Dodge is bringing muscle cars into the all-season era, and the Charger Daytona is leading the charge.
The Dodge Charger Daytona is rewriting the muscle car rulebook. Not only is it the world’s only all-wheel-drive (AWD) muscle car, but it’s also proving that big power and winter don’t have to be enemies. Dodge put the Charger Daytona to the test in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, one of the coldest and snowiest places in the U.S., and the results? This thing thrives in the snow.
Available in two electric models—the 670-hp Scat Pack and the 496-hp R/T—the Charger Daytona brings muscle car performance to all seasons. AWD is standard on every model, making it far more capable in winter than old-school rear-wheel-drive muscle cars that struggle for traction in snow and ice.
To handle slippery conditions, Dodge added Wet/Snow Mode, which adjusts traction control and power distribution to keep the car planted on icy roads. A Mechanical Limited-Slip Differential ensures both rear wheels get power, preventing one from spinning uselessly while the other does nothing—a common issue with traditional open differentials.
But let’s be real. If you’re into muscle cars, you don’t just want to survive winter—you want to have fun with it. That’s where Drift/Donut Mode comes in. This feature switches the Charger Daytona into rear-wheel drive (RWD), fully disabling Electronic Stability Control and adjusting traction control so you can slide, drift, and do donuts with ease. Whether you’re tearing up a frozen lake or kicking up snow in a parking lot, it brings back the old-school muscle car experience in the best way possible. And yes, it works on dry pavement, too.
Dodge isn’t stopping at electric muscle. Gas-powered Charger SIXPACK models are coming later in 2025, and like the Daytona, they’ll also feature standard AWD. That means even traditional V8 fans will get muscle cars that actually perform in winter.
Dodge knows it’s taking a risk by going electric, and sales have been slow. To help move inventory, the carmaker is offering huge incentives, including $6,000 off leases and a $7,500 federal EV tax credit. For those who were on the fence about an electric muscle car, these deals make the Daytona a tempting option.
The old days of muscle cars being summer-only toys are over. The Dodge Charger Daytona proves you can have big power, AWD traction, and year-round fun all in one package. Whether you want all-weather performance or just an excuse to rip some snow-covered donuts, Dodge just made the muscle car a little more practical—and a lot more fun.
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