The much anticipated next-gen Dodge Charger has been spotted testing on local roads, with a black coupe cruising up the I75 in Auburn Hills, Detroit, near Chrysler’s headquarters.
With little to no camouflage, we are given a clear look at the Charger’s production-ready rear fascia. The retro-inspired styling calls to mind the late ’60s Charger, which informed the appearance of this forthcoming model. According to the video description, there was no audible exhaust note, leading us to believe this is the all-electric version, not the Hurricane-powered straight-six model. We can’t seem to spot any signs of exhaust tips, which also points to this prototype being electric.
Whereas the concept had an attractive oval-like light strip, it would appear the production-ready model has relatively generic taillights that lack the character of those found on the concept.
Perhaps these are just interim items, and models you can buy will receive something more attractive. It’s still a good-looking machine, with the large rear glass flowing into a sporty rear spoiler. Wide rear arches provide the muscle car with a menacing look, which should appeal to muscle car buyers.
We can also see this prototype’s larger, more conventional side mirrors and simplified door handles. These details were shown off recently when Dodge revealed early images of a pre-production Charger. The front end resembles the concept more, with a slim DRL stretching from one side of the fascia to the other.
The manufacturer said the new Charger will be available in late 2024, suggesting an official reveal is around the corner. Expect the gas-powered models to debut first, though.
The new Hurricane straight-six engine will motivate the gas-powered versions, but outputs have not been confirmed for this application.
If customers want Hellcat levels of performance, they will have to embrace the top-spec electric version, which is rumored to have nearly 900 horses at its disposal. That’s an incredible amount of muscle, but Dodge will reportedly offer the EV in varying states of tune, with available upgrade packages for the respective stages.
Of course, a big part of the muscle car appeal comes from the noise. To get around the problem faced by so many EVs, Dodge has been working on a Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust that amplifies the noises the electric motors make instead of relying on synthetic sounds played through the speakers. Hopefully, this feature remains for the production version.