Hyundai has its “affordable” rolling lab concepts, Polestar is underway with next-generation electric luxury performance vehicles, and Dodge is pioneering electric car sound with the Charger Daytona concept.
Look, they’re not the petrol-guzzling, road-rumbling, ozone-stunting metal boxes we’ve been salivating over for more than a century, but electric vehicles are slowly becoming more enticing as the days go on.
“The future of electrified muscle” and likely a turning point for electric vehicle mobility as Dodge has showcased how similar they can be to the ICE counterparts. Let’s get the standard stuff out of the way. The Daytona concept is an all-wheel-drive American eMuscle car powered by the firm’s 800V Banshee powertrain, which is said to afford the Charger Daytona concept with a level of performance trumping that of the SRT Hellcat.
This electric powerplant is mated to the newly developed electro-mechanical transmission dubbed the “eRupt” transmission. Alongside the new shifter tech comes what can only be understood as a shot of nitrous, which dodge has nicknamed the “PowerShot push-to-pass” feature that is said to offer a short increase in performance to aid the car with quick acceleration.
The Charger Daytona concept doesn’t look too bad either. It looks like it’s been ripped straight out of a Blade Runner movie. Retaining the classic body lines synonymous with the Dodge badging, the Daytona concept introduces a front wing dubbed the “R-Wing”. Punctuating the front and rear of the car are cross-car illuminated lighting.
“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.” — Dodge brand CEO Tim Kuniskis
While the Charger Daytona concept is a remarkable example of electric mobility and its potential, the game changer is its sound. This topic in electric vehicles has been one of the notable turnoffs facing the often silent conveyors that many automakers such as BMW, Porsche, and Audi have attempted to tackle. Unfortunately for those who have tried, the sounds in many electric vehicles are often akin to old refrigerator hums or spaceship-Esque whines —with a few exceptions, such as Porsche’s Taycan or BMW’s Iconic Sounds.
The Charger Daytona concept, however, is an industry first as the American-based firm has prioritized the emulation of the beloved muscle car feel for which they are known. Debuting as an industry first is Dodge’s Fratzonic chambered exhaust system, which gives the Daytona concept its unbelievable sounding rated at 126 dB. The Fratzonic system is essentially an amplifier and tuning chamber in the rear of the car that gives it the visceral sound and feel of a true muscle car.
The first step to greater electric vehicle engagement and the evolution of the EV driving experience, Dodge paves the way for more automakers to build on this perception-shattering technology. The question now is, how will the continued advancement of artificial sounds in EVs affect aftermarket exhaust suppliers such as Akrapovic or IPE?
