--- title: "The RWD Dodge Charger Is Dead as Muscle Car Goes AWD Only" description: "All 2024 Dodge Chargers will be all-wheel drive, no matter how many doors they have or how they're propelled." date: "2024-03-05" modified: "2024-03-05" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/goodbye-rwd-2024-dodge-charger-is-awd-only" categories: - "Dodge News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "charger" - "Coupe" - "dodge" - "sedan" - "sports car" --- # The RWD Dodge Charger Is Dead as Muscle Car Goes AWD Only ![]() *\Stellantis\* 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. ![]() **Stellantis** Fret not, though, muscle car aficionados: Dodge will still let you engage in tire-smoking shenanigans. In addition to the Charger's typical drive modes, such as Eco, Sport, and Track, the Charger also has what Dodge calls "Race Options," of which there are five: Line Lock, Drift Mode, Donut Mode, Race Prep, and Launch Control. Three of those Race Options are purposely designed for rear-wheel-drive thrills. Line Lock is like any other muscle car's line lock, in that it holds the front wheels. However, in the Charger's case it also completely removes torque from the front axle, allowing drivers to smoke their rear tires. Donut Mode is essentially the same thing, in that it allows only the rear tires to spin, but it also lets the car rotate around either of its front wheels without traction control intervention. Drift Mode gives the driver a choice of three slip angle levels while sending most of the torque to the rear axle and only using some front-axle torque to help maintain a drift. It also sets the front dampers to their softest setting and the rear dampers to their stiffest, and permits different wheel speeds without setting off any system error codes. ![]() **Stellantis** With neither a Hemi V8 nor rear-wheel drive in sight, the new Charger might not win over the most fervent Mopar diehards immediately. However, it's still a rear-biased American muscle car, with a minimum of 420 horsepower from the Hurricane straight-six, and several tire-torching drive modes, *and* it comes with either two or four doors. Rear-wheel drive might be gone, but all hope is not lost. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()