The Dodge brand of Stellantis in Auburn Hills unveiled its vision for an all-electric muscle car — the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept — on Wednesday at M1 Concourse in Pontiac.
The vehicle offers a glimpse at the brand’s electric future through a vehicle that drives like a Dodge, looks like a Dodge, and sounds like Dodge, according to the automaker.
The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept features a new 800V Banshee propulsion system with performance that’s said to exceed the Dodge brand’s famed SRT Hellcat engine, accompanied by an industry-first BEV exhaust sound called Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust.
The concept’s modern exterior styling incorporates subtle Dodge heritage cues while also exceeding aerodynamic targets. Interior design elements connect to create a driver-centric, immersive experience through sounds, displays, and lighting features that change inside and out at the push of a button.
Core to the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept are three patent-pending features that Dodge says will rewrite the rules of the BEV segment:
R-Wing: A unique aerodynamic pass-through design feature that connects the concept with its iconic Dodge Daytona namesake.
Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust: Industry-first BEV exhaust, can reach 126 dB, making it as loud as a Hellcat-powered Dodge.
eRupt: Multi-speed transmission with an electro-mechanical shifting experience that’s pure Dodge.
“The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept exists because performance made us do it,” says Tim Kuniskis, brand CEO of Dodge at Stellantis. “Dodge is about muscle, attitude, and performance, and the brand carries that chip on its shoulder and into the BEV segment through a concept loaded with patents, innovations, and performance features that embody the electrified muscle of tomorrow.
“The Charger Daytona SRT Concept can do more than run the car show circuit; it can run a blazing quarter-mile. And when it comes to product cycles, it outruns Darwin. Charger Daytona does more than define where Dodge is headed, it will redefine American muscle in the process.”
The 800V Banshee propulsion system powers the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept car and screams performance, making Dodge’s first electric vehicle faster than a Hellcat in all key performance measures. The standard all-wheel-drive system is key to pushing beyond Hellcat performance while also improving all-weather capability.
The R-Wing is an homage to the original Charger Daytona design and a key figure behind development of the original vehicle. It allows air to flow through the front opening, enhancing downforce. Incorporated into this functional performance hood, the front R-Wing holds true to the brand’s exterior themes while delivering an aerodynamically improved pass-through design. Carbon-fiber intakes tucked into both sides of the front and rear lower fascias provide an air curtain to assist in aerodynamic performance.
Unlike typical BEVs, the Dodge brand’s eRupt multi-speed transmission with electro-mechanical shifting delivers distinctive shift points. The Charger Daytona SRT Concept also boasts a PowerShot push-to-pass feature. Activated by the push of a button on the steering wheel, PowerShot delivers an adrenaline jolt of increased horsepower for a quick burst of acceleration.
Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust gives the Charger Daytona SRT Concept a 126 dB roar that equals the SRT Hellcat by pushing its one-of-a-kind performance sound through an amplifier and tuning chamber located at the rear of the vehicle.
A new hatchback design gives the concept a dual personality: a beast at the track that can still meet every day needs. The design, along with rear seats that fold flat, offer unexpected utility and storage capacity from a muscle car.
The panoramic glass roof gives an open-air feel to the Charger Daytona SRT Concept, helping to include rear passengers in the vehicle experience. The parametric interior texture extends to the headliner surrounding and accentuating the glass area. The carbon fiber “tub” floor and hatch are race-inspired lightweight features, and the large cargo area along with fold-flat rear seats provides more storage space than any previous Dodge muscle car.
In Related News: Dodge announced that it is bringing back the Durango SRT Hellcat for the 2023 model year, making its claim for the most powerful SUV on the planet.
The 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is powered by the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine, producing 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. Dodge says the Durango SRT Hellcat, first introduced as a one-year-only model for 2021, is back to thanks to enthusiast demand.
“The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat has generated a crazy amount of enthusiasm and demand since it was introduced in 2020 — we even extended its initial production run — so it seemed appropriate to bring back the most powerful SUV ever as part of our historic 2023 model-year Dodge lineup,” says Tim Kuniskis, CEO of Dodge. “Muscle enthusiasts also have families, and the 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat can get those families where they want to go and has the ability to tow 8,700 pounds.”
The Durango SRT Hellcat has unique styling, including a front fascia featuring a chin splitter, engine oil cooler duct, air guide, and snorkel for cold air induction. The rear spoiler provides aerodynamic balance and a significant measure of rear downforce of 140 pounds at 180 mph.
Durango’s forward-leaning profile includes LED low-and-high headlamps, LED daytime running lamp (DRL) signatures, and a sculpted hood and grille. The front end creates a wide cross-car read. SRT Hellcat fender badges stamp the Durango as a Hellcat.
Orders for the 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat will open in Sept. 2022, with the Hellcat scheduled to arrive in dealerships in early 2023.
