The 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona electric muscle car is a pivot point in the brand's history - a bold redefinition of American performance in an electric future. Dodge, a brand tied to combustion-fueled fury, is going electric without losing its soul. The result is a car that rewrites the performance playbook without betraying the muscle car culture that's defined the Charger nameplate for decades.
This isn't an evolution. It's a recalibration of muscle for a zero-emissions future - and one executed with architectural ambition, engineering clarity and design intentionality.
Design Language: Reimagining the Muscle Car for the EV Era
The 2026 Charger Daytona sacrifices subtlety for raw visual presence. Its profile departs from the conservative sedan shape of the current car for a fastback coupe profile like the great American performance designs. Sweeping haunches, wide-track dimensions and a raked roofline come together to create a form factor that straddles heritage and futurism.
First visible is the "R-Wing" - an aerodynamic front opening that looks like a grille but is used to channel air over the car's surface. It does so without compromising the muscle car's aggressive face and meeting the drag-reduction needs of an EV platform. This, above all, addresses the dual mandate of the 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona design: performance aesthetics and electric efficiency.
Lighting is tightly integrated for a modern, almost military-like look. Up to 21-inch wheels are on the options list to add to the Charger's aggressive stance. Aero is not just for show - every curve and vent is working to improve the car's performance numbers, not just its appearance.
Powertrain and Platform: STLA Large Architecture
The Charger Daytona is built on Stellantis' STLA Large platform, a modular EV platform designed for high-output applications. It will be available in several variants to start with the R/T and Scat Pack trims. Power outputs range from around 455 horsepower for the regular car to over 670 horsepower for the Scat Pack and future performance variants will be well over 800 horsepower. Battery packs start at 85 kWh, up to 100.5 kWh on higher trims. Dodge claims 300-350 miles of range, depending on trim and driving conditions. More importantly, the 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona performance metrics focus on acceleration and repeatability - not just peak power. All-wheel drive on every trim has torque vectoring and off-the-line acceleration, injecting old-school muscle car energy into the EV era with brutal immediacy.
Dodge's patented "Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust" system - a simulated exhaust system that creates up to 126 decibels of programmable sound - isn't hype. It's a nod to the sensory theatrics of combustion muscle cars in an era of quiet. Purists will hate the artificiality but it's an attempt to hold onto the emotional aspects of performance on an electric platform.
Driving Dynamics: Weight Management and Power Delivery
Weighing in at nearly 5,000 pounds, the Charger Daytona carries its weight with poise. Dodge's engineers have calibrated the suspension geometry and damping to balance the weight and maximize responsiveness. Active dampers, adaptive suspension tuning and staggered tires deliver a composed, confidence-inspiring chassis feel - especially at high speeds or when driving aggressively through corners.
Steering is electrically augmented but has weight to match the Charger's dynamics. Unlike so many EVs that compromise feel for isolation, the Daytona has feel with weight to the input and response. Under test conditions, the 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona's handling dynamics have proven balanced under stress, with traction control that doesn't overcorrect. Brake regeneration is user-programmable so you can customize the pedal feel and energy recovery to your taste.
Acceleration is, as expected, the crown jewel. The Scat Pack trim goes 0-60 in under 3.5 seconds and quarter-mile times rival supercars. But the Charger isn't just about owning the straights - it's built to be consistent, thermal-resistant and repeatable on the track.
Interior Design: Futurism and Functionality
The 2026 Charger Daytona interior is a break from the utilitarian interiors of past Chargers. The materials are upscale with Alcantara, faux leather, metallic trim and ambient lighting to create a cockpit-like feel without sacrificing practicality.
A 16-inch curved digital instrument cluster surrounds the driver's eye, with a 12.3-inch center infotainment screen angled to the driver. The 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona interior is all about configurability - from drive mode tunability to visual themes that change with performance modes.
The center console has a restyled rotary control system and shifter with physical buttons for climate and essential functions - a nod to practicality over digital minimalism. The rear seats work but with compromised legroom due to the coupe-like roofline. Trunk space is adequate with the front trunk serving as an additional storage compartment.
Technology and Software
Stellantis' Uconnect 6 is the brain of the car with high-resolution displays, over-the-air updates and native app integration. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard with a higher trim having a premium Harman Kardon audio system.
The Charger also has performance telemetry tools including real-time power delivery metrics, lap timers and customizable widgets that show energy usage and acceleration patterns. The 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona tech is not just handy but immersive - with detailed data on vehicle behavior and performance metrics.
Driver aids are robust but unobtrusive. Adaptive cruise, centering, collision mitigation and 360-degree camera system are standard or optional on trim level. Most importantly, none of the aids replace the inherent nature of the car; instead, they add to it, not subtract from it.
Trim Levels and Pricing
The initial Charger Daytona range is R/T and Scat Pack, with SRT trims to follow. All trims have performance tuning, cosmetic differentiation and access to special software features like Launch Control and Track Mode. The 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack is the top dog for now, for customers who used to look for Hellcat performance. From a price-to-performance perspective, the Daytona range is a gap between muscle cars and luxury EVs - a space very few competitors occupy. Dodge's answer is simple: keep brand identity without giving up on new propulsion technology. The 2026 Charger Daytona is not trying to be something it's not. It's still a Charger - just now it's electric.