We knew that Dodge has been working on a battery electric vehicle (BEV) thanks to a video from Tim Kuniskis last summer and at the end of that video, there was a burnout of what appeared to be a classic Dodge Charger silently smoking all four tires. That was a computer generated image, but today at the M1 Concourse, Kuniskis and his Dodge team introduced the actual car.
“The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept exists because performance made us do it,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand chief executive officer – Stellantis. “Dodge is about muscle, attitude and performance, and the brand carries that chip on its shoulder and into the BEV segment through a concept loaded with patents, innovations, and performance features that embody the electrified muscle of tomorrow. The Charger Daytona SRT Concept can do more than run the car show circuit; it can run a blazing quarter-mile. And when it comes to product cycles, it outruns Darwin. Charger Daytona does more than define where Dodge is headed, it will redefine American muscle in the process.
One day ago, the brand’s first-ever electrified performance vehicle was unveiled, the all-new 2023 Dodge Hornet. Today, we revealed a peek at our eMuscle future with the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept. When we said it was going to be an electric summer for Dodge, we meant it.”
The new Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept is an all-electric muscle car, but it is not silent. It is the first BEV to come with an audible exhaust system that acts similar to the exhaust system on a Hellcat car. It makes idle sounds and screams when the driver revs the motor, but Dodge didn’t just stick a speaker under the back end and have it play V8 exhaust noises. Instead, the team developed the Fratzonic exhaust system, which offers a very unique tone that is engineered to offer the sound of electric being converted to horsepower – but that is just one of the many impressive aspects of this Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept.
Today, we bring you a look at all available information on this gorgeous new electric concept car.
Battery Electric Power
First and foremost, we have the reason why some people will love the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept, which is also the reason why some people will hate it. This Charger is powered by an 800-volt electric drive system, which sends the power to all four wheels through the patented Dodge E-Rupt multispeed transmission. It is no secret that some driving enthusiasts don’t like the linear feel of electric propulsion, so the Dodge E-Rupt transmission offers an “electro-magnetic shift experience” that replicates the feel of a transmission shifting. The car will feature a variety of drive modes, including Track and Drag, along with the new PowerShot feature – which offers 15 seconds of extra power at the push of a button (Dodge has not announced the increased output of PowerShot with this vehicle).
Another aspect of the electric vehicles that many muscle car fans – myself included – do not like the the fact that they are silent, so Dodge went ahead and fixed that as well. The Charger Daytona SRT Concept features the patented Fratzonic chambered exhaust system, which projects a unique “exhaust” sound from the rear of the car via an amplified tuning chamber system. At its peak, the Fratzonic exhaust system reaches 126 decibels – the same sound level as the SRT Hellcat – but as mentioned above, this EV doesn’t run on a V8 soundtrack. Instead, the engineers created a unique exhaust sound that is unmistakable at idle and on a hard pull. There is nothing like it in any segment, let alone the BEV segment.
Dodge plans to offer three trim levels of the Charger BEV, each of which will have a total of three power levels from Direct Connection for a total of nine configurations. The vehicle shown here is the top-of-the-line model, named the Banshee. Dodge expects the Banshee name to quickly sit alongside Hellcat and Redeye in the automotive history books, with the brand that their first BEV is “faster than a Hellcat in all key performance measures”. We expect that means that is offers better acceleration and better top speed, so in theory, the vehicle shown here should be able to comfortably run a 10-second quarter mile and hit 200 miles per hour.
Stunning Exterior Design
Unless you pay no attention to the automotive news, you knew that there was a Dodge battery electric vehicle on the way and if you paid attention to Kuniskis’ hints last year, you knew that it would be a Charger. However, even after seeing that mysterious classic-looking car smoking all four tires in the Dodge video that forecasted the electric future, few of us expected the brand to actually create an EV that looks like a classic Dodge Charger – but that is exactly what they have done.
You can hate the electric drivetrain all you want, but there is no denying that the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept is a stunning work of art. From front to back, the design clearly has heavy influences from the second generation Charger (1968-1970), including the very upright front fascia and grille. With every other electric vehicle being shaped like a piece of chewed up gum melting on a hot sidewalk, it seems impossible for this Charger to offer the levels of aerodynamics of the competition, but that is where the R-Wing comes into play.
While at first look from the front, the grille appears to be flat and closed-off, similar to the 68-70 grille, the upper portion is actually open. This allows air to flow across the grille, up over the hood and across the roofline. As you can see in the graphic below, the air flows over the Charger Daytona SRT Concept in much the same way that it flows over a curvy little hatchback, but it looks like a proper muscle car with hard lines all over the place. The R-Wing is aided by other aerodynamic efforts around the car, including various air curtains and sculpting to help make this car 25% more slippery than the current Dodge Charger Hellcat – even though it appears to have a boxier form across the front end.
Along the side, we see the next big news with the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT EV Concept – it is a two-door. However, with the longer wheelbase and added rear seating space, this isnt just a Challenger with a different body. In fact, the cabin feels more like a 2+2 sedan thanks to the added rear space, but like the classic Mopar muscle car, the first Dodge EV only has two doors. Well, technically it is a three-door hatchback, with the rear glass lifting up to offer easy access to the cargo area, but for the sake of muscle car discussions, the two-door Charger is back.
In addition to the stunning physical shape, the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept features similar signature lighting to what we have seen on past Challenger and Charger models, including a white illuminated grille with nearly hidden headlights and a glowing Dodge Fratzog badge in the middle. Out back, this Charger carries on the “race track taillight” design in beautiful fashion, around a red glowing Fratzog logo. The rear diffuser sports the “Fratzonic” exhaust logo, which is the only wording anywhere on the exterior.
Finally, the Banshee model shown here wears 21-inch center-lock wheels with 305mm tires up front and 325s out back, all over gigantic Brembo brakes.
Stylish, High Tech Cockpit
Dodge has put loads of technology into their ICE-powered vehicles in recent years, so it comes as no surprise that the Charger Daytona SRT Concept is packed with premium modern tech. There is a huge, 16-inch curved screen that serves as the gauge cluster and driver’s information screen just beyond the unique, flat-bottomed steering wheel along with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen mounted atop the center stack.
The 2+2 seating configuration showcases a carbon fiber structure covered with premium materials for a proper, high end look on the race-inspired buckets at all four seating positions and above them, a huge panoramic glass roof. The unique sculpting that flows through the dashboard and door panels has a sort of electrified look to it, with more of that in the storage compartment under the shift console. The rear seats fold flat to create a huge storage area while the carbon fiber floor tub helps to reduce overall vehicle weight.
While the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept might not be everyone’s ideal muscle car, always-increasing federal regulations are forcing automakers to offer battery electric vehicles. Most automakers are offering boring, low performance BEVs that prioritize range and efficient but for Dodge, they are still focused on high performance. Thanks to Dodge, the electric future won’t be as bleak and boring as it is for many other brands.
I love it. Very slick design. So glad they’re using a multspeed transmission.
I was wondering about the sound production and at first I thought it was synthetically produced but from Car and Driver, they stated it actually just amplifies the electric motor’s own natural whine. So I assume it’ll sound like Formula E or any electric race car that does not have sound dampening around the motors and gears.
If it were synthetic, I’d rather have it be quiet instead.
alright so I just saw the speed week day 3 video with the Banshee revving, and it’s definitely different sounding, and unlike raw motor whine amplified. It sounds more baffled, but with added resonance, which I guess is from the chambering system they described
I also just realized from recalling hearing large industrial motors unattached to gears that the lower frequency hums and thrums are closer to the pure motor sound.
I WANT!!! ALL OF THE WANT!!!!!! NO SCRATCH THAT NEED!!!! I NEED THAT!!!! ALL OF THE NEED!!!!! I AM SAVING MONEY NOW!!!!!!! FOR THIS CAR!!!!!!! ELON MUSK GO CRY YOURSELF TO SLEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have no other words!!!! TIM KUNISKIS, THANK YOU FOR THIS CAR!!!! MY BRAIN HAS LOST ALL FUNCTION! THIS THING IS PERFECT!!!
okay so now that, no I haven’t calmed down, now that I can speak in full sentences. I am truly impressed and proud and happy. I don’t know what it going to happen with the hurricane engines or where all they are going but for the moment, I don’t care! Dodge has completely got me interested in electrification. I knew they were going to do something crazy!!!!! but I couldn’t have dreamed this any more perfect than what I just experienced. If I was at Woodward I would have screamed! My neighbors right now probably think something happened to me because I’m sure they heard me clapping and screaming in my house like the super bowl was on! (mind you I don’t watch sports at all). I will own this vehicle. Way to go guys!!! I’m proud to be a part of the brotherhood of muscle!!! Truly I am. Congratulations on a job well done to the design team and engineering team. You guys rock!!! Tim, keep doing what it is that you guys do!
Take a breath my friend and read my response to six pack Dan.
As spock would say. Your logic is sound. Hopefully though this concept reveal will give us something similar to the real thing. Kind of like what acura did with the tlx concept. I’m sure there will be alot of the concept in the next gen car. As far as pricing yes I’m sure the top trim banshee will exceed what the current hellcat cost but the car comes in three trim levels so I doubt all of them will be in the absolute nose bleed section. Now that I’m calmer though I do wish the hurricane motors would make it the next cars
Have a good one, my friend! May the force be with you! (Or something like that).
ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS, i will be at my Dodge dealer in a heart beat. SIMPLY STUNNING.
That will make all those other car manufacturers jealous, what a styling exercise, now just make it Dodge, this is what Ford of Gm have no clue on how to match Dodge.
it seems like 1968 all over again.
Dodge brothers are rolling over in their graves!!
Yes they are. And just like the ev you can’t hear them!
Good one!
I have a 2016 Dodge Charger R/T and I absolutely love my catless straight pipe sound!!!!
So, if all Dodge electric vehicles are going to be loud, does that include the upcoming Ram 1500 Electric pickup truck? Also one of the slides from the EV day presentation showed this car having a spoiler. I wonder if that’s going to be a part of the Direct Connection catalog. I also wonder if Speed Kore is going to be offering parts for this vehicle via direct connection. It would be nice.
In my opinion, I don’t think that the Ram Revolution will be loud. It’s going to be built more for the masses. But you never know with Little Timmy. Glad to see that you calmed down a little bit my friend. Now going down to respond to your previous post.
The more I look at it, the more brilliant I think Dodge is for their first performance EV with all the features you highlighted here. I had presumed it would just be a copy of Maserati’s platform, but man I’m glad to be wrong. I read they had patents on all the unique features and it’s definitely well-deserved. Totally stands out from the BEV peers
Nice car to bad dodge wont build it. As he stated at the showing, its a concept. Yawn call me when you build a real car not some show car that the rest of us cant have.
Completely agree with you. Don’t think it will be a two door or have center lock wheels or MANY of the other stated features. Regardless, whatever Little Timmy comes up with will definitely be cost prohibitive to most of us hardworking people. I figure take the Tesla Model S Plaid (approximately $135K) and add another $50-75K plus massive ADMs $50+K. We’re looking at about $250+K. I’m out.
One more day @ Speed Week. Miss you guys. Saw it, only a totally non-operational concept.
Don’t get too excited.
…you know there is room for a stealth mode. Everything doesn’t have to sound like a elephant in heat. You know.. maybe something more like a F35 in full afterburner.
I have to say, this is by far one of (or possibly) the best comments I’ve ever read in my nearly 70 years. Keep up the great work!
re “With every other electric vehicle being shaped like a piece of chewed up gum melting on a hot sidewalk,…”
> Well put, an accurate turn of phrase 🙂
The front-end designs of all Teslas, and the Ford Mach E Mustang, are ugly and soul-less. Kudos to Dodge for breaking the mold yet again. Beautiful show car, I hope most of it makes it to production.
I hope Dodge can come up with some variant of this chassis, or the SUV version, to get back into the police-vehicle market in such a way as to push back on Ford. Or better yet, keep enough of an assembly line of the current ICE Charger Pursuits going to supply US police departments. I know a lot of police agencies do employ Chargers now, but of course the vast majority of police vehicles are still the Ford Explorer, which is deadly boring & ugly. During my entire youth, something like 80% of all police vehicles were Mopars, I’d like to see some really serious competition from Dodge to push Ford back into their corner WRT police use.
Great article, thank you!
Ford kept the line going for a while with the Crown Vic for police and government duty. Drove one for years. Many small departments still using them as primary or backup cars. They are bulletproof (no pun intended intended). Don’t think Dodge will do the same. Different times. Saw a news story earlier this week about Texas D.P.S. In the background were a few Challenger SRT-8s and last gen Charger R/Ts. All were white in mint condition. Dodge will come out with something (hopefully).
The Crown Vic had a difficult first few years competing with the former Chrysler Corp. police vehicle offerings, but eventually Ford honed the Crown Vic into a phenomenal police vehicle. It had a great run and is loved by a whole generation of LEOs.
My era was mostly Mopar police vehicles, hence I have a soft spot for them. I loved the front-end of the 1974 Dodge Monaco, with their super widespread headlights and those low, closer to center running lights – at night I could spot CHP cruisers a mile behind me 😉 A neighbor was a CHP (California), his favorites were the early-1970s Polaras. He patrolled the open highways in the central valley of CA, light traffic back then, he routinely hit 145 MPH going to officer-in-trouble assists, or in pursuit of egregious speeders.
I really dig the look of the current Charger Pursuits, a great visual & visceral relief from the dumpy-looking Explorers.
Drove a late 70s, early 80s “Diplomat” in D.C.
Ok so now that the hype is over, I can calmly give my thoughts on this car in a more “mature and thought out way.” A while back, when Dodge first announced the idea of the car making some sort of sound, I made a statement to the effect of giving the car the core sound of a Viper’s V10. While it’s pretty far off from that, this being the concept, it’s Ferrari-like wail isn’t unappealing, in fact, it’s actually not bad. While I would prefer a deeper, more guttural sound, which could probably be something the engineering team could come up with as an optional performance “exhaust” system, what they’ve done here is nothing short of extraordinary. As far as styling goes, to me Dodge got this car I would say 97% perfect, in my opinion. I doubt those wheels will be on the production car but I’m sure it will be a similar design but, to me, again this is my opinion, where Dodge messed up was not having the scalloped doors and the fact that there is no trunk spoiler on this car. And, call me crazy, I kind of liked the Charger as a sedan, but I don’t want to really complain about that since I do like this car. I do like that it is a wide body car without the “Add on” fender flare look. I would like to see a set of slightly more aggressive rocker moldings like what the current SRT Charger has, nothing crazy just something to add a little bit more character to the sides of the car, along with the aforementioned scalloped doors. Yeah, this is the concept so I know tweaks are still being made but if T.K and the team do read some of this stuff, why not mention it right? Another thing I would love to see on this would be the Charging port be a “replica” of the ’68-’70 gas cap. that would be cool! Other than that, I only have a few minor nits to pick. The interior, the race-car seat look is kind of tacky. Granted this is a concept car so hopefully the hard plastic backed seats will be swapped for some more useful seats like what’s in the current Chargers, or something similar, but yes, different. The only other thing is that back glass. It should be recessed between the C-pillars for the classic flying buttress styling of the ’68-’70 cars. Other than that, I do hope that most of this styling is on the production cars. It’s a dope concept.
“Dope concept” Thought you were an old man like me. Have a great day!
lol Late 30’s so yeah I’m kinda old.
Late 60s. I win. Have a great day!
I’m 87, and I love the look of this concept
lol! Do the same!
Thanks!
Now THAT is a Dodge Charger!!!woweee!
Now that things have settled down, I’ve been going over alot of the stuff that has been released to us from the Mighty Mopar Brand. I still love the Banshee concept, but I have questions. The biggest question I think I have now is just exactly what was that red car under the tarp on the EV day presentation? It does have the large vent scoops like the Banshee but the lower part of the fascia is a bit different. A different trim level perhaps? an Aero package? or just early prototype? The car does fit the shape of the banshee but that lower part of the fascia is slightly different.
My other question is what is to become of the Hurricane powerplants? Where are they going? Granted now we’ve learned the Challenger is no more, So that leaves the Charger as the sole car of the Mopar lineup. It is apparent that the brand is moving towards electrification but the brand is not going to complete electrification so is something else coming?
A third itineration of the Dart.
If the next Dart is to get the Hurricane powerplants then I’d have no issues buying a Dart! LOL! just as long as it has 4-doors!
I got a little nervous. I thought by now you still didn’t get my N.Y. sarcasm. B.T.W. I did get a message from my Dodge insider: The gen 3 Dart will be known as the “Swinger” and the optional power plant will be the famed 225 Slant Six.
Esta muy bien el diseño moderno, actual y con mucha nostalgia de los musclecars de fines de los 70’S. una pregunta porque le pusieron el logo de Coronet y en la parte trasera se asemeja mas a un valiant Barracuda asi como el vidrio tipo fastback mod. 67-69 que a un Charger. Deberian de revivir la leyenda Barracuda
ENGLISH PLEASE!
I saw an article on another Mopar site that I frequent alot talking about the potential power levels the new beast may have. The article actually hit on a few points that to me make sense but again while some of the things posted are from “reputable sources” alot of this is all hearsay but to me some of it makes a bit of sense. The article stated the electric powertrains would be coming in with horsepower levels targeting 550hp, 850hp and 1050hp, which makes sense along with each car having three direct connection power level packages which would give the 9 power levels. The publication also stated about this “concept” more than likely making it to production as a sedan based on the roofline but that the car would probably keep most of it’s design in production. Which again to me does make a bit of sense as I’m still wondering about the “red car under the cover that Tim Kuniskis showed during EV day along with all of the talke about the new car having alot of the ’99 Concept styling, which would make sense if this car came in a 5-door hatch, similar to the Kia Stinger. What also makes sense to me is the Horsepower numbers. I’m sure some of you guys have read nearly everything that has come down the line (some of you are probably privy to alot more info than I am) and have seen things stating that the new platform will be able to work with both ICE, hybrid and full BEV powertrains. Being that this is on the STLA large platform, which the new Grand Cherokee is supposed to be on, that would be true. Which means that this still leaves room for the 3.0L Hurricane engines both Standard and HO as well as a Hurricane-4 engine. If the Hurricane 3.0L S.O puts out 420hp/468tq and the H.O puts out 510hp/500tq, that leaves a large enough margin for the two types of powertrains to exist together. Along with meaning that Direct Connection will be focusing on this car as well to give power options for both the electric variant and the ICE variant. To me, it just makes more sense because I don’t see Dodge just completely going left with this car like this. Especially when they just came out with the Hornet, which is ICE/Hybrid, the Hurricane engines just came out, and the Charger is still very relevant as an ICE vehicle. If the brand can still make money on ICE powertrains then why wouldn’t they? Just my thoughts
You have such wonderful thoughts.
I saw some of the actual info on another Mopar site similar to this but with a different name
Got you covered.