These images of 2025 Dodge Charger chassis from the assembly plant were posted recently to Allpar’s forums after making the rounds of social media. The original source remains unknown, but now we know they were taken at the Windsor assembly plant by someone who apparently no longer works there. We have some more information as well.
The prototype shells (“bodies in white”) are likely prepared for a BEV, based on production timing, but with their automatic transmission humps and “filler door” they also look to be ready for a gasoline engine or plug-in hybrid setup. The BEV will have an automatic and the hump, and the final position of the electric charger door is unknown but could well be where the fuel filler door of gasoline versions is.
One well-experienced Chrysler retiree said these were clearly pilot production cars—to be exact, Tooling Test cars (that’s the TT on the paper)—“Can’t turn back now. Too much time and money involved.” He also said it looks like the door will cover the rocker panel.
The filler door appears is not where the Daytona concept (or most other electrics) has is charging port, but is just about right for gasoline. It looks like it has a conventional trunk but is reportedly a fastback, with a window connected to the trunk. The rear pillar is smaller than on the concept, likely becuase of the realities of driver vision.
The next-generation Dodge Charger will have a twin-turbo straight-six “Hurricane” engine, possibly with and without hybrid setups, with just one model taking batteries (Dodge Charger Daytona); a four-cylinder hybrid for the base model is likely, since in the Jeep Wrangler this setup provides V8-type acceleration with V6-type mileage.
The car might actually be the Challenger, which is also expected to continue as a smaller version of the current car. However, the pilot has been labeled as a Charger by most observers. The Charger has been a four-door for years, but it’s expected to become a coupe in the next version; the place of the four-door will likely be taken by a next-generation Magnum (name still unknown) wagon/crossover. Building the car at Windsor instead of Brampton means that they can make it taller, increasing the utility over the 21st-century Magnum.
I stated previously the body lines and design of the overall vehicle we see here are definitely Charger body lines. Something I never realized until today however is that the interior layout of the Daytona concept is pulled almost straight from the first generation Dodge Charger from 1966 to 1967. That car had a 2+2 layout with a full length console and massive amounts of in-cabin space behind the flat folding rear seats along with a cavernous rear cargo area with a separator between the cabin and the trunk. From the design of the concept, I feel the production car’s interior is going to lean very heavily on the ’66-’67 interior design. I definitely feel like most of the electrification that this car is going to receive is going to be in the form of hybrids seeing that adding hybrid systems to the Cat-1 & Cat-3 Hurricane powertrains will definitely move the cars around that Hellcat horsepower range with more torque and a base 2-liter hybrid gives similar horsepower numbers to the 5.7L Hemi. We already know that the Standard output & High Output (or even HurriCrate Cat-3) pretty much represent the 6.1L and 6.4L Hemi powertrains with more power and who knows what kind of direct connection and jailbreak options will be available for this car.
While I do see Stellantis pushing forward with the full EV powertrains, I don’t feel confident that the 400V systems will really see the light of day in the muscle car class (Dodge) vehicles. This isn’t to say that there won’t be an STLA Large vehicle or several STLA large vehicles with the 400V full BEV system. I don’t see it happening with the Charger. Reason being is that most people in this community have strongly voiced their contempt and overall disdain for EVs and to produce alot of fully electric Dodge muscle cars wouldn’t be financially sound for the brand. The Daytona 340 and 440, while catchy, wouldn’t necessarily be strong sellers in the market and while they would probably faster than a hybrid 3.0L Hurricane, the overall lack of interest wouldn’t justify their existence and poor sales would kill them off. Now, an 800V Daytona Banshee with two trim levels, one being a dual-motor 884hp AWD and a top tier Daytona Banshee “1320” Tri-Motor setup with 1,326hp would make much more sense as it would be more of a vehicle to challenge cars like the Tesla Plaid and the Lucid Air Sapphire for EV Performance supremacy. While granted something like a modern Chrysler 300M with that tri-motor powertrain option would be more in the Class of a Lucid air as a luxury performance EV, we know Dodge is usually king of the drag strip as far as the Mopar brands go. Of course the Banshee 1320 has dual meanings, one for the length in feet of a quarter mile drag strip and the 1,320+hp it would have with the tri-motor setup. Plus with the 800V system having several advantages over the 400v system including shorter charging times, it makes more sense. Again, as I said, this doesn’t mean that somewhere in the Mopar lineup there won’t be 400V BEVs on the STLA:Large platform. Vehicles like the Jeep Recon and “Wagoneer-S” might receive these powertrains as Jeep tends to cater to a different market than Dodge does. the 400V systems could also make their appearance in next-gen Chrysler minivans and the Chrysler Airflow. These are the types of vehicles where performance doesn’t genuinely need sound so they’d feel less like they’re trying too hard to be something that they are not.
The fact that the Charger is moving to a 2-door car also brings up the subject of another vehicle slated to go on the STLA: Large Platform. That vehicle being the Dodge Stealth. A low-riding, 3-row crossover on this platform may prove to be an exciting addition to the Dodge lineup and do certain things that the Durango can’t do. Something like this may prove to be the next “Magnum” as a vehicle that can move people and be agile, powerful and a true “Charger of the crossover world” type vehicle. Something like that with the same powertrains as listed above for the Charger would definitely make for a cleaner performance vehicle and would make a great trio with a Dakota pickup. I think honestly for the Dodge brand having those three on the STLA Large platform, adding two more vehicles to the STLA Medium platform and bringing Ram trucks back into the mix could really Help the Dodge brand get back into being profitable. The STLA medium platform could mirror the STLA Large platform with a Mustang-sized Barracuda 3-door fastback/hatchback AWD hybrid that can put out roughly 400hp in a top performance GLH trim, the Hornet crossover and a Rampage pickup all with GLH options. Just my thoughts.
I stated previously the body lines and design of the overall vehicle we see here are definitely Charger body lines. Something I never realized until today however is that the interior layout of the Daytona concept is pulled almost straight from the first generation Dodge Charger from 1966 to 1967. That car had a 2+2 layout with a full length console and massive amounts of in-cabin space behind the flat folding rear seats along with a cavernous rear cargo area with a separator between the cabin and the trunk. From the design of the concept, I feel the production car’s interior is going to lean very heavily on the ’66-’67 interior design. I definitely feel like most of the electrification that this car is going to receive is going to be in the form of hybrids seeing that adding hybrid systems to the Cat-1 & Cat-3 Hurricane powertrains will definitely move the cars around that Hellcat horsepower range with more torque and a base 2-liter hybrid gives similar horsepower numbers to the 5.7L Hemi. We already know that the Standard output & High Output (or even HurriCrate Cat-3) pretty much represent the 6.1L and 6.4L Hemi powertrains with more power and who knows what kind of direct connection and jailbreak options will be available for this car.
While I do see Stellantis pushing forward with the full EV powertrains, I don’t feel confident that the 400V systems will really see the light of day in the muscle car class (Dodge) vehicles. This isn’t to say that there won’t be an STLA Large vehicle or several STLA large vehicles with the 400V full BEV system. I don’t see it happening with the Charger. Reason being is that most people in this community have strongly voiced their contempt and overall disdain for EVs and to produce alot of fully electric Dodge muscle cars wouldn’t be financially sound for the brand. The Daytona 340 and 440, while catchy, wouldn’t necessarily be strong sellers in the market and while they would probably faster than a hybrid 3.0L Hurricane, the overall lack of interest wouldn’t justify their existence and poor sales would kill them off. Now, an 800V Daytona Banshee with two trim levels, one being a dual-motor 884hp AWD and a top tier Daytona Banshee “1320” Tri-Motor setup with 1,326hp would make much more sense as it would be more of a vehicle to challenge cars like the Tesla Plaid and the Lucid Air Sapphire for EV Performance supremacy. While granted something like a modern Chrysler 300M with that tri-motor powertrain option would be more in the Class of a Lucid air as a luxury performance EV, we know Dodge is usually king of the drag strip as far as the Mopar brands go. Of course the Banshee 1320 has dual meanings, one for the length in feet of a quarter mile drag strip and the 1,320+hp it would have with the tri-motor setup. Plus with the 800V system having several advantages over the 400v system including shorter charging times, it makes more sense. Again, as I said, this doesn’t mean that somewhere in the Mopar lineup there won’t be 400V BEVs on the STLA:Large platform. Vehicles like the Jeep Recon and “Wagoneer-S” might receive these powertrains as Jeep tends to cater to a different market than Dodge does. the 400V systems could also make their appearance in next-gen Chrysler minivans and the Chrysler Airflow. These are the types of vehicles where performance doesn’t genuinely need sound so they’d feel less like they’re trying too hard to be something that they are not.
The fact that the Charger is moving to a 2-door car also brings up the subject of another vehicle slated to go on the STLA: Large Platform. That vehicle being the Dodge Stealth. A low-riding, 3-row crossover on this platform may prove to be an exciting addition to the Dodge lineup and do certain things that the Durango can’t do. Something like this may prove to be the next “Magnum” as a vehicle that can move people and be agile, powerful and a true “Charger of the crossover world” type vehicle. Something like that with the same powertrains as listed above for the Charger would definitely make for a cleaner performance vehicle and would make a great trio with a Dakota pickup. I think honestly for the Dodge brand having those three on the STLA Large platform, adding two more vehicles to the STLA Medium platform and bringing Ram trucks back into the mix could really Help the Dodge brand get back into being profitable. The STLA medium platform could mirror the STLA Large platform with a Mustang-sized Barracuda 3-door fastback/hatchback AWD hybrid that can put out roughly 400hp in a top performance GLH trim, the Hornet crossover and a Rampage pickup all with GLH options. Just my thoughts.
I think you’re right, a hybrid powertrain is probably going to sell better to a Dodge customer than a full EV might, although I cringe at the Hurricane exhaust note and I wonder how much that will impact sales.
The factory note isn’t impressive. However a direct connection or aftermarket system should be an improvement. And who knows this may be just test pipes not what is actually going to be what’s on the car
I think you’re right, a hybrid powertrain is probably going to sell better to a Dodge customer than a full EV might, although I cringe at the Hurricane exhaust note and I wonder how much that will impact sales.
The factory note isn’t impressive. However a direct connection or aftermarket system should be an improvement. And who knows this may be just test pipes not what is actually going to be what’s on the car