The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept previews a wild electric road map

Dodge has staked its claim on the muscle car brand. Its mid-2000s Charger and Challenger have musclecar looks and performance. That won’t change in the brand’s electric future, as evidenced by the Charger Daytona SRT concept the brand revealed on Wednesday.

Latest news from Dodge Speed ​​Week in Pontiac, Michigan is the largest. Dodge says the Charger Daytona concept is a preview of what’s to come, and if any of us were worried the brand’s electric cars would be boring, we’re not.

The Charger Daytona Concept has three features that are sure to turn heads: an aerodynamic front wing called the R-Wing, a new “exhaust system” to deliver the signature sound called the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust (starts at 1:55 in the video above), and a multi-speed transmission eRupt. That’s not to mention the sleek, sexy look that’s sure to appeal to buyers of traditional Dodge muscle cars.

Dodge chose the name Charger Daytona after the first car to hit 200 mph on a racetrack, the 1970 Charger Daytona basket of NASCAR fame. While Dodge doesn’t provide power specs, the company says its new Banshee electric powertrain will provide all-wheel drive and help the car outperform Hellcat models in all key dimensions. We understand that means at least two engines, if not more, combining to produce 800 horsepower or more. Dodge also didn’t share the size of the battery, but said the car has an 800-volt electric architecture that will allow fast direct current charging, likely in excess of 200kW.

Dodge Charger Daytona Concept

Dodge Charger Daytona Concept

Dodge Charger Daytona Concept

While most electric cars have a single-speed transmission because the power doesn’t need different gear ratios (the Porsche Taycan has a 2-speed), the Charger Daytona Concept has a “multi-speed” transmission with electromechanical shifting to provide distinct shift points. which will push passengers’ shoulders into the seatbacks, according to Dodge. The car also features a ‘PowerShot push-to-pass’ button on the steering wheel that boosts power to deliver a burst of acceleration.

Dodge will also provide the gas engine sound with a Fratzonic Exhaust chamber. The system feeds its signature sound through an amplifier and tuning chamber in the rear of the car to deliver 126dB, the equivalent of a Hellcat sound. How this qualifies as an exhaust system is still unclear, but Dodge says it has a “Dark Matter” sound profile.

Dodge Charger Daytona Concept

Dodge Charger Daytona Concept

Dodge Charger Daytona Concept

With performance yet to be determined, the Charger Daytona’s biggest selling point is its design. A two-door hatchback, the car is a modern interpretation of the beloved 1968 Charger in much the same way the current Challenger resembles the 1970 Challenger. The nose takes on the blunt, blacked-out look of the ’68 Charger, including the R-Wing, a flow opening at the top of the nose that provides front downforce. The R-Wing leads to a sculpted hood with a central bulge that looks like it’s there to make room for a pair of Holley doubles. Carbon fiber intakes in the lower corners of the front and rear panels contribute to aerodynamics by creating air curtains.

Dodge Charger Daytona Concept

Dodge Charger Daytona Concept

Dodge Charger Daytona Concept

The nose also sports the illuminated “Fratzog” badge that appeared on Dodge vehicles from 1962 to 1976. While Dodge said it didn’t make sense at the time, the brand says it now represents Dodge’s electrified future. Slim headlamps sit around the edges of the nose, and the entire front end features ring-shaped lighting that reflects red in the rear, similar to the current Charger.

The slab-on body has very little embellishment, just a sleek look with a Coke bottle shape, flush door handles, Banshee fender badges and Grays of Thunder paint for a graphite look. The car is equipped with 21-inch wheels with a turbine-like design and center caps with the Fratzog logo. Six-piston calipers peek out from under the wheels.

Dodge Charger Daytona Concept

Dodge Charger Daytona Concept

Dodge Charger Daytona Concept

Dodge Charger Daytona Concept

The Charger Daytona SRT Concept has a black interior like the current Challenger, but it’s surrounded by red lighting that flows into the doors and extends to the center console. Passengers sit in four well-bolstered racing-style seats with carbon fiber backrests. Blue and silver accent stitching decorates the seats and other interior elements. Carbon fiber covers the floor and door sills, which feature illuminated Daytona lettering, while graphics throughout the interior provide a printed circuit board aesthetic. The lightning bolt on the throttle pedal is a nod to electric power, while the pistol-grip shifter nods to Dodge’s muscle car past. A flat-top and flat-bottom steering wheel with steering wheel paddles adds a sporty touch.

A button on the steering wheel provides access to Auto, Sport, Track and Drag driving modes, which change the dynamics, instrument cluster information, HUD information, sound and interior lighting.

The dash features a 16.0-inch curved digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch center touchscreen that is angled toward the driver. The technology continues with an 8×3-inch projection display. The doors and steering wheel have capacitive touch controls. A panoramic sunroof opens up what would otherwise be a dark interior, while the hatchback design opens up useful storage space.

The production version of the Charger Daytona SRT Concept is here in 2024possibly as a replacement for the current Charger and Challenger, which are due to end production after 2023. It is expected to run on the new Stellantis STLA Large custom EV architecture. How close it will be to this concept car is unknown, but if the current charger is any indication, it should be very similar, if not identical.