The New Dodge Charger Is Currently YouTube's Most Popular Car for Building (or Destroying)

      Evan Shanks / Rob Dahm / Cleetus McFarland (edited by author)

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      Few people are purchasing the new Dodge Charger, which poses a problem. We spoke with Dodge CEO Matt McAlear about this back in March, and when asked if it was time to be concerned, he stated that it was "too early" to say. Several months have passed since that discussion, and I’m not spotting many more Chargers—except when I refresh my YouTube feed. Vloggers and influencers are embracing them, which could imply one of two scenarios.

      Either the Charger is the next great modification platform, or it’s a complete failure. The perspective likely depends on whom you ask.

      I want to clarify why so many YouTubers are showcasing Dodge Charger builds on their channels. Dodge has provided some of these cars to content creators as gifts or loans for video production. However, these are not fully finished production models; they are engineering prototypes that cannot be registered for street use. Instead of crushing them, it seems Dodge opted for a more strategic approach to generate publicity. And look! It appears to be working!

      Rob Dahm is among the YouTubers currently pushing the new Charger to its extremes. In his video introducing the project, Dahm mentioned that he has the car to experiment with for two years and intends to create a powerhouse from the SixPack’s turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six.

      Right now, Dahm is constructing the car to compete with others at Roadkill Nights. Since that’s a Dodge event, it’s logical that the brand would support the presence of impressive vehicles. He had no intention of keeping it stock, and on Thursday, he shared a video featuring the Charger with a freshly made 3D-printed exhaust manifold that allows the larger single turbo to spool incredibly quickly.

      Overall, Dahm appears optimistic about the Hurricane engine’s ability to generate significant power, and to be fair, so do I. The only vehicle I’ve driven with this engine is the Ram 1500, and even in such a hefty pickup, it performs remarkably well.

      It’s not as if the Charger is significantly lighter, however. That’s what YouTuber Evan Shanks is currently addressing with the Charger he received from Dodge. He is entering the same bracket-style competition as Dahm, and while he has also completed a large single-turbo swap, Shanks has shifted his focus to reducing the weight of the 4,700-pound vehicle.

      In total, Shanks managed to decrease the car’s weight by 816 pounds, bringing it below the two-ton threshold. Since it’s not intended for street use, he removed the extra seats, airbags, sound system, and sound-deadening materials. This helped tackle what many perceive as the new Charger’s primary issue—aside from the absence of a V8 engine under the hood.

      Dahm and Shanks are just a couple of YouTubers modifying new Chargers, and they are certainly not the only ones.

      Cleetus McFarland is creating content with a Charger Daytona Scat Pack EV, but Dodge didn’t provide it for him. Instead, he negotiated with a dealer who sold it to him for $39,485—half of its original MSRP of $78,970. I was aware of the significant discounts on these cars, but who would have imagined such a price was achievable on a new vehicle?

      McFarland has been much less complimentary towards the platform. His latest video is titled, “Testing The Worst Car In America.” I suppose this approach is possible when there’s no obligation to please the manufacturer. Despite that, he has nearly taken a full Whistlin’ Diesel approach with the car, putting it through a tug-of-war and burning through its tires.

      These three YouTubers collectively have over six million followers. While there may be some overlap, their combined reach is still substantial. Dodge is working to manage the narrative surrounding the Charger by giving it to creators like Dahm and Shanks, who they believe will produce exciting content. Meanwhile, McFarland—whose channel boasts nearly five million of those followers—is criticizing the vehicle.

      It’s quite a contrast. Regardless, there’s a lot at stake for Dodge, as the perceptions of millions of enthusiasts regarding the Charger could be influenced significantly through this content. The Detroit automaker is betting on the cars they gifted to sway opinions in their favor.

      Have a tip or question for the author? Reach out to them directly: caleb@thedrive.com