Dodge is reintroducing the Charger as an all-wheel-drive police pursuit vehicle for U.S. law enforcement fleets [1].
The move addresses a significant void in the emergency vehicle market. Because Ford stopped producing a police sedan, law enforcement agencies have faced limited options for high-performance pursuit cars [1], [2].
The new Charger police pursuit vehicle (PPV) appeared recently at the Daytona Expo [3]. Unlike previous generations of the Charger, the new patrol-spec model will not use a V8 engine [3]. Instead, the vehicle will feature an all-wheel-drive system to improve handling and stability during pursuit operations [3].
Law enforcement agencies often rely on specialized sedans that can withstand the rigors of high-speed chases and long idling periods. The absence of a primary competitor like Ford has left a gap that Dodge, under the Stellantis umbrella, intends to fill [1], [2].
Orders for the patrol-spec Charger PPVs are expected to open in the summer of 2027 [1], [3]. This timeline suggests that agencies will have to continue utilizing existing fleets or alternative vehicle types for the next year before the new Charger becomes available for procurement.
While the specific powertrain details remain limited, the shift away from the V8 marks a transition in how police vehicles are engineered for the modern era. The focus has shifted toward all-wheel-drive capabilities to ensure versatility across different weather conditions, and terrains [3].
“Dodge is bringing back the Charger as an all-wheel-drive police pursuit vehicle.”
The return of the Charger PPV represents a strategic pivot by Dodge to capture a captive market left vacant by Ford. By removing the V8 engine in favor of all-wheel drive, Dodge is aligning the vehicle with broader automotive trends toward efficiency and traction over raw displacement, while still targeting the specific durability requirements of police fleets.
