Rumors have swirled about this for a while, and now The Drive can report that the next-generation Dodge Charger will offer both a full-electric version and a gas version powered by the company's 3.0-liter "Hurricane" twin-turbo inline-six engine.
This news comes to us by way of a source connected to a supplier with firsthand information of Dodge's production plans. The source agreed to speak about the next-gen Charger program in exchange for anonymity and shared a number of details confirming their identity and position. We'll only be publishing the most significant information about the car.
"They're keeping gasoline engines. The official designation for the vehicle platform is LB and it will have the new GME-T6 Hurricane inline-six in RWD and AWD," the source said. "It will be using the Stellantis Gen 4 transmission that's also rolling out to Mack Assembly, Jefferson North Assembly, and Toledo North."
Our source can only confirm the standard output inline-six being on tap, which puts out 420 horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque in its current Jeep applications. They noted there's no manufacturing reason the high output version, rated at 510 hp and 500 lb-ft, can't be dropped in too. We certainly expect it will, especially given the Ford Mustang currently tops out with a 500-hp Coyote V8 in the Dark Horse model.
The Charger's Gen 4 transmission is a new version of the venerable eight-speed automatic; sadly, there's no sign of a manual, nor of the rumored "updated" V8. We also can't confirm how closely the final design sticks to the look of the concept, or if the gas and electric versions are visually distinct.
Both the gas and electric Dodge Charger will be built at Windsor Assembly in Canada, where our source says retooling is already well underway, on the same lines as the next Chrysler Pacifica.