Dodge showcased the Charger Daytona SRT EV concept, named Dodge Banshee, at the Detroit Auto Show recently
It’s now the turn of the performance brands to go electric. Dodge, the muscle-car arm of Stellantis, unveiled the Charger Daytona SRT EV concept, named Dodge Banshee, at the Detroit Auto Show recently.
It will be the world’s first all-electric muscle car. This EV is powered by a newly developed ‘Banshee’ Propulsion System, which will be stronger than the gigantic Hellcat V8 engine, says Dodge.
The concept replaces the internal combustion engine muscle cars of Dodge. The last of ICE Dodge Chargers and Challengers will roll out from the Brampton, Ontario plant in December 2023.
With the introduction of the new concept, Dodge pays homage to the famous Charger Daytona, the first vehicle to surpass the 200-mph mark in NASCAR, in 1970.The new Banshee powertrain will be based on an 800V electrical architecture and will have faster performance and better track performance because of the all-wheel-drive addition.
The new Charger Daytona SRT will be constructed on the large, high-performance BEV-oriented SLTA platform, which is expected to underpin Dodge’s future BEVs.
Dodge Banshee: Muscle Car Gone Electric
The flat, high-performance battery will have a capacity of around 100-110 kWh. Two powerful permanent magnet electric motors will produce at least 800 horsepower and a massive torque, making it capable of clocking the 60-mph mark in less than 3 seconds. While electric vehicles normally come with a single-or two-speed automatic gearbox, this car has a newly designed eRupt transmission technology.
This gearbox is a multi-speed automatic gearbox that allows the driver to manually select gears for a sportier driving experience. The powertrain will have a PowerShot push-to-pass feature, which can be activated by a button on the steering wheel. This feature offers a quick burst of acceleration to provide extra power when needed.
Electric vehicles are normally silent because their power trains won’t produce much sound while running. But, for cars with a pedigree of power and speed, exhaust sound is part of their excitement package. Therefore, Dodge has decided to include an equipment system known as the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust.
It transmits a digitally engineered performance sound as that of the roar of the SRT Hellcat, known as “Dark Matter” through an amplifier and tuning chamber fitted at the rear of the vehicle. A sensor detects a jump in the propulsion rate of the electric motors and triggers the sound.
Retaining the American muscle car legacy
In terms of design, Dodge has retained the legacy of American muscle cars to a great extent. It will have a new triangular Fratzog badge, originally featured on Dodge muscle cars in the 1960s and 1970s. The return of the badge signifies Dodge’s commitment to performance heritage and for creating fast cars, says the company.
At the same time, modern design cues optimize its aerodynamics and reduces air drag. The newly developed R-Wing optimizes the car’s aerodynamics like the original Daytona. The concept’s exterior also features two carbon-fibre intakes in the lower bumper to reduce air drag and to help with better aerodynamic performance.
The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT is a large coupe with only two doors and has a hatch for greater utility. The concept, in Greys of Thunder dark glossy paint, has a clean design right down to the flush door handles. Interestingly, it doesn’t have a rear spoiler.
Head of Dodge Exterior Design Scott Krugger says his team started by designing a muscle car, not an EV, with a signature face, swept profile, and turbine-style 21-inch wheels. Boy howdy, the cult of muscle cars is here to stay…
