It’s one of the greatest fears of muscle car enthusiasts; will the advent (or expansion) of electric vehicles threaten the fast and flashy cars that people have loved for decades? The good news, according to Dodge at least, is that this isn’t the case. Dodge will be releasing its first electric muscle car in 2024, and it plans to position it alongside the Challenger and Charger – and not to replace it. 

What will Dodge’s new electric muscle car entail?

Car and Driver says that the new Dodge muscle car will be an eMuscle car, and will be built on a Stellantis platform capable of 500 miles of range. This would definitely help ease range anxiety in those who aren’t comfortable with the necessary charging of an electric vehicle. 

When it’s first introduced, it will be positioned alongside the Dodge Challenger and Charger, Dodge’s two beloved muscle cars. Car and Driver

also point out that in pictures released to tease Dodge’s new electric muscle car, Dodge has used a Fratzog logo, a logo used by Dodge from 1962 through 1976.

Can an electric muscle car be as good as a combustion engine?

Muscle Cars & Trucks had this same question, so they talked to Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis. According to Kuniskis, what we think of as a muscle car doesn’t have to be set in stone. He says that it’s important to not think of a muscle car as only including the traditional setup and technology that we’re used to. “When we talk about Redeyes, Hellcats, Super Stocks and Demons… we do that to sell down the range… the same thing will apply if I can get you great performance.”

It isn’t inconceivable that electric muscle cars could be as good as a traditional internal combustion engine. After all, Formula E in Europe is an all-electric racing series, and it’s pretty popular. In fact, there are currently 12 teams in Formula E compared to just 10 teams in Formula One.

Are traditional muscle cars on their way out?

Kuniskis said, “The new car comes in 2024. We didn’t say that the current cars are going to die in 2024. There might be a little overlap, but you’re not going to have years and years and years of the classic and the new one at the same time.”

According to Muscle Cars & Trucks, the reception to Dodge’s new electric muscle car hasn’t been all good. In fact, they point out that there have been some pretty vocal opponents, and some social media channels have even had to turn off comments. 

Yet it isn’t just Dodge that’s making a move toward electric vehicles. All of the car manufacturers are committed to going green, in part because of government incentives, and in part because the demand for electric is headed in that direction. With major car companies like Ford announcing new electric vehicle platforms, and luxury car makers like Porsche turning out electric sports cars, it’s inevitable that other types of cars will make the electric conversion. Even pickup trucks are going electric, with the Ford Maverick and Tesla Cybertruck among the first. 

Does that mean that there’s no room for combustion engine muscle cars? Not yet at least. Tony Stewart believes that while electric vehicles have a place in racing, they won’t replace traditional race cars, and it’s likely that mentality will apply to other types of cars as well. Yet the more car manufacturers turn out excellent electric vehicles that make people forget what they’re missing in a combustion engine, the more likely the transition to electric cars will be smooth.