With the electrified version of the new Dodge Charger not being particularly popular with Mopar fans, the automaker has reportedly cancelled development on what would have been the fastest all-electric version of the car. Meanwhile, Stellantis seems to be scrapping other EV-focused plans to revive the V8.
While the Charger Daytona Scat Pack is supposed to persist into 2026, Dodge had already cancelled the base-trimmed Charger Daytona R/T due to lacking demand. Meanwhile, the Charger Daytona SRT Banshee was supposed to be the EV equivalent of the gasoline-powered Hellcat models.
Dodge hinted the Banshee would crest 800 horsepower thanks to its trio of all-electric motors and 800-volt electrical system. However, Mopar Insiders has reported that the brand is putting development on ice — leaving the Scat Pack as the company’s fastest EV.
Following the corporate merger that created Stellantis, it seemed pretty clear that the business wanted to pivot Dodge’s performance vehicles toward electrified models. But the all-electric Charger hasn’t been popular, yielding fewer than 2,000 deliveries in the first quarter of 2025. That’s about as many holdover Charger and Challenger models the brand sold within the same timeframe. This is despite the older, gasoline-powered models not even being in production anymore.
Stellantis led with the Charger Daytona EV for the STLA Large platform, leaving the 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo I6 for later. But the base electric was faulted for being too expensive (starting MSRP $59,595 for the R/T trim) and outrageously heavy. Granted, the older V8-powered models weren’t exactly the sharpest or lightest performance vehicles on the market. But they balanced above-average comfort with increasingly mental levels of power and a visceral feel provided by wedging a massive powertrain into a rear-drive vehicle.
The new model is certainly flashy. But the all-digital interior is polarizing and the driving dynamics should be described as grand tourer rather than muscle car. Acceleration remains genuinely impressive. But it’s a more placid experience elsewhere, tilting more toward modern, tech-focused luxury than overall performance. Its heavy reliance on touch controls and electronic hardware also sap feedback from the driver — a problem we’ve seen with modern cars in general, particularly of the all-electric variety.
Based on how the EV has been received by the public, and the fact that Dodge has promised to bring back the V8 HEMI, we should have seen the Banshee’s demise coming.
From Mopar Insiders:
In a series of surprising moves over the past six months, Stellantis has reversed course on what once seemed like an inevitable march toward an all-electric future. The 5.7-liter HEMI V8 has made a thunderous return to the 2026 Ram 1500 lineup, the Dodge Durango will be offered exclusively with HEMI power in the U.S. for 2026, and Jeep not only confirmed the continuation of the 6.4-liter HEMI V8-powered Wrangler Rubicon 392 but also teased that a Gladiator variant is in development. It’s a stark contrast to the company’s earlier strategy, which aimed to replace nearly every engine with a battery pack.
Previously, Stellantis seemed determined to retire its rumbling, gas-burning HEMI V8s in favor of electrified platforms. However, a mix of strong consumer backlash, softening EV demand, and executive shakeups has clearly reshaped the company’s strategy.
Gone is the all-electric Ram 1500 REV, once positioned as the brand’s direct answer to Ford’s Lightning electric pickup. And just days ago, our friends at TFLTruck reported that Jeep’s Gladiator 4xe plug-in hybrid (PHEV) program has been canceled. Now, MoparInsiders has confirmed through one of our trusted supplier sources that yet another high-profile electric vehicle (EV) has met the same fate.
The Banshee is likewise no longer going to become Dodge’s next halo vehicle. The electric Charger Daytona simply isn’t seeing the kind of sales of praise to rationalize its existence. Dodge has been unwilling to confirm or deny anything. But Mopar Insiders claims that internal sources have claimed the Banshee’s demise has already been decided by the company.
“Stellantis continues to reassess its product strategy to align with consumer demand,” the automaker stated. “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.”
It seems like Dodge is moving away from electrics and will attempt to see how the 3.0-liter Hurricane I6 and subsequent V8 models will perform. But we doubt that strategy will be sufficient by itself. Dodge, like automakers, really needs to keep an eye on pricing. While Americans still love big motors, they’re also tapping out on elevated vehicle pricing. The ceiling can only be built so high and attempting to price gasoline-powered Charger sedans and coupes substantially higher than their predecessors may not go over well.
[Images: Dodge]
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