The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept Is An Electric Muscle Car With An Exhaust Note!

Dodge has taken the wraps off the Charger Daytona SRT concept that marries the characteristics of a muscle car with an electric powertrain. It previews the carmaker’s upcoming electrified muscle cars that’ll succeed the conventionally powered Charger and Challenger after the current generation ends production in 2023. 

At first glance, the Charger EV has a typical muscle car fascia with concealed headlights and a shark nose front fascia. It looks low-slung and sporty in the profile, with retro-style alloy wheels and red brake callipers. At the rear, the Charger EV features a full-width taillight reminiscent of the existing Challenger and Charger. 

Seriously? An exhaust note?

Dodge has built the first EV exhaust system in the world and given it the coolest name: Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust. Depending on the motor’s rpm, it emits a sound via an amplifier and tuning chamber at the rear end that sounds like a deep, low rumble at low speeds. It has a tactile feel and with a peak output of 126 decibels, so it can scream as loudly as a V8-powered SRT Hellcat! On paper, this is far more appealing than the ‘futuristic’ sound designs from other EVs or carmakers just piping noise into the cabin through the audio system.

New Dodge Banshee Powertrain 

The Charger Daytona has a dual-motor all-wheel drivetrain that Dodge calls the Banshee propulsion system. It’s an 800-volt electric architecture, and although we don’t know the specs yet, Dodge says it’s faster than a Hellcat “in all key performance measures”. The concept EV’s name comes from the Charger Daytona racecar that broke 200mph at a NASCAR track in 1970 – indicating that the EV offers a similar top speed of around 320kmph. It’s also got a PowerShot push-to-pass feature that gives you an extra burst of acceleration for a short time period.

New Dodge EV Gearbox

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The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept has a multi-speed electro-mechanical transmission called the eRupt. It is controlled by paddle shifters on the steering wheel like a typical automatic shifter. 

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Daytona Charger EV Interior

The Charger SRT concept has a driver-centric interior with a digital driver’s display and 12.3-inch infotainment display. It’s probably the first muscle car to get a full panoramic glass roof with textured interior trim and ambient lighting. Dodge has stuck with a familiar-looking interior for the Charger Daytona instead of something outlandish with a sea of digital screens.

This cockpit still inspires child-like wonder with its jet aircraft-inspired start button cap and pistol-grip mechanical drive mode shifter. 

Charger EV Launch

The Charger Daytona SRT concept will spawn a production vehicle sometime in 2024, while the existing Charger and Challenger will be discontinued in 2023.