Dodge confirms electric muscle car coming: Challenger replacement will replace V8 with batteries

Dodge is teasing its electric future.

Dodge may seem like an unlikely EV candidate given its current lineup is based on a 600-kilowatt supercharged V8 known as the Hellcat, but that's not enough to stop it from making the switch.

The American brand has come to rely on its Challenger coupes and Charger sedan as the backbone of its lineup, but parent company Stellantis plans to sell 40 percent of its battery-powered vehicles in the US by the end of the decade, not even Dodge can ignore electrification.

That's why the brand teased what it called the world's first "eMuscle American car." The image appears to show a 1968 Charger with modern LED headlights and a new triangular logo, but the vehicle is obscured by tire smoke from four wheel burnout. This suggests that the new electric muscle car will have all-wheel drive, which will help tame its electrical performance. 

Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis said the decision to go electric was driven by a search for more performance as well as a desire to build cleaner cars, acknowledging that the Hellcat was pushing its limits.

"Even for a brand that's known for going too far, we've pushed that pedal to the floor," Kuniskis said. “Our engineers have reached the practical limit of what we can squeeze out of combustion innovation. We know that electric motors can give us more, and if we know of a technology that can give our customers an edge, we must use it to keep them in the lead. We will not sell electric cars, we will sell more motors. Better, faster Dodges."

The Dodge eMuscle will be based on the STLA Large platform, which will also underpin the new Ram rival Toyota HiLux and the all-new Jeep SUV. According to Stellantis, the STLA Large will have a range of up to 800 km and use an 800-volt electrical system that will provide ultra-fast charging. The company also said the largest engine would be capable of up to 330kW, which could be significantly less than the Hellcat, but not if Dodge can fit a couple of them for all-wheel drive performance.

In the meantime, we'll have to wait until 2024 to see the finished product and hope Stellaantis Australia decides to revive the Dodge brand.