Dodge Charger Daytona SRT EV Concept Shows The Future Of Muscle Cars

Electric vehicles (EVs) are almost definitely the future at this point whether you like the idea or not. Understandably, many won’t feel comfortable with the idea of an electric muscle car, but Dodge is here to help you adjust to the idea of an all-electric muscle with this–the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept.

The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept serves as a preview for a future Charger that isn’t powered by a V8 engine. Instead, this concept serves as a preview of the brand’s upcoming electric powertrain called Banshee. Banshee. Banshee serves as the pinnacle of the “Brotherhood of Muscle”, which means it’s way more potent than the Hemi, Hellcat, and Redeye V8 engines.

Dodge did not say how much horsepower this thing produces, but it does come with an 800-volt architecture that enables quick charging times that are similar to a Porsche Taycan and Audi e-Tron GT—both of which also have 800-volt systems. What is confirmed is the fact that it comes with all-wheel drive, as well as an eRupt multi-speed transmission with electro-mechanical shifting that mimics a traditional automatic with varying gear ratios. This is in contrast to most electric cars, which mostly only have single-speed transmissions. That multi-speed transmission also comes with a PowerShot feature that increases its power output for short periods of time. This allows for quick bursts of acceleration of easy overtaking when on provincial roads.

Part of a muscle car’s appeal is its loud, obnoxious noises, but EVs barely produce any noise. So what did Dodge do to the Charger Daytona SRT Concept? Make it obnoxiously loud, of course. Dodge says that the Charger Daytona SRT Concept comes with a Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system, which is a fancy word for fancy speakers that Dodge says emits a “Dark Matter” sound profile that works in tandem with the eRupt transmission. Through an amplifier and a tuning chamber, the sound it emits will probably be less artificial than if it didn’t have any of these.

As for the car’s design, the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept pays homage to the original model, such as the distinct R-Wing at its front end that provides downforce. The headlights are framed by an LED daytime running light that runs across the vehicle’s width. Another nice touch is its illuminated Fratzog badge, which was first used in Dodge models in the 1960s. The horizontal LED light elements at the front are also echoed at the rear, while the wheels manage to combine both futuristic and classic design elements.

Moving inside, the interior of the Dodge Charger SRT Daytona looks modern yet pays homage to its past. There’s a massive 16-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment system, a head-up display, and a large panoramic sunroof. Surrounding the interior is what Dodge calls its Ambient Attitude Adjustment Lighting. The seat frames are then made out of carbon fiber, while the steering comes with flat top and flat bottom sections. Lastly, the Pistol-grip shifter pays homage to the shifters of classic muscle cars.

Dodge did not confirm when a production version of the concept will be released. While the vehicle looks very close to being ready for production, the powertrain beneath it is far from ready. We suspect that it won’t be ready until 2024. For now, enjoy your supercharged Dodge muscle cars while they’re still here.