The new Dodge Charger V-8 engine isn’t the only thing that’s been left behind.
According to The Drive, battery or gas-powered versions of the upcoming Charger Daytona will not be available with a manual transmission. This news, confirmed by the automaker, means that stick-shift muscle cars are essentially done once and for all.
The unveiling of the new Charger this week was packed with almost all the technical information anyone could want to know about the next-generation muscle car. The company explained in detail about its dual-motor electric powertrain and standard all-wheel drive system. One detail that was strangely missing, especially for performance enthusiasts, was mention of the car’s powertrain. For this reason, The Drive asked the publication if a manual transmission is available as an option.
The automaker told the publication, “There are no plans for a manual transmission.” That looks
Dodge’s announcement didn’t come as much of a shock. It’s hard to even find a car with a transmission these days, and this trend will surely continue as electric cars don’t even need a transmission. Even some of its most ardent supporters, like BMW, have finally accepted that the end is nigh. The Charger has also not been available with a transmission for some time, but last year Dodge released a manual transmission version of the Hellcat for its other muscle car, the discontinued Challenger. Unfortunately, this car’s existence was more of a last gasp than a sign of hope for car enthusiasts.
Dodge representatives did not immediately respond to Robb Report’s request for comment Thursday.
It may not have a manual transmission, but the first high-performance electric car has a lot going for it. The top-of-the-line Daytona Scat Pack Electric Charger features dual motors producing 670 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. This version can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds, although its 134 mph top speed leaves a lot to be desired. There will also be two gas-powered variants: the Sixpack HO and Sixpack SO, both with twin-turbocharged six-cylinder Hurricane engines for those enthusiasts who hold the idea of a battery-powered muscle car sacred.
Production of the all-electric Charger Daytona is scheduled to begin this summer, with the gas-powered version expected to roll off the assembly line early next year. The automaker has not yet determined how much its new muscle car will cost.
