Okay folks, I’m going to do my best here to disentangle the news regarding Dodge’s Charger plans but given the number of variants and launch schedules – not to mention the potential return of V8 engines – this could get messy.
So, where are we exactly?
Well, late last week Dodge sent out a press release announcing the 2026 Charger Daytona sedan, which is set to arrive in the second half of this year. No specific dates were mentioned, but the car is available for order now. Same goes for the two-door model, which is also a 2026 model. Both are EVs.
As for the gas-fed SIXPACK models powered by 3.0L twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engines, those will also launch in the second half of 2025, presumably as 2026 models. SIXPACK models were originally scheduled to begin arriving this summer as 2025 models.
So that’s that, but there’s more Charger news.
Dodge confirmed to Carscoops.com that the base EV model, the Charger R/T (pictured, below), is being paused for the 2026 model year, due to slow sales and shifting U.S. tariff policies. The only EV Charger Daytona model for 2026 will be the Scat Pack trim, which will be offered in two and four-door models.
Dodge sent a statement to Carscoops that read, in part, “Production of the Dodge Charger Daytona R/T is postponed for the 2026 model year as we continue to assess the effects of U.S. tariff polices.”
I’ll also note all Chargers are built at Stellantis’ (Dodge’s parent company) Windsor Assembly plant, located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada (pictured, below). The plant was idled for two weeks in April, largely due to changing U.S. tariff policies and slow demand. The 25 percent tariff on Canadian-assembled autos entering the U.S. is still in place.
According to a CBC report in early May, work at Windsor Assembly will vary between now and late August. Stellantis says shifting production is due to model year changeover, but the report suggests U.S. tariffs could be a factor. Measures will include temporary shutdowns, reduced hours and full production, the report says. In addition to the Charger, Windsor Assembly also builds the Chrysler Pacifica and Chrysler Voyager / Grand Caravan minivans.
One final tidbit to keep an eye on is the potential return of V8 engines to the Charger lineup. Multiple reports suggest the 5.7L HEMI V8, the 6.4L HEMI V8, and 6.2L Supercharged HEMI V8 (pictured, below) could all return to the Charger lineup by late 2026, likely for the 2027 model year. The reason it can’t happen sooner, according to various reports, is the Charger would have to be partly re-engineered to accommodate bigger engines.
Dodge has yet to confirm a V8 return for the Charger, but given the number of reports, it seems like a good bet.
Photos courtesy of Stellantis North America
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