Dodge is known mostly for its outrageous V-8 Muscle cars. Over the last decade, the American carmaker has presented us car enthusiasts with some of the most bonkers high-performance vehicles. Those were the people that actually considered putting the Hellcat engine into a Chrysler Pacifica van. Not that they didn’t put it in almost anything else available in their lineup. Regardless, Dodge is at a turning point as it is preparing the supercharged V-8 for an epic send-off. What comes next is the first-ever Muscle car EV. Dodge’s Muscle is coming in August 2022 and this is everything you need to know about it.

It will continue the retro-futuristic theme

While Dodge is yet to release official images, we know that the first-ever electric Muscle car will score a retro-futuristic design. From what we managed to gather from the teasers, it will be a two-door coupe, very similar to the outgoing Dodge Challenger, which has been around since 2008. This was also when the retro-futuristic design was introduced, with the return of the Muscle car trio that is the Mustang Shelby GT500, Chevrolet Camaro SS, and of course, the Dodge Challenger R/T. To add to the retro vibe, Dodge brings back the "Fratzog" logo - a word made up by a Dodge designer and used between 1962 and 1976.

Gone is the archaic platform

Initial rumors suggested that the electric Muscle car from Dodge will be underpinned by a version of the old Mercedes-derived platform that would be adapted to accommodate an EV powertrain. The same platform, in one form or another, was used in cars like the Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum, Charger, and Challenger, which makes it at least 17 years old.

Those rumors, however, were put to rest and we now know that Dodge’s EV Muscle car will be based on one of the four new platforms, Stellantis has developed for EV models. We know that car companies are using what is known as “skateboard platforms”. These are modular platforms that can be used for anything from light commercial vehicles to three-row SUVs and anything in-between.

While nowadays it is a common practice, Stellantis is taking it even further by utilizing only four different platforms and three different sets of software across all 14 car brands under its banner. The new eMuscle from Dodge will be one of the first cars to be based on one of these EV platforms.

Long-range capabilities

While details regarding the powertrain of the first eMuscle car are still scarce, we know that the Stellantis platform will be good for up to 500 miles (805 km) of range on a single charge. Dodge’s EV Muscle car will, no doubt, come with the obligatory for the segment fast-charging capabilities that would allow for a 10 to 80 percent recharge in 30 to 40 minutes.

There might be more than one body style

While a neo-retro, two-door model inspired by the Dodge Challenger is, pretty much, in the bag, many predict that a four-door version will also appear. The four-door variant, should Dodge make one, will be the all-electric equivalent of the outgoing Dodge Charger, which in its last generation, was a four-door sedan. While this is yet to be confirmed, Ford has already made the Mach E while there have been rumors about the next-gen Camaro being a four-door EV sedan. With this in mind, Dodge is bound to follow suit.

What will the performance of the Dodge EV Muscle car be?

As it is not yet confirmed what electric powertrain will be powering the eMuscle from Dodge, all of the data currently available is speculative. Some suggest that the EV will pack as much as 900 horsepower, which would allow for a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) sprint in around 2.0 seconds. This, of course, will be confirmed no earlier than August when the EV Muscle car makes an official debut at the Dodge Speed Week event.

An all-wheel-drive variant may be available

While typically not associated with Muscle cars, all-wheel-drive seems to be a key feature of all high-performance EVs. With the actual powertrain still not confirmed by Dodge, we are not yet sure whether the EV Muscle car will have an all-wheel-drive variant, but it is not out of the question. The base version is still expected to be rear-wheel-drive only. All-wheel drive is not a new feature for Dodge’s Muscle car lineup. The Dodge Challenger and Charger GT and SXT trims, as well as the Charger Pursuit, can, optionally, be had with all-wheel drive.

How much will the Dodge eMuscle car cost?

The American Muscle car always had one goal in mind – affordable performance. American Muscles were, essentially, for those who wanted to go very fast, but couldn’t afford or did not want to spend a fortune on any of the European exotics. Of course, that was before Muscle cars from the 1960s and early 1970s became desired collectors’ cars. With that said, there are rumors that the electric Muscle car will have a starting price of $50,000. A high-performance SRT version is expected to be in the $70,000 to $80,000 range, although that remains to be confirmed.