The RWD Dodge Charger Is Dead as Muscle Car Goes AWD Only

Big changes are happening in Detroit. Once the home of V8 power and rear-wheel drive, Mopar muscle will soon be devoid of such machines. We already knew that Dodge was dropping the Hemi from the Charger's stable, but it's also taking rear-wheel drive from us, too. Moving forward, all Dodge Charger models will be all-wheel drive.

Regardless of the powertrain you choose—one of the two 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six engines or the electric Daytona powertrain—all Chargers will spin all four wheels. Interestingly, Stellantis' STLA Large platform, on which the Charger is based, is flexible enough to accommodate front, rear, and all-wheel-drive layouts, even with internal combustion. That means it can house engines mounted both transversely and longitudinally. In other words, Dodge could've made the Charger rear-wheel drive if it wanted, but evidently, it decided against it. Perhaps, the prospective market for rear-wheel drive Chargers was too small to make offering both drivetrains financially worth it.