Mopar Gets Its Juice On with Electric Lineup

The electrification of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram is underway in earnest.

Record books will be rewritten, expectations will be surpassed and what was once thought impossible will become routine. The electrification of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram was the subject of a recent super-secret Mopar dealer’s group meeting in Las Vegas. How secret, might you ask? Attendees had to pass through “TSA-style” security to enter the room and were told they couldn’t record any audio or take a video of the upcoming models on display.

Everything we’re reporting to you in our latest Leith Cars blog was taken with hand-written notes. Oh, the humanity! But seriously, what went down in Vegas is a big deal and it definitely isn’t staying in Vegas, if you get our drift?

Here are a few of the highlights and yes, they are electrifying.

Ram 1500 REV:

Ram’s first electric pickup truck will be able to drive 500 miles between battery charges when it goes on sale in 2024. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the new Ram 1500 REV’s range is 100 miles more than any other electric pickup currently in or nearing production.

The new electric Ram will host a 229 kWh hour battery pack, the largest battery ever announced for a pickup truck. A standard-level Ram 1500 REV will come with a 350-mile range battery pack producing 168 kWh.

Those are impressive numbers for any EV, but this is a truck and trucks need to be capable of carrying heavy payloads and hauling big stuff. Thanks to the Ram’s optional battery pack, the new EV truck can tow a maximum of 14,000 pounds and receive a max payload of 2,700 pounds.

You can even use your new Ram 1500 REV as an emergency power backup at home due to the truck’s ability to provide 7.2 kW of power for electrical equipment and with its home integration system, allow you to power your home in the event of a blackout.

Dodge Charger SRT Concept:

Even though several video reels teasing the next-gen Charger have been released since news broke last year about Dodge’s iconic nameplate going full EV, there are not as many confirmed details on the new model as we have on the Ram 1500 REV. For the sake of our blog though, we’ve cobbled together some scribbled intel following the Vegas meeting to provide you with what we know so far.

The two-door Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept you see above will be the brand’s halo electric vehicle once it reaches production form. Of course, any EV offering by Dodge is big news since the brand, up until now, with its famed high horsepower, gas-chugging Charger sedan and Challenger coupe, was the antithesis of the electric vehicle movement.

So to keep Mopar fans happy and hopefully bring new fans to the brand, Dodge intends to build its Charger EV like a new-age muscle car. Complete with a front wing that acts as an aerodynamic pass-through for downforce, a multispeed transmission with electro-mechanical shifting and what Dodge calls an “exhaust” sound (artificially created) that can reach 126 decibels, (as loud as a Hemi V8-powered Hellcat), the Charger EV will be built to thrill.

One year after the release of the production Charger Daytona EV, Dodge plans to release what it’s calling a Charger “Banshee” available as an EV and as an “I.C.E.” (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicle. The old-school powered Banshee can be had with a 400 hp 3.0 liter, single-turbocharged I6 under the hood or with an optional 500 horsepower dual-turbo I6 engine code-named Hurricane.

Chrysler Airflow:

It only makes sense that the company that pioneered aerodynamic automotive design in the 1930s with the original Chrysler Airflow would bring back the moniker and apply it to its future electric vehicle offering. In the case of the upcoming battery-electric powered Chrysler Airflow, slated for a 2025 release, Chrysler is setting the stage to reintroduce itself as a builder of “clean mobility,” promising an all-electric portfolio by 2028.

As Chrysler states in their new promo video, the move to electric is more than just engineering a new powertrain, Chrysler plans to change how “we” as consumers interact with our vehicles. From elegant but athletic sculpted lines across the Airflow’s exterior to a warm, inviting interior featuring a full, panoramic roof to let in plenty of natural lighting, the new Airflow hopes to elevate every road trip or commute.

Chrysler intends to build a premium, connected vehicle with the new Airflow, one that will enhance the lives of those who travel within its space. Featuring a connectivity hub that will allow drivers and passengers to integrate all things digital, the Airflow will offer video conferencing, gaming and screen sharing. Customization will allow passengers to personalize their digital space within the Airflow’s cabin.

The Chrysler Airflow will also feature STLA Auto Drive which is capable of up to Level-3 autonomous driving, the convenience of “over-the-air” tech updates and an electric driving range of up to 400 miles.

Jeep Recon:

Dubbed “Recon,” the first all-electric Jeep is Inspired by the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid. The all-new four-wheel-drive Recon EV is a mid-size SUV slated to arrive sometime in 2024.

The Recon will offer an available power-folding rooftop and easy-to-remove doors, just like the Wrangler. Also similar to the Recon’s cousin, the new electric off-roader is expected to feature a tailgate-mounted spare tire.

Nothing else has been confirmed yet regarding price, range, the size of the Recon’s battery or the expected total power output. What does seem ready for the production version can be seen in the images shared so far by Jeep like the illuminated seven-slot front grille, seating for five and aggressive rubber at all four corners.

Now the question is, are you ready to get your juice on?

Written by Mark Arsen for LeithCars.com.