Dodge Charger Banshee: Hottest electric variant axed before launch - report

The range-topping Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Banshee electric muscle car has reportedly been axed as Stellantis curtails its EV efforts, especially in North America, and re-embraces petrol power.

Suppliers have told Mopar Insiders about Dodge’s decision to can the Banshee, which was to feature a 800V electrical system instead of the standard model’s 400V architecture.

Although Dodge has never confirmed how much power the Banshee was to have, the most powerful Charger Daytona EV variant right now has 500kW and 850Nm, and can blast through the 0-60mph (0-97km/h) standard in 3.3 seconds.

The STLA Large platform the Charger is based on was previously said to support vehicles with up to 660kW, but insiders have told other publications the architecture can actually cope with outputs up to 745kW, or 1000 horsepower in the old money.

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When asked by Mopar Insiders and other websites about the Banshee’s reported death, the company said: “Stellantis continues to reassess its product strategy to align with consumer demand. Our plan ensures we offer customers a range of vehicles with flexible powertrain options that best meet their needs.

“With the great news announced in July that Stellantis is bringing back its iconic SRT performance division (Street and Racing Technology), it follows that we are also reviewing the plan for future SRT vehicles.”

Despite making sounds through its Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust, and its large dollops of power, the Charger Daytona has garnered unenthusiastic reviews and tepid sales since its launch. The Charger sedan and coupe will soon gain new Sixpack variants powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six.

Stellantis North America has been winding back its electrification plans in the past few months, with the all-electric Ram 1500 REV cancelled after multiple delays, and the Gladiator 4xe plug-in hybrid axed.

In concert with this, Stellantis North America has leaning back into gruff, burbling arms of its Hemi V8 engine.

Under previous corporate CEO Carlos Tavares, the Hemi was earmarked for the automotive graveyard, but his abrupt exit at the end of 2024, and soft EV growth in the US prompted a stay of execution and now a revival.

In June, Ram added 5.7-litre Hemi V8 back to the 1500 range, with Ram’s CEO admitting the brand “screwed up” when it ditched the V8 in favour of the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre Hurricane straight-six engine.

Although the 295kW/556Nm Hemi V8 makes all the right sounds, it is eclipsed by the straight-six engine in terms of both fuel economy and performance, with the standard Hurricane engine making 313kW/635Nm and the high output variant cranking out 403kW/707Nm.

Then in August, Jeep informed the world it would continue to offer the 6.4-litre Hemi V8 in the Wrangler despite rolling out a ‘Final Edition’ last year. Indeed, the brand plans to expand availability of the V8 to more Wrangler variants, and add it to the closely related Gladiator ute.