Dodge is abandoning its flagship Charger Banshee EV model according to a new report. This electric vehicle was supposed to be the flagship of the Dodge Charger electric lineup, the one that was meant to sweep away all criticism from muscle car traditionalists thanks to immense power supported by an 800-volt charging architecture. But this ambition seems to belong to the past, as a recent report indicates that the Charger Daytona SRT Banshee will ultimately not see the light of day.
Stellantis has reportedly outright canceled this model, as the automaker reevaluates its investments in electric vehicles to return to Hemi V8 combustion engines.
This information comes from MoparInsiders, citing “internal rumors from supplier channels.” Stellantis has not explicitly denied this claim and responded to the publication with the following statement:
“Stellantis continues to reevaluate its product strategy to align it with consumer demand. Our plan ensures that we offer customers a range of vehicles with flexible powertrain options that best meet their needs. With the good news announced in July that Stellantis is reviving its iconic SRT performance division, it follows that we are also reviewing the plan for future SRT vehicles.”
Reading between the lines suggests that the company is presenting the disappearance of the Banshee as part of a “revised plan” for future SRT models without explicitly admitting it. Yet, the Banshee was supposed to be the flagship model of the Charger, and Dodge had not been discreet about it until now.
The alleged cancellation of the Banshee would align with Stellantis’s decision in the spring to remove the more affordable of the two electric Charger models, the Daytona R/T, leaving only the $74,000 Scat Pack producing 670 horsepower.
Meanwhile, vehicles equipped with the Hurricane I6 Sixpack engine are expected to arrive at dealerships before the end of the year. And then, it would only be a matter of time before a V8 finds its place under the hood. It’s not as if there isn’t room for it.