It’s in-EV-itable: the Dodge Charger goes electrical…ultimately. But earlier than that occurs, Dodge goes all-out with the Charger Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak, pairing near-Demon horsepower with a cornucopia of visible choices. However, even when the Charger isn’t fairly prepared for its battery-powered future, that future is right here. And it appears to be like a lot just like the 2022 Lucid Air GT Performance. So, can the old-school automotive nonetheless compete with the new-age one? YouTube crew Throttle House determined to search out out.
2022 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak vs. 2022 Lucid Air GT Performance: The previous and way forward for supercar-slaying sedans
| 2022 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak | 2022 Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance | |
| Engine/motor association | Front-mounted 6.2-liter supercharged V8 | Front and rear permanent-magnet synchronous AC electrical motors |
| Horsepower | 807 hp | 1050 hp |
| Torque | 707 lb-ft | 921 lb-ft |
| Transmission | Eight-speed computerized | N/A (direct-drive) |
| Battery capability | N/A | 112.0 kWh |
| Curb weight | 4591 lbs | 5200-5250 lbs |
| 0-60 mph time | 3.5 seconds | 2.6 seconds |
By the time you end saying ‘2022 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak,’ the RWD sedan might be hitting 60 mph. But whereas its title is lengthy, its premise is easy.
Mechanically, it’s a Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody with 10 extra horsepower. For comparability, that leaves it only one horsepower down from the enduring Demon. Plus, that additional energy comes with some additional visible pop inside and outdoors. That’s the ‘Jailbreak’ half: it provides the Dodge Charger entry to previously-denied colour combos. And that features all the pieces from the stripes to the seat belts, brake calipers, and ground mats.
Since the Demon is out of manufacturing, the Jailbreak is the top of the 2022 Dodge Charger lineup. That’s additionally what the Lucid Air GT (Grand Touring) Performance is for the California-based EV model now that the Dream Edition is bought out. Yet whereas it provides up some energy in comparison with the Dream Performance, the Air GT provides up little if any pace.
Lucid claims the Air GT Performance can go 0-60 mph time 2.6 seconds. As of this writing, no impartial supply has verified that. However, when Car and Driver not too long ago examined the 819-hp Grand Touring, which rides on all-season as an alternative of summer time tires, the AWD EV hit 60 mph in 3.0 seconds. In addition, its 10.7-second ¼-mile time edges out the non-Jailbreak Charger Hellcat Redeye’s 11.5-second time.
But the Air can’t cease worrying about the Charger simply but.
Can a supercharged muscle automotive actually sustain with a Tesla-fighting EV?
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Throttle House’s head-to-head method was easy. Both the Dodge Charger Jailbreak and Lucid Air GT Performance ran two ¼-mile drag races. The first was from a standing begin whereas the second featured a rolling begin. The latter eliminates traction and launch management to focus solely on the vehicles’ drivetrains. And it’s right here the place the Charger would possibly catch up.
See, EVs are fast off the road as a result of they don’t have transmissions to shift or engines to rev. Instead, they’ve 0-rpm max torque. But that additionally signifies that some begin to ‘taper off’ after the explosive launch. Unfortunately for the Charger, the Lucid Air GT Performance doesn’t taper that a lot. The non-Performance Grand Touring beat the Charger Hellcat Redeye in Car and Driver’s 0-100 and 0-150 checks, too.
However, from a rolling begin, the Dodge Charger Jailbreak is seemingly neck-and-neck with the EV. Car and Driver recorded equivalent 5-60 instances for each sedans: 3.7 seconds. And take into account that 5-60 instances are extra indicative of real-world efficiency than 0-60 instances.
Furthermore, the dragstrip Throttle House used was simply re-paved, which means its floor was extra-grippy. Admittedly, that advantages the Air simply as a lot because the Charger. But with fewer pushed wheels, the Dodge’s efficiency would possibly get a bigger enhance compared. So, the supercharged muscle sedan isn’t essentially utterly outclassed.
Which is quicker, the 2022 Lucid Air GT Performance or the 2022 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak?
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Unfortunately, or maybe, inevitably, the 2022 Dodge Charger Jailbreak can’t sustain with the Lucid Air GT Performance. Even with near-Demon energy, the Charger was slower than the Air in each drag races. Compared to the Dodge, the Lucid EV took off like a silent rocket from each a standing and a rolling begin.
So, for now, Dodge’s muscle vehicles aren’t a match for the quickest EVs. But when the model’s electrical vehicles break cowl, you may be there’ll be a Lucid vs. Dodge rematch.
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