Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

We're punching it in a muscle car turned EV, the Dodge Charger Daytona... Then, we'll cool off with boosted intercooler info... Our FYI reporter tackles concerns over car data privacy before closing out with a luxury-appointed 4-door, the Genesis G80...

So, come drive with us, next!

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JOHN: We're never quite sure what to expect when it comes to new hardware from Dodge these days.

Although, based on their recent history, there's a good chance it's going to be loud, fast, and maybe even a bit obnoxious.

But, what about that all-new, all-electric Dodge Charger muscle car we've all heard so much about.

Can it be all of these things?

♪ ♪ As to the "loud" part, if you're lucky enough to be in a front perch of the all-new Dodge Charger Daytona, you might never even know it's an EV.

And that's just the way Dodge wants it...sort of.

But, more on that later.

Their aim was to build a next gen muscle car, and if a minority are insisting on quiet battery power, well, they'll work that into the mix too.

It's Dodge's first full BEV, and at launch there will be two Charger Daytonas available, both two-doors; a 496 horsepower R/T with 404 pound-feet of torque and a 670 horsepower Scat Pack with 627 pound-feet.

Those numbers include the 10 second, 40 horsepower boost you get from the Power Shot feature.

(engine revving) Both work with a 100.5 kilowatt hour battery for as much as 308 miles of range in the R/T, and 241 in the Scat Pack.

Both have dual-motor all-wheel-drive setups as standard.

The 400 volt system allows for full 350 kilowatt DC fast charging, getting you to 80 percent in as little as 24 minutes.

There will be 4-door versions of the Charger to follow and ICE power is coming too, courtesy of the Stellantis inline-6 Hurricane engine.

But for now, they certainly got the look of this all-electric coupe right; both proportions and stance are pure muscle car, with a 121 inch wheelbase that's stretched 5.0 inches compared to the last Challenger coupe.

Up front, you'll have to look close to see the R-Wing, which helps deliver the look of a traditional tall Challenger-style face.

That allows lots of air to pass through, enhancing aero efficiency and creating additional front downforce.

Inside, it's mostly muscle car territory with only minor tech intrusion.

It looks great and familiar.

There's even a big ol' pistol grip "shifter" with true detents.

That, plus a bit of artificial driveline lash, gives the feeling you are really dropping into gear.

The big thick steering wheel, and sporty but soft bucket seats feel like they could have come straight out of the last Challenger.

Lots of ambient lighting on the dash and door panels, setting a tone that's consistent with your drive mode.

There's also plenty of colored stitching, and materials that look and feel a step above any previous Charger.

One major area that differs from the Challenger is in the back, where it's now a liftback, making for a larger and more accessible 22.8 cubic-foot cargo area.

Sixty/forty split-folding seatbacks enable a max of 37.4 cubic-feet.

A Scat Pack weighs about 1,300 pounds over a comparable V8 Challenger Hellcat, but that weight is not only sitting in a better place, it's spread out more evenly.

Both Daytonas feature the same multi-link front and integral-link rear suspension, but Scat Packs get updated dual-valve adaptive dampers, along with bigger brakes.

Taking a few laps around the Radford Racing School road course near Phoenix, Arizona, the Charger Daytona felt heavy but capable like a Challenger, and the brakes were definitely working overtime.

But it was also a little more eager to turn in, had plenty of smooth power for coming out of corners and great all-wheel-drive grip to plant that power into the pavement rather than spinning up the rear tires on top of it.

Over on the drag strip it's definitely fast.

We saw consistent 11.5s in the Scat Pack, with a 120 miles per hour trap speed.

0-60?

Less than 3.5 seconds.

Not only is there tunable launch control, but a line-lock, Race Prep mode, and performance pages to monitor it all.

Battery status only dropped by about one percent with every pass, so you could make plenty of runs and still have enough battery for the trip home.

And now, back to that "loud" part.

You can switch-on all those fantastic "exhaust" noises you're hearing.

It's coming from the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system.

It delivers a whole host of virtual engine and exhaust sounds, both outside and inside the car, that are constant from start-up through acceleration and deceleration.

There are unique exhaust sounds for different drive modes, and they can indeed be a "bit obnoxious" at the wrong times.

You can eliminate the front motor from the process if you choose, with both Drift and Donut drive modes to deliver the typical muscle car performance you may be looking for.

Daytona pricing starts at $61,590 for the R/T; Scat Packs begin at $75,980.

If you've got the need for speed, not to mention wanting to make a hard-to-ignore visual and audible entrance, this new-wave Dodge Charger Daytona is one EV that delivers on all counts.

It's an electrified ride that even muscle car fans can embrace.

We're also more than glad to see that Dodge is making cars again, and making them with great stories to tell!

♪ ♪ JOHN: When you connect your mobile phone to your car, you expect it to enhance your driving experience with apps for music, navigation, and alike, not to mention make it easier and safer to stay in touch when out on the road.

But lately, serious questions have been raised about where your personal and often very private information goes from there.

Well, a non-profit, known as Privacy4Cars, has made it its mission to identify and resolve those data privacy issues.

Our FYI reporter Stephanie Hart has more.

♪ ♪ STEPHANIE HART: Vehicles are sold...rented, and shared every day, and you may not realize cars indefinitely store all of your personal information; things like your home address, and even in some cases your garage door code, call logs, full text messages, and even your contacts.

Not deleting this personal, private information can have serious consequences.

For instance, privacy issues usually become financial issues.

ANDREA AMICO: Some cars will collect data and then this data ends up being sold to data brokers, typically for a few cents.

And then, this data ends up in the hands of insurance companies and they will see how you drive, and based on that they may decide to raise your insurance rate or not insure you at all.

And most consumers have no idea that this is happening in the first place.

STEPHANIE: Andrea Amico founded Privacy4Cars eight years ago to protect consumers.

He says, at its worse, car privacy issues can also lead to violence.

ANDREA: Abusive spouses use data from cars to stalk, harass, and even physically harm their victims, and, uh, fortunately we are starting to see some states act, like California just passed a law to start to have some minimum protections.

The Federal Communications Commission is looking into this issue, but a lot more progress is required.

STEPHANIE: Consumers may discover they can't control, if and how data from their cars will be sold or shared.

That's because too many companies only do the bare minimum under the law and several states lack privacy protections for vehicles.

ANDREA: So what people don't realize is that when they buy their car or rent a car, as part of the agreement, not only are they writing a check but they're also agreeing for their data to be collected and used for essentially anything.

STEPHANIE: That's pretty unsettling and that's what prompted Amico to act.

ANDREA: I used to inspect cars, uh, in my old company and I came across a lot of data of people, and I started asking people in the industry, "Do you know this is happening?

Where is this data going?"

And nobody seemed to have any good answers, so that's when I decided to do something about it.

STEPHANIE: He says, "Two critical moments are when you purchase a vehicle and when you are selling it."

Here's how you can protect yourself: Be informed, know what your vehicle is capable of and then decide if you want to opt out of certain data collection.

Delete all of your personal, private data when you sell your car.

If you don't know how to do it, there are resources out there.

Here are some suggestions: Look in the vehicle's manual, call the manufacturer for help, search online for video tutorials, download the Privacy4cars app which will walk you through the process step by step for your specific make and model.

If it seems too overwhelming to do yourself then ask your dealership to delete all of your personal data when you sell your car.

However, it's smart to look over their shoulder to make sure it's done.

And it's important to remember the same processes apply when you return a rental car.

ANDREA: Our mission is driving privacy which is a little bit tongue and cheek, but the idea is if you buy your car you should be in control of your data.

You should decide where it goes, how it's used and to make sure that the data is protected throughout the lifecycle of the car.

STEPHANIE: Still, when you turn in that key fob, it's up to you to make sure your privacy doesn't go along with it.

JOHN: More power usually means more heat, which is why intercoolers are such an important part of any turbo or supercharged setup.

Logan McCombs is here to boost our knowledge of boosted cooling on MotorWeek's "Your Drive."

♪ ♪ LOGAN MCCOMBS: Having a turbocharger or supercharger on your car can be fun.

They provide you with extra power without having your engine work as hard, and they do make great noises!

However, they will get hot as your engine gets to operating temperature especially when you start to push it.

This will cause the air that's being pulled in to be warm.

That's why having an intercooler is a crucial piece to make sure you get the best performance out of your engine.

Now, intercoolers aren't new technology, but, while the engineering has evolved from the systems on this '94 Lancia, they all fundamentally work the same.

An intercooler is a cooling device that's fitted between the pathway of the turbocharger and the intake of your engine.

This is all connected by an air plumbing system.

Hot air pulled in by the turbocharger, travels down to the intercooler via piping.

The air then goes through a small set of tubes that run the entire length of the intercooler, thus cooling it down.

Here's a look at that airflow using a fog machine.

On the outside, you will see visible fins that allow air to pass over the metal pipes inside the intercooler while you're driving, cooling these pipes and allowing for the air inside to become dense and up to 20 to 30 degrees cooler.

Optimal airflow depends on the intercooler's mounting location, usually in the front behind the bumper or grille, but they can also be on top of the engine where it is getting air from a hood scoop.

Now you may be wondering, "doesn't my radiator already do that?"

While this is true, a radiator and an intercooler do completely different tasks.

A radiator is used to cool your coolant while it flows through your hot engine to help maintain optimum temperatures and to not let it overheat.

The intercooler cools the compressed air that is pulled in by your turbocharger and fed into your engine.

Cooler air is denser, making for a more efficient, and reliable, and happier engine.

If you have any questions or comments reach out to us right here at MotorWeek .

♪ ♪ JESSICA RAY: Did you know... it's strongly recommended that children stay in rear-facing car seats for as long as possible.

Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration agree that children should be sitting rear-facing until they are at least 2.0 years old, or exceed the maximum height and weight limit of the child seat.

This is also law in a number of states.

So, the best way to keep your little ones safe is to keep them rear-facing for as long as you can.

JOHN: Your never know what a new car is really like until you take it out for a QuickSpin!

♪ ♪ JESSICA: Just because the average new car transaction price is hovering around $50,000 doesn't mean people aren't interested in more affordable options; and the same can be said for size.

Bigger doesn't always mean better, as this 2025 Kia K4 aims to prove.

The K4 is an all-new compact sedan nameplate, though it does serve as a replacement for the Forte.

And you could say small cars are one of Kia's fortes, thanks to their resume of commuter greats.

The K4 is a clear next step up, taking from Kia's current design language consisting of sharp lines and amber daytime runners, the front fascia's aggressive grillwork serving as a gateway to the engine bay.

There, a standard naturally aspirated 2.0 liter 4-cylinder is mounted on most grades, rated at 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, driving the front wheels through a CVT automatic transmission.

The GT-Line, which we spent most of our First Drive time with in Austin, Texas, can kick things up a notch thanks to an optional 1.6 liter turbo-4.

All 190 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque is again sent to the front wheels, this time channeled by an 8-speed automatic.

The cabin, like the exterior, is modern Kia, but with an even bigger improvement in style and function over the Forte.

There's plenty of standard easy-to-use tech, most notably a 12.3 inch infotainment touch screen.

It's paired to a 12.3 inch gauge unit in most grades, and wireless smartphone integration is standard.

LOGAN: There's so much technology packed into this vehicle with features like collision avoidance and pedestrian avoidance.

I've got a 30 inch digital dash in front of me that's able to display all the information that I could need and want.

I don't have to go menu diving for it at all.

And I'm driving around in the 1.6 liter turbocharged powertrain setup, which is super snappy and it's got enough pep in its step to get you on and off the highway, and while driving around town.

JESSICA: Doubling back to our original value claim, this compact 4-door starts around $23,000.

And even the top-trim GT-Line Turbo starts just shy of $30 grand.

They're available on dealer lots now and, to us, an impressive addition to Kia's compact repertoire.

We'll have more on the 2025 Kia K4, and more QuickSpins...soon!

♪ ♪ GREG CARLOSS: Five months in and our 2024 Honda Accord just got its first taste of true winter weather, with extended cold temperatures and the most significant snowfall we've had here in the Mid-Atlantic in a few years.

Touring trim comes exclusively with the hybrid powertrain, which joins a 2.0 liter I4 engine with a two-motor electronic CVT.

So far, it has delivered a great 45.6 miles per gallon.

As far as CVTs go, the Accord's is a good one, barely even noticeable to most of us.

But you will hear some different levels of engine noises than you're used to experiencing if you're upgrading from a previous gen Accord with a traditional automatic, as they don't always perfectly align with throttle inputs.

Powertrain noises aside, we have no gripes with the Accord Hybrid's ability to get up and go from a stop.

The top-end speed is nothing to write home about, but for things like getting out onto a busy section of road or making moves around town it's got more than enough pep.

Check out this cute little number, 500 with an e for all-electric.

This Fiat 500e is the newest member of our long-term fleet.

We'll get to know it a little better, as well as update you on our Cadillac LYRIQ, on the next MotorWeek Long-Term Road Test Update!

JOHN: Talk about bad timing.

This 2nd generation Genesis G80 debuted at the height of a global pandemic.

But that hasn't stopped Genesis or this Bentley-on-a-budget sedan.

In fact, since then, Genesis has unveiled a spectacular all-electric version and now given all G80s a makeover.

So, let's find out what a better and better-timed new G80 is ready to deliver.

♪ ♪ Breaking into the luxury sedan scene requires going up against traditional brands with long pedigrees and legions of loyal buyers.

But Hyundai has never shied away from a challenge, and has made steady progress with their Genesis brand, and hopes that a revised 2025 G80 midsize sedan will be their next step up.

Styling matters more when you're the upstart, and the Genesis Athletic Elegance theme changes very little for '25; just a new grille, slightly reshaped bumpers, new wheels ranging from 18 to 20 inches, and an updated color palette.

The G80's unique two-line LED headlamps get revised Micro Lens Array technology that boosts performance while minimizing the brightness for oncoming drivers.

Changes inside are much more significant with an entirely new dash and console, eliminating both the hooded gauge panel and dashtop wide info screen.

Merging them together into one 27 inch wide LG panoramic display than runs from behind the steering wheel to over the center stack.

There's a bigger and more comprehensive control panel in the center stack; while the console gets less armrest coverage, more space for storage, and reshaped cupholders.

The wider display is still a touchscreen, but there is also a console mounted controller if you prefer to keep it fingerprint free.

Both options work well, but the controller is still too easy to confuse with the dial-like shifter.

Materials are on par, if not a notch above most European luxury rivals, and there are 18 speakers to crank out 1,400 watts of premium sound from Bang & Olufsen.

Top Sport Prestige trim comes with Nappa leather seats, carbon fiber trim, micro-suede materials for the headliner and pillar covers, heated armrests, head-up display, and upgraded active safety features.

Front seats are immensely comfortable without feeling overly soft, and there's plenty of comfort and room for adults in the back seat.

Same powertrains as last year.

Base power comes from a 300 horsepower 2.5 liter turbo-4; the upgrade is this 3.5 liter twin-turbo V6 that outputs 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque.

Both are hitched to standard all-wheel-drive.

At our Mason Dixon Dragway test track, the AWD delivered enough grip for consistent slip-free launches.

We hit 60 in 5.0 seconds flat.

Run after run, the 3.5T pulled as strong as it sounds.

All G80s work with the same paddle-shift 8-speed automatic transmission, and while shifting was silky smooth on the street, here on the track with Sport Mode and wide-open throttle they were noticeably firmer and quicker.

It was a very surreal experience in the cabin.

More Bentley than Benz; streaking down the track with European-style solidity that gives you very little indication of the high speed you're traveling at.

For us, that was 105 miles per hour in 13.4 seconds at the quarter.

In addition to the G80's Sport Mode that tightens steering, improves throttle response, adjusts shifting points, firms up the suspension, and reconfigures stability system parameters; Sport Prestige trim adds rear-wheel steering and an electronic limited slip differential.

But, even with all of that, it didn't feel overly sporty in our handling course.

Now, we were able to comfortably carry quite a bit of speed through the cones, but there was just an overall soft, somewhat disconnected and heavy presence that had us unsure of how hard we could push.

Sport Prestige also adds upgraded performance brakes.

They were plenty capable, bringing this 4,600 pounds luxury liner consistently down from 60 in just 104 feet with little fade.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings for the 6-cylinder are 16 City, 24 Highway, and 19 Combined.

We averaged a good 21.3 miles per gallon of Premium.

Still, that's a slightly below average Energy Impact Score, using 15.7 Barrels of Oil Annually with 7.8 Tons of CO2 Emissions.

Considering the amount of luxury packed into the G80, its $58,350 starting price, even though slightly higher than last year, remains pretty remarkable.

It's a substantial step up to the 3.5T though, as it begins at $70,850.

Genesis has existed as a standalone luxury brand for just less than a decade, and it has indeed been making steady progress into what is surely the hardest segment of all to master.

The 2025 Genesis G80 sedan continues to impress and is a great option for luxury-minded buyers who prioritize true value over badges.

Well, that's our show, I hope you enjoyed it.

Now, for more MotorWeek , including daily news updates, podcasts, and even complete episodes, cruise on over to PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

And I hope you'll join us next time when we tally our votes for the best cars, trucks, and utilities of the year in our annual Drivers' Choice Awards!

Until then, I'm John Davis.

We'll see you right here on MotorWeek !

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Learn more at AutoValue.Com and BumperToBumper.Com.

We're Tire Rack.

We test tires, then share our results.

We stock over one million tires.

We offer multiple installation options.

We do this because we believe tires matter.

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