The classic American police car is a large V8-powered rear-wheel drive (RWD) sedan. Unfortunately, big V8 sedans no longer exist outside of the luxury classes.
Police departments nationwide turned to midsize SUVs when Dodge canceled the V8-powered Charger at the end of the 2023 model year. The Ford Explorer and Dodge Durango come in specialized editions developed just for police departments. But, as 2024 ends, no automaker builds an old-school police car anymore.
The black-and-white sedan with red-and-blue lights could make a comeback.
Dodge has a new Charger on the way for 2025, though dealers don’t have it in stock yet. It’s a large car, though not a V8-powered one. Dodge plans to offer it in both coupe and sedan styles. Motor Trend reports that Dodge could develop the next Charger into a police car.
“Dodge is working on police packages for the future” but has “no timeline yet” on the project. The news comes from an interview with new Dodge CEO Matt McAlear, who took over the company’s leadership in May.
McAlear told Motor Trend, “A Dodge Charger Pursuit concept was shown at a law enforcement show a few months ago and the reaction was overwhelming.” The company is “working with the California Highway Patrol and Michigan State Police to discuss their needs, and there is still a lot of testing to do.”
The police Charger could appear before the end of 2025, MT reports.
It will not, however, follow the classic RWD V8 layout. Dodge plans to offer the new Charger with two propulsion systems – an all-electric drivetrain or a turbocharged inline-6-cylinder engine.
