It seems like the U.S. car industry is the only one that is serious about putting the real pleasure of driving into EVs. Jeep has done it with the Wrangler Magneto concept which kept the frame, axles, and everything else that made a Wrangler great, but ditched the engine for an EV powerplant – the best of both worlds. Now, it’s Dodge's turn with its Dodge Charger Daytona SRT. It is supposed to be an EV unlike any other EV; the Dodge way – loud and in your face.
The Charger SRT Will Bring Character Back to EVs
I am sure that by now, you all know what the inherent problem with EV driver’s cars is. It’s not the performance, nor the way they look or drive. It’s the fact that they lack character. They lack the noise, the vibration, and the raw connection between humans and machines. There is nothing to give you goosebumps here, just a whole lot of power to shove you into your seat. Fun, but that’s about it. The problem is that with all the rules and regulations forcing the slow rule out of internal combustion engines legendary brands like Dodge will have to move out from its fire-breathing behemoths. Therefore, the development of new technology that provides similar thrills but in an environmentally friendly package is the only way forwards. This is both good and bad. You see, some of the greatest innovations come in times of desperation, and the muscle car industry as we know it is desperate for a solution. Dodge says that its new EV, the Charger Daytona SRT looks, sounds, and drives like a Dodge, but that seems hard to believe. To achieve this, the engineers have come up with some industry firsts.
The Sound Is A Step Forward, But Will Require Getting Used To
The sound of the new vehicle will come from its patented sound chamber. CEO of Dodge Tim Kuniskis stated that this system will provide the new generation Charger with a sound rating of 126 db – a similar number to the one achieved by the current Hellcat. This sound enhancer pushes sound through an amplifier and tuning chamber located at the rear of the vehicle. Kind of like a wind organ with chambers and pipes. The presentation of the concept involved a quick drive of the car around the stage. During that drive, we got to listen to the sound chamber in action. It is a step forward; however, it kind of sounds like an electrified V-6 – strange. In all fairness, the new Charger Daytona is still in the early stages of development. Until roll-out time comes around many things can change.
So, Dodge seems to be serious about making the new Daytona sound like a muscle car. What about the driving experience? For this, the company has patented a second innovation dubbed the “eRupt” multi-speed transmission. This is supposed to give that sudden thump in the seat that muscle cars are famous for when switching gears. It sounds like an interesting concept. To further back this up, two paddle shifters are located behind the steering wheel. There is no information on how many gears the system has or how exactly it will work, but it is a concept we are excited to see in action. As far as performance goes, it was stated that the new vehicle will be much faster than everything on the current Dodge lineup. The Charger Daytona SRT will offer 800V propulsion, a Powershot mode, and nine power levels that are currently in development.
The Charger SRT Daytona Is The Most Aerodynamic Dodge Yet
Aerodynamically, the new vehicle will be 25-percent more efficient than the previous generations while keeping the classic Dodge muscle car look. As a nod to its predecessors, it also features an R-Wing which looks insanely cool but also makes the car more slippery. The design of the car is great. The front end looks evil, and the rear end is much of the same story. Its side profile is a little questionable as the rear roofline and back end, in general, are a bit too tall; however, we do get a huge trunk as an exchange. Dodge has decided to give the new Daytona an AWD system. Surely, this will increase performance but let’s hope the ability to send 100-percent of the power to the rear wheels is available. Muscle cars must be rear-wheel drive. You know, for tire-smoking reasons. We must add that the car is set to offer a drift mode, drag mode, donut mode, and slam mode. This suggests that the AWD system will be configurable.
The Interior Is Futuristic Without Losing The Dodge Character
The interior looks complete for a concept car. We get a Lamborghini-inspired flip-up start button, a driver-centric cockpit, a flat bottom steering wheel, a 16-inch gauge cluster screen, an 8.3-inch head-up display, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. As a side note, do you ever wonder how much range EVs would get back if they didn’t have so many screens? Anyhow, we will see how much makes it in production, but the whole car looks relatively finished.
Final Thoughts
The Charger Daytona SRT is set to hit the dealers in 2024. It is an interesting car and one that may bring back some of the character lacking from EVs. Dodge engineers deserve a round of applause for being bold enough to give this a try. Let’s hope it turns out as good as promised.