation changer within the trade.” The brand new gas-powered fashions, in the meantime, will outperform their V-6 engine predecessors, in addition to a number of the V-8 variants.

“We’re taking the efficiency of the ‘golden age’ that you already know in the present day that you just choose every part by and we’re taking the know-how of the long run to ensure [the Dodge brothers’] legacy would not die,” Kuniskis stated throughout a media briefing. “The Banshee goes to be our final performer.”

Each the EV and gasoline fashions will ultimately are available in two- and four-door variants to switch the four-door Dodge Charger and two-door Challenger. That change is anticipated to scale back components and prices — following a mandate from Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, which owns Dodge, to his model executives.

Dodge stated all EV and gasoline fashions will share inside and exterior designs, which additionally ought to assist with manufacturing complexity and decrease prices.

When requested whether or not the EV will likely be worthwhile, Kuniskis reiterated feedback made by Tavares that the corporate won’t sell electrified autos at a loss with the intention to increase gross sales or meet federal gas economic system requirements.

As many manufacturers lately switched to smaller and extra fuel-efficient engines, Dodge rolled out Hellcat models and different high-performance autos. Such fashions helped generate consideration for the model however did not assist the automaker’s carbon footprint, forcing it to purchase carbon credit from automakers resembling Tesla.

Stellantis’ “Dare Ahead 2030” strategic plan consists of transferring towards electrified and extra environment friendly propulsion programs, reducing its world carbon footprint by 50% by 2030 and main the transportation trade by attaining internet carbon zero by 2038.

Kuniskis stated there aren’t any plans for V-8 or plug-in hybrid electrical fashions for the brand new Charger, which will likely be produced at a Stellantis meeting plant in Windsor, Ontario, in Canada.

The design of the brand new Charger is closely based mostly on an idea automotive Dodge revealed in August 2022. It’s a trendy, but retro, model of the present Dodge Challenger with a extra aerodynamic design that is nonetheless muscular. Most notably, the entrance finish options a big opening for air to move by means of, which the corporate is asking an “R-Wing.”

Kuniskis stated the idea automotive was the “manufacturing automotive hiding in plain sight” in an try and get clients used to the brand new design.

Dodge continues to be engaged on how the EV will sound, Kuniskis stated. The aim is to try to retain the roaring sound and driving traits of Dodge’s present gas-powered Charger and Challenger.

Whereas EVs might be quick, with a “linear acceleration” that produces astonishing 0-60 mph times, they usually lack the driving dynamics that many efficiency automotive house owners get pleasure from. It is an issue auto executives have privately been making an attempt to unravel because the trade transitions to EVs.

The gas-powered Charger will likely be powered by a 3.0-liter twin turbo “Hurricane” inline six-cylinder engine that powers different Stellantis autos such because the Jeep Wagoneer and Ram 1500.

The one distinction within the EVs and gasoline autos may very well be using a “Fratzog” split deltoid logo for EVs relatively than Dodge’s present twin racing stripes. Kuniskis stated the corporate continues to be figuring out whether or not to make use of the Fratzog — a made-up phrase initially utilized by Dodge from 1962 by means of 1976 — for the gasoline fashions.