Dodge’s Inline-Six Charger May Launch Sooner Than Expected | Carscoops

The first deliveries of the ICE-powered Dodge Charger featuring the inline-six engine could arrive by early summer 2025

The automotive world is in a constant state of flux, with manufacturers scrambling to adapt to evolving regulations, market forces, and shifting customer tastes. Stellantis appears to be no exception. If a recent report is to be believed, the ICE-powered Dodge Charger featuring an inline-six engine may arrive sooner than originally planned, with a revised launch target rumored for mid-2025.

When Dodge revealed the new-generation Charger earlier this year, it announced plans to launch the electric Daytona before the end of 2024, followed by the ICE Charger Sixpack in Q1 2025. However, as is often the case in the auto industry, this timeline quickly fell apart. Shortly after the announcement, Dodge quietly pushed back the ICE Charger’s launch to “late 2025.”

More: How Does The 2024 Dodge Charger Coupe Compare To The Challenger?

Now, however, a sharp reversal seems to be in the works. According to Mopar Insiders, citing unnamed sources, Dodge has advanced the ICE Charger’s introduction by a full five months. The same sources suggest that Dodge has already assembled test mules of the Charger at the Windsor Assembly Plant, indicating that pilot production could begin as early as December 2024. If all goes according to plan, the first examples could hit U.S. dealerships by early summer 2025, rather than towards the end of the year.

We reached out to Stellantis for comment, but the company has yet to respond. Updates will follow as soon as (or if) they decide to weigh in.

If the report holds true, the decision to accelerate the ICE Charger’s rollout could stem from several factors, including Trump’s recent election as the next U.S. president, which some fear could disrupt EV incentives and emissions regulations. Another, perhaps less dramatic and more pragmatic, explanation could be the slower-than-expected EV adoption, particularly in the muscle car segment, which remains firmly tied to the visceral appeal of internal combustion. Additionally, pressure from dealerships to replace the Challenger with an ICE model may also be influencing the decision.

More: Dodge Tries To Woo Charger Daytona EV Lessees With Extra $1,000 Loyalty Discount

With the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro both consigned to the history books, the Ford Mustang is the only remaining ICE-powered muscle car on sale. Ford isn’t shy about its strategy either, stating that will keep the V8-powered Mustang in production for as long as possible, reveling in the absence of any direct competition from other American automakers. It remains to be seen if the six-cylinder Dodge Charger will be able to steal a portion of the pie when it arrives next year.

Under the hood, the Dodge Charger Sixpack will pack a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six engine, offered in two states of tune: 420 hp (426 PS) and a meatier 550 hp (558 PS). While its styling remains broadly consistent with the EV Charger Daytona, the ICE version stands apart with a few mild touches including extra bumper intakes, a bulging hood, and, of course, dual tailpipes.

Meanwhile, Dodge has already begun taking orders for the fully electric Charger Daytona as of mid-September 2024, with pricing starting at $59,595. First deliveries are penciled in for Q4 2024, although some rumors of development delays have raised questions about whether that timeline will hold.