American car manufacturer Dodge will be pulling its plugs on its mainstay muscle cars Charger and Challenger by the end of 2023, but not before launching an electric vehicle.
The 108-year-old brand, known for producing high-horsepower cars used for drag racing and engines with names such as Hellcat and Demon, is a symbol of American muscle cars and a natural choice for the speed enthusiasts.
On Wednesday evening, Dodge unveiled a new all-electric concept car named Charger Daytona SRT, after the vehicle that first broke 200 miles an hour on a Nascar track in 1970.
However, the company has made sure its loyal customers do not have to part with the iconic roar of the supercharged V8 engines of the Charger and Challenger. In fact, the brand has outfitted the electric concept car with a synthetic exhaust tone that is meant to emulate the thunderous roar of its gas-engine muscle cars.
As per a report in The Wall Street Journal, like other car companies, Dodge's parent company Stellantis NV has laid out ambitious plans to add more electric vehicles to its showrooms. It plans to spend $35 billion in the coming years on its EV transition, an investment that it says is being driven in part by tougher environmental regulations in the U.S, Europe and China.
Tim Kuniskis, Dodge’s chief executive, said as the car company moves to electrify its global lineup, it will have to acclimate some longtime customers to the benefits of EVs.
"We can’t wake up in 2024 and tell everybody, 'Hey, great news. We went electric,'" Kuniskis said.
Dodge is expected to launch the EV in early 2024.