Dodge’s commitment to police-spec Charger variants remains uncertain as the brand transitions to a new generation. The Charger sedan has long been a staple in law enforcement fleets since its reintroduction over a decade ago, becoming one of the most prevalent police vehicles in the United States.
However, with the introduction of a new generation featuring revamped powertrains, Dodge is deliberating whether to continue offering specially-equipped Chargers for police use.
While definitive plans are yet to be solidified, Dodge’s CEO, Tim Kuniskis, acknowledged the significance of police service vehicles to the brand’s business during a recent media briefing.
Although no specific announcements have been made, Kuniskis hinted at ongoing consideration for this segment. Should Dodge proceed with a new Charger police car, it’s likely to be based on the latest sedan iteration, as the outgoing model has ceased production.
This suggests there may not be a continuation of the classic Charger akin to Ram’s strategy with the 1500 pickup trucks. The previous model offered traditional engine options like the naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 and 5.7-liter V8, available in rear or all-wheel drive configurations.
However, consumer Chargers in the new generation will exclusively feature electric or “Hurricane” twin-turbo straight-six powertrains. While there is demand for higher-output engines among law enforcement, such as the old Dodge V8 or a variant of the new Hurricane engine, many police vehicles still utilize lower-output options like the Pentastar V6.
It remains uncertain if Dodge will produce a police-specific gas-powered Charger with the Pentastar V6, which is still in production and available in the base Ram 1500.
With the production of the new Charger sedan slated for next year, the launch of a new police car variant may be delayed. Therefore, for the time being, motorists need not worry about encountering the new Charger sedan in their rearview mirrors as a police cruiser.