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In a dramatic shift that’s igniting car enthusiast circles, Dodge has announced it will discontinue the electric Charger Daytona R/T for the 2026 model year. This decision marks a surprising pivot from the automaker’s earlier push into electrified muscle—but it’s not the end of the story. Instead, it signals a resurgence of the legendary HEMI V8 engine lineup, bringing back the unmistakable roar of combustion power.
The Dodge Charger Daytona R/T was supposed to usher in a new era for muscle cars—one powered not by gasoline, but by electrons. Yet despite its futuristic styling, simulated “Fratzonic” exhaust sounds, and performance credentials, the EV muscle car struggled to gain traction in the market.
Several factors contributed to the underperformance:
- Lackluster demand from traditional muscle car buyers who still prefer the visceral experience of a combustion engine.
- Stiff competition from performance EV leaders like Tesla and Lucid, who offer superior range and tech integration.
- Economic headwinds, including new 25% tariffs on Canadian-built cars, which impacted the financial viability of producing the R/T.
Despite price cuts and incentives, the writing was on the wall: the electric R/T wasn’t resonating with Dodge’s core audience.
While the EV might be exiting the garage, Dodge isn’t abandoning performance—it’s doubling down. Parent company Stellantis has confirmed that production of the HEMI V8 engine family will resume in August 2025 at the Dundee Engine Plant in Michigan.
This includes:
- 5.7-liter HEMI V8
- 6.4-liter Apache 392 V8
- Supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8
These engines will be reintroduced across a range of high-performance vehicles from Dodge, Jeep, and Ram—bringing back the raw horsepower and deep growl that defined an era.
