The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Muscle EV Is Bad to the Bone

Dodge has been making muscle cars for a long time, and it doesn’t look like they’re going to stop anytime soon. Set to debut in 2024, the Charger Daytona SRT is a sleek electric coupe that promises to continue the legacy of the Dodge Charger and Challenger.

Scott Krugger, head of Dodge Exterior Design, told Newsweek, “When we started this program, we never thought, ‘let’s design an electric car.’ We thought, ‘let’s design a modern fast muscle car.’ That really was the objective.”

The Daytona SRT is a two-door hatchback with seating for four. Its inspired by Dodge’s muscle cars of the 1960s and 1970s. The exterior features a smooth and aerodynamic design, with a two-tone paint job that pays homage to the classic muscle cars of yesteryear.

Designed to be a performance car first and foremost, its nine power levels will allow drivers to tailor the car’s performance to their driving styles and preferences. The all-wheel-drive system will give the electric muscle car excellent traction and handling. At the same time, the exhaust “noise” will add to the car’s aggressive sound and appearance. 

However, unlike its predecessors, the Daytona will be battery-powered and, if Dodge’s claims hold up, faster than the company’s Hellcat V-8 models. These, of course, are driven by traditional combustion engines. (The Hellcat name is derived from the Hellcat fighter plane from World War II. The car lives up to its namesake with a supercharged V8 engine that produces 807 horsepower – and hits 60mph in 3.5 seconds.)

If the Daytona SRT’s top speed and acceleration are indeed faster than the Hellcat, it’ll be the first time Dodge has produced an all-electric vehicle able to reach that velocity. (For comparison, Elon Musk’s Tesla Model S Plaid reaches 60mph in under two seconds.)

The Daytona SRT’s Multi-Speed Transmission Screams Innovation

While the Dodge Daytona SRT might be all-electric, that doesn’t mean it’s not packing some serious heat under the hood. While there have been other electric vehicles, such as Porsche’s Taycan, that use a transmission other than a direct-drive system, the Daytona SRT’s motor is mated to a multi-speed transmission designed to give drivers the feeling of “distinctive shift points.” 

That’s a first for an all electric vehicle.

Additionally, the car’s “Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust” system (patent pending) is unique. Dodge calls it an industry-first. And they’ve stated that the Daytona SRT pushes “one-of-a-kind performance sound through an amplifier and tuning chamber located at the rear of the vehicle.” 

Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis notes the sound can get up to 126 decibels – “as loud as today’s Hellcat.”

As any person who has ever been to a car race can attest, the sound of a high-powered engine revving up is an integral part of the experience. The chambered exhaust system used in the Daytona SRT takes things to the next level. By pumping air through a series of tubes, Dodge created a sound called “dark matter” that changes in concert with changes in speed and gear shifts.

The result is an immersive and exciting experience. 

And yes, the “fratzonic” moniker is a throwback to the brand’s storied past. It did this by using terminology that hearkens back to the Fratzog logo. The company initially used this logo on Dodge cars in the 1960s and 1970s.

“Fratzog” is actually a variation on the name “Fratzonic,” which was derived from a combination of the words “fraternal” and “electronic. By using this term, Dodge is clearly attempting to tap into consumers’ nostalgia. It evokes memories of the brand’s glory days.

It’s Not Just Performance and Muscle for the Daytona SRT

While the car screams testosterone, it’s not just strength and presentation. Practicality is essential to the Daytona SRT’s design. For example, the interior is sleek and modern. There are paddle shifters on either side of the steering wheel to control drive modes. The hatchback design with fold-flat rear seats provides ample cargo space. 

Plus, even though the electric Charger Daytona is a modern car, it will be upgradable through Dodge’s Direct Connection services, just like muscle cars of the past. The Charger SRT Daytona Concept offers three base levels of power, with available upgraded levels of power. 

Tim Kuniskis said, “There will be hardware and there will be software. Because at certain levels more suspension needs to be incorporated, more brakes. So, we’re planning for that.”

Dodge certainly turned some heads by unveiling the Daytona SRT concept car. And so they claim, it combines the best attributes of a classic muscle car with electric innovation. 

The question is, can the Daytona SRT deliver on all its promises? We’ll have to wait until 2024 to see if the production version can live up to the hype. However if it does, this electric vehicle could be a game-changer for the muscle car market.