Dodge has unveiled the Charger Daytona SRT Concept, what the American automaker calls “the future of electrified muscle.”
“It drives like a Dodge, looks like a Dodge, and feels like Dodge – and just happens to be a battery-electric vehicle (BEV),” said the company.
But what makes this particular BEV special is not the fact that it’s powered by cells, but rather the addition of three patent-pending features that make up its core: a highly aerodynamic nose, a multi-speed transmission, and an “industry-first” BEV exhaust.
On top of this, it’s powered by an 800V propulsion system with performance that exceeds the famed SRT Hellcat engine.
800V Banshee
Dodge is known for its immense engines that have all but become household names, including Hemi, Hellcat, and Redeye.
For its first-ever EV, the company has developed an 800V electric propulsion system called Banshee to form part of this “Brotherhood of Muscle.”
Banshee is the new pinnacle of performance in Dodge’s engine line-up, making the SRT Concept “faster than a Hellcat in all key performance measures.”
The underlying all-wheel-drive system is key to achieving these impressive stats while also improving the muscle car’s all-weather usability, said the automaker.
While none of the finer details relating to the Concept’s performance have been shared, we do know the Hellcat sprints to 100km/h in under 3.5 seconds and claims the quarter mile in less than 11 seconds, so the electric derivative should be mighty impressive when it goes into production in 2024.
EV with an exhaust
A silent Charger SRT simply wouldn’t be right and Dodge agrees.
As a result, the battery-powered concept sees an “industry-first Fratzonic chambered exhaust” that puts out a 126dB roar equal to that of the Hellcat.
The sound is pushed through an amplifier and tuning chamber located at the rear of the vehicle and delivers a “visceral Dark Matter sound profile experience in concert with the eRupt transmission.”
This transmission is also different from other BEVs as it makes use of electro-mechanical shifting to “throw shoulders into seatbacks in true Dodge style.”
The drive is further enhanced by a “PowerShot push-to-pass” feature which is activated by pushing a button on the steering wheel. It then delivers a jolt of additional power for a burst of acceleration.
The interesting exhaust note that the Fratzonic system makes was snapped and posted by Twitter user TwoSteele earlier this week, sounding not quite as mechanical as its petrol-powered brothers, but definitely still loud.
New #electric #dodge #charger #daytona #wtf With fake exhaust noise #twotwosteele pic.twitter.com/zcVF5rVj8e
— Two two steele (@TwoSteele) August 18, 2022
Signature Dodge design
The Charger SRT Concept sees a futuristic design but remains true to the muscle car’s signature look with subtle nods to the past.
As always, the front remains blunt while a new R-Wing design element creates a more streamlined nose thanks to openings above the grille that feeds airflow over the bonnet and enhances downforce.
Additional carbon fibre air intakes are tucked into the side of the front and rear end to create an air curtain that enhances aerodynamic performance even more.
The three-pointed Fratzog badge was also taken from Dodge muscle cars built from 1962-1976, and vertical details on the front grille specifically hark back to the iconic 1968 Charger.
Turbine-like, diamond-cut 21-inch wheels complement the new look while simultaneously being functional, and the new hatchback body shape makes the BEV “a beast at the track that can still meet everyday needs.”
The cabin, too, has been catapulted into the future with a driver-centric layout featuring an all-new steering wheel design, race-inspired seats, full panoramic glass roof, and unique ambient lighting patterns.
Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept
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