Behold, the Drop-Top Charger Daytona EV Dodge Won’t Make
Nothing suggests that Dodge will release a convertible version of the new Charger, so the aftermarket is again stepping in to fill the void. Florida-based coachbuilder Drop Top Customs chopped off the Charger Daytona’s roof to create the only electric four-seater convertible currently available in the United States.
Drop Top Customs sounds like the kind of company that you’d trust with the Herculean task of turning a coupe into a convertible. While it’s not affiliated with Dodge or with parent company Stellantis, it received the brand’s blessing to turn the Challenger Hellcat into a convertible for the 2023 model year. That’s no small feat: Carmakers normally steer well clear of third-party conversions that alter a car’s basic structure.
Unveiled on social media, the Charger convertible looks just like the regular-production coupe from the rocker panels to the belt line. Above that, it gets a power-operated cloth soft top that neatly slots below a tonneau cover in its down position. It’s a look that works well if you ask us, though there are some quirks. The trunk lid looks misaligned, for example. We’ll give Drop Top Customs the benefit of the doubt, hope that the pictures show a pre-production prototype, and assume later builds will have better panel gaps.
There’s no word on what changes were made beneath the body to offset the inevitable loss of structural rigidity that comes with sawing off a car’s roof. The coupe’s battery, which is right below the passenger compartment, might mitigate this, but the gasoline-powered Charger will likely need reinforcements.
Pricing and availability haven’t been announced, and Dodge hasn’t commented on the project, so it’s too early to tell whether buyers will be able to order a convertible through a dealer. For context, the Dodge-authorized Challenger convertible cost a whopping $25,999 in addition to the cost of the donor car.
They really need to make a lighter car with an updated V8.
The reviews on the EV are not staggering and the I6 I think will just not be what the Hemi was in the mind of the fans.
I think Stellantis has bigger problems to worry about than to give us a car we want… we can opine about what they should’ve done all day long, but what’s done is done, they shot themselves in the foot as an organization and need to find a tourniquet to stop the bleeding (K-Car 2.0 perhaps?)
Either way, I think in the case of a V8 car from MOPAR, we can wish in one hand and poop in another and see which fills up quicker.
I fully agree they have issues. They failed to bring a line of cheaper ICE efficient cars to off set the more expensive profitable trucks.
What they should have done is brought a lighter, cleaner and Cheaper V8 push rod engine. This is what Americans buy. They would have been more profitable and improved the trucks to better pay for the things they needs. But they would just bleed any profits from Dodge and Ram anyways to save French brands no one would buy.
Right now everyone is in some stress in the industry. Some more than others. The key will be to maintain ICE as well EV to gain as much market share as possible and few can afford this.
I mean, they’ve been failing to bring cheap, quality ICE vehicles to market for the better part of 15 years, this is nothing new, just the inevitable result.
Sure, the EV component is a complication, but with it being more and more difficult to do business in some states and some global metropolitan areas, it’s a necessity. I at least applaud Dodge for coming up with the first EV that has some actual design thoughtfulness, so there’s that.
I agree, we all want ICE vehicles that are cheap, and cheap fuel to run them on. The one point where I will disagree with your view is that I don’t think the need is a cheap V8. The average new car buyer cares about whether or not there is a V8 under the hood, rather what the monthly payment will be and does it fit their daily needs. Not a thing more. I think as enthusiasts, we bias towards assuming everyone cares about the heart and soul of their vehicle, which hate to say, we’re in the minority.
That aside, they completely missed the mark with their core enthusiast, but how could they, being on life support like they are. Don’t think we can expect much interesting out of Stellantis until they get their house in order.
The new Charger does not look good to me. Making a drop top does not help the lines at all.
that trunk though
My kid would not have gone to college if they made a production Challenger drop-top as my funds would have been otherwise spoken for.
Not attractive, and the trunk lid has an horrendous gap.
No, not for me. I have probably already bought my last new car. Charger never came as a convertible. I realize they also cut the top off late model Challengers, that seems OK at least original Challengers had the option.
If you are interested in appearance, this car has all the looks anyone could want. I love its lines, sleek and rounded.
Is anyone else tired of black interiors? They’ve become ubiquitous, especially on Stellantis products.
Agreed … I tend to look for cars that don’t have black interiors or worst case, some kind two-tone component to the aesthetics. Have to assume that limiting the interior color choices is part of the cost reduction efforts.
I am more tired of the black wheels seen on almost all of the Stellantis products.
Absolutely!! I find them a detraction as well.
Through an unexpected quirk, I was able to get silver wheels on my Durango by ordering full, second row seats.
I long felt Tavares to be an idiot running Stellantis. Mercifully, he resigned in December. Hopefully they can find a true product guy to run it. They did pretty well with the two Italian guys, Iacocca and Marchionne; just sayin’.
There will be fewer than 100 made and we will all be back to make snarky comments on Hagerty Marketplace in a few years when one shows up for sale.