Dodge started the “Muscle car 3.0” era with its first-ever EV Muscle, the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona SRT. Right off the bat, you can tell it’s going to be unlike any other high-performance MOPAR we have seen so far, with the most obvious difference being the all-electric propulsion. With that said, the new Charger Daytona SRT has the unenviable task of bridging classic Muscle cars with the future. Propulsion-aside, Dodge ticked a lot of right boxes, and the devil is in the details.
Neo-retro even in the smallest detail
Although it’s the most futuristic model Dodge has ever made, the 2024 Charger Daytona is styled to look like the classic Charger. More specifically, the 1969 model year. While the LED strip is the most obvious feature at the front, look closely and you will notice the quad, LED headlights (two on each side). The grill, itself, is split just like on a 1969 Charger, and the illuminated, Fratzog logo is proudly displayed in the middle section. The lower fascia features air ducts for cooling, which are just as functional as on the outgoing, ICE-powered models. Whether a coincidence or not, the deep chin spoiler is reminiscent of MOPARS like the Plymouth AAR CudaTrans Am race car.
The hood bulge
The 2024 Charger Daytona, obviously, doesn’t have a front-mounted V-8. This opens up opportunities to make the EV Muscle car more aerodynamic. In fact, it’s 25 percent more aerodynamic than its predecessor. The “nose” of the car is a mix of the original Dodge Charger Daytona’s cone nose and the classic 1960s Charger. The grille channels air over the hood, which features a muscular bulge, similar to that of the current Hellcat, minus the air intake.
Finally, the Charger is back to being a two-door coupe
The 21-inch, center-lock wheels are made out of machined aluminum and are wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tires. The two-tone design with a dark metallic grey centerpiece and a bright-silver rim is reminiscent of the Rallye wheels of the 1968 Charger. While the six-piston brakes that peak behind the spokes will, no doubt, provide adequate stopping power, the Charger Daytona SRT is also expected to feature regenerative braking, standard on many EV models.
We cannot go without mentioning the signature for the classic Dodge Chargers line that starts at the front fender and culminates at the trunk area of the coupe. The thick C-pillar is another feature of the classic Charger that has been neatly recreated on the EV model. The only features that bring an air of modernism are the slim, carbon-fiber side mirrors and pop-up door handles that are flush with the car’s bodywork. The rear end of the 2024 model is another obvious throwback to classic Chargers. The LED, taillight strip is actually a modern recreation of the 1966 Dodge Charger taillights, which also features a bar that connects the two flanking pieces, creating an uninterrupted design element.
The first EV to have an exhaust
One of the features that would, likely, inspire a lot of debate is the 2024 Charger Daytona’s “exhaust system”. This is the first EV to feature exhaust sound and it is said to be as loud as 126 decibels, which is louder than a Hellcat. Unlike the front grille that Manhart gave the Tesla Model 3, the exhaust (actual, physical exhaust) on the 2024 Charger Daytona SRT will be functional(ish).
Obviously, no CO2 emissions will be coming out of there, but at the very least it gives the car character and it will stop any inconsiderate EV drivers from quietly sneaking up behind you. While mostly a gimmick, the so-called, Fratzonig exhaust is another nostalgic throwback to classic Muscle cars. Just don’t expect the explosive soundtrack of a supercharger V-8.
Futuristic interior with an important retro feature
It’s clear that the interior of a modern EV cannot be as retro-inspired as the exterior. While lots of digital tech and connectivity is par for the course, the iconic pistol-grip shifter has made a comeback. Sticking out like a sore thumb from the center console, the pistol-grip shifter is said to allow you to shift through the “Erupt” transmission’s different gear ratios.
That’s, pretty much, all for the retro-inspired design features inside. Instead of bench seats, you get four, individual seats just like in a modern-day four-seater coupe, with a lower center console that extends to the second-row seats. Speaking of rear seats, unlike in most performance coupes, these seem to be perfectly usable.
The most practical, high-performance MOPAR ever made?
Here’s the real kicker. The 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona SRT appears to be one of those cars that are, secretly, a hatchback. You would never guess by looking at the car’s side profile, but there is an actual hatchback tailgate, which reveals a generous cargo area. Exactly how generous, we do not yet know, but the rear seats fold down, revealing a flat loading area. I bet you never expected that from a Charger did you? Regardless, there is still a lot we don’t know about Dodge’s first EV Muscle car, other than it will have nine power levels. Potential leaks and press releases from Stellantis, revealing prices and specs are expected to (hopefully) surface as the car nears the start of its production, and we will do our best to share them with you.