A concept EV from Dodge was unveiled on Wednesday, and it sounds and looks just like the gas-powered Charger muscle car that will be phased out in 2019.
Dodge unveils Charger EV concept that is faster and louder than a Hellcat
According to the Stellantis brand, the two-door Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept is more than just a design exercise in honor of its gas-powered ancestor’s 200 mph NASCAR track record.
During the Dodge Speed Week event series, the Charger EV concept was introduced at M1Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan. It serves as a form of prototype for the production model that will be available in 2024.
Dodge has been referring to this day since at least last summer, but now customers are beginning to understand just what the car manufacturer has in mind.
It’s unclear how much of the concept unveiled on Wednesday will actually make it into the finished product.
TechCrunch was informed by a corporate representative that “we call it a concept… it is extremely close to production.” So it makes sense to look more closely at the idea behind the gas-powered alternative.
Like so many other concepts, the manufacturer withheld pricing information. It did share a number of specifications and design cues, plainly utilizing some of the Dodge Charger’s original DNA.
A front R-wing that serves as an aerodynamic pass-through, a multi-speed transmission with electro-mechanical shifting, and an exhaust that can reach 126 decibels are the three main features that Dodge highlights as areas that will “rewrite the rules” of the battery electric segment, according to the automaker.
Yes, the manufacturer fitted an electric vehicle with a “exhaust” that will drive sound via an amplifier and tuning chamber at the back of the vehicle to make it as loud as a Hellcat-powered Dodge.
When he remarked in a statement that “Charger Daytona does more than define where Dodge is headed, it will redefine American muscle in the process,” Tim Kuniskis, CEO of the Dodge brand under Stellantis, didn’t hold back.
That is a lofty goal, and Dodge’s starting point for success seems to be the impending EV outperforming the gas-powered Dodge SRT Hellcat in terms of power, performance, and sound.
The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept’s propulsion system even receives some unique branding, just like its gasoline-powered siblings.
According to Dodge, the 800v Banshee propulsion system makes the EV faster than a Hellcat in all significant performance metrics.
Along with having all-wheel drive as standard, the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept also features a PowerShot button on the steering wheel that will deliver an extra surge of horsepower.
Even while the Charger EV concept includes several cutting-edge features, such as the R-wing, a more aerodynamic shape, and its panoramic glass roof, Dodge drew inspiration from its history in designing it.
A white lit three-pointed Fratzog insignia that was first used on Dodge muscle cars from 1962 through 1976 is among the historical allusions.
The front grille, with its vertical accents, is another feature that brings to mind the 1968 Dodge Charger. The 1968 grille design was used by the automaker’s designers, who also incorporated inside texturing.
Many of the contemporary features one would anticipate to find inside a new EV are there, including a 12.3-inch center screen, a curved 16-inch instrument panel, and an 8-by-3-inch head-up display (HUD).
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