The muscle car world is changing — and fast. For decades, the Dodge Charger has been a symbol of raw V8 power, thunderous exhaust notes, and unapologetic performance. But 2025 marks a new era. The all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona has just scored one of the industry’s most coveted honors: a spot on the Wards 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems list.
Yes, you read that right — an electric muscle car just beat out internal combustion powertrains for one of the auto world’s top engineering awards. It’s a milestone moment, not only for Dodge but for the future of American performance.
⚡ An Award That Means More Than Horsepower
Each year, WardsAuto recognizes the most innovative and effective powertrains across the entire automotive industry. The competition includes gasoline engines, hybrids, hydrogen systems, and electric drivetrains — and earning a spot on the Wards 10 Best list is no small feat.
For Dodge, this award represents something bigger than just a trophy. It’s validation that electrification can be done the Dodge way — with muscle, attitude, and emotion.
The winning configuration is found in the 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack, which produces a stunning 670 horsepower through its dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup. That’s enough to launch the big, battery-powered beast from 0–60 mph in just 3.3 seconds.
🏁 Power That Feels Familiar — With a Twist
One of the biggest questions surrounding the new Charger has been whether it could live up to the soul of its gasoline predecessors — the Hellcats, Redeyes, and Demons that defined a generation of muscle cars.
WardsAuto’s panel of judges seems to think it can. The publication praised Dodge for retaining the essence of a muscle car in a completely new format.
Instead of relying on silence and smoothness, Dodge engineers went the opposite direction: making the Charger Daytona feel as visceral and emotional as possible.
🔊 The Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust: The World’s First “EV Roar”
A huge part of what makes the Charger Daytona stand out is its Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust, a system that redefines what an EV can sound like.
Unlike other electric cars that are whisper-quiet, the Charger Daytona’s setup uses air pulses, chambers, and acoustic tuning to create a mechanical roar reaching up to 126 decibels — equivalent to the sound of a Hellcat’s supercharged V8 at full throttle.
It’s not artificial noise from a speaker system — it’s actual air-driven sound designed to replicate the emotional feedback drivers expect from a Dodge muscle car.
According to Wards judges, this was one of the defining factors behind the award: Dodge didn’t just electrify a car; it electrified the muscle-car experience itself.
⚙️ Innovative Tech Beneath the Skin
Beyond the sound, the Charger Daytona also introduces a multi-speed transmission, something extremely rare in EVs. While most electric vehicles use a single-speed gearbox, Dodge engineers wanted to mimic the shifting feel of a traditional muscle car — giving drivers that familiar sense of gear changes and acceleration buildup.
Then there’s the PowerShot feature — a driver-activated boost mode that instantly delivers an extra 40 horsepower for short bursts of maximum performance. Push the button, and the Charger delivers a surge of torque that throws you back into your seat.
Combine that with all-wheel drive and a low center of gravity from the underfloor battery pack, and you get a car that’s both fierce in a straight line and surprisingly agile in corners.
🔋 Balancing Performance and Innovation
The new electric Charger is built on Stellantis’s STLA Large platform, which is flexible enough to accommodate both electric and internal-combustion powertrains. The architecture’s modular design gives Dodge the freedom to create multiple versions — from high-output EVs like the Scat Pack to potential future hybrid or range-extended variants.
In addition to performance, the platform is engineered for fast-charging capability, with an 800-volt electrical system allowing quick replenishment on compatible chargers. Though Dodge hasn’t finalized EPA range numbers, estimates suggest between 260 and 300 miles per charge, depending on trim and driving style.
🏆 What the Award Means for the Future of Muscle
For decades, the Wards 10 Best Engines list has been dominated by high-revving V8s, turbocharged sixes, and exotic hybrid systems. Seeing an electric Dodge Charger on that list signals a dramatic shift — one where electrified performance is no longer an outlier, but a legitimate continuation of muscle-car tradition.
The Charger Daytona’s success could set the tone for the next decade of American performance. Dodge has proven that EVs don’t have to be silent, sterile, or soulless — they can still deliver the thrill, the noise, and the adrenaline that muscle-car fans crave.
💬 Final Thoughts
This win for the Charger Daytona isn’t just about technology — it’s about emotion and evolution. Dodge has found a way to respect its past while reinventing its future, proving that an electric muscle car can still make your heart race.
So, what do you think? Does this award-winning EV earn your respect? Is the muscle car era really over, or just entering a new phase? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and follow Vicrez Driver for more automotive deep dives.
