Dodge unveils Charger Daytona SRT concept

Hot on the heels of announcing that the 2023 Charger and Challenger would be the last to feature conventional internal combustion engines, Dodge presented their likely successor in the form of the ‘Charger Daytona SRT’ concept.

While ‘Charger’ and ‘Daytona’ are from Dodges of the past, this concept’s propulsion system is all about the future, joining the all-new Hornet SUV in being the first EV to wear a Dodge badge.

Speaking of badges, Dodge dipped into their past to revive the ‘fratzog’, too. A three-cornered, star-like badge that featured on Dodges from 1962 to 1976, the fratzog has been reborn for this concept and features on the nose, tail, wheels and interior.

While the original fratzog had no particular meaning, it will now symbolise Dodge’s electric performance future, as evidenced by the Charger Daytona SRT concept.

Shattering Perceptions

Unveiled in the US on 17 August during ‘Dodge Speed Week’ in Michigan (where it was also announced that ICE Charger and Challenger production would end next year), the Charger Daytona SRT concept is being described as a giant step forward in Dodge’s road to an electrified future, as well as a car that will reimagine what a battery electric vehicle can be.

The high-performance electric propulsion system within the concept, dubbed ‘Banshee,’ is true to Dodge’s muscle car traditions, while the accompanying “exhaust sound” is claimed to be an industry first.

The 800V Banshee electric drivetrain is made up of two motors and floor-mounted batteries, providing the concept with all-wheel drive and the ability to outdo the current Hellcat V8 in all key performance measures, according to Dodge, although no actual numbers have been provided.

Unlike most EVs that have a single-speed or two-speed transmission, Dodge have developed a more expansive multi-speed unit to mimic the performance of a conventional manual gearbox. Dubbed ‘eRupt,’ the electro-mechanical transmission delivers distinctive shift points, with some reports saying up to nine “gears” or power output levels are available, although this is unconfirmed.

There’s also a ‘PowerShot’ function that, like a nitrous boost or push-to-pass in motor racing, delivers additional power for a brief period to allow overtaking or enhanced straight-line performance.

To complement Banshee and eRupt, the Charger Daytona SRT concept also features an artificial engine noise generator called the ‘Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust’. When the car is revved, this system produces up to 126dB of faux engine/exhaust noise, equalling the aural output of the current Charger SRT Hellcat V8.

An industry first and subject to patent, the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust produces sound using an amplifier and tuning chamber located at the rear of the car. The actual sound has an unnatural metallic note on idle, with a more familiar growl on acceleration. Dodge call it a “Dark Matter” sound profile that represents the next generation of “tactile, bone-shaking muscle attitude”.

Old and New Style

While it’s a forward-looking vehicle, the Charger Daytona SRT concept has clear influences of Dodges from the past in its styling. The most obvious is the bluff, full-width “grille” that echoes the look of the 1968 Charger.

Being an EV, this isn’t a grille in the conventional sense, nor is it even a faux design touch. Seen from other angles, it’s clear the grille is actually a hoop that forms a wing over the front end, allowing a more aerodynamic sloping bonnet. Dodge call it the ‘R-Wing’.

Another patent pending element of the Charger Daytona SRT concept, the R-Wing also justifies the use of the ‘Daytona’ name. As the original Charger Daytona from 1969 added a large rear wing to improve the Charger’s aerodynamic performance on NASCAR ovals, the front-mounted R-Wing on the concept serves a similar purpose, improving the car’s downforce and aerodynamic efficiency on the road. 

To assist this performance, carbon fibre-trimmed vents are added below the R-Wing and repeated at the rear. At speed, these create what Dodge says is an air curtain around the vehicle.

Up front, the wing/grille is framed by a daytime running light, with an illuminated fratzog in the middle and a quad headlight set-up tucked deep within. At the rear, the full-width tail light treatment is similar to that of the current Charger and has echoes of the original model, too. 

What’s also noteworthy on the Charger Daytona SRT concept is its two-door body, a style offered on the original Charger, but not the current version that debuted in 2006. The semi-fastback styling lends the concept a suitably racy look while allowing for a comfortable 2+2 seating arrangement. A full-length glass roof enhances the feeling of space inside and an opening rear hatchback adds practicality.

The body bulges around the wheelarches, which house custom 21-inch centre-lock wheels with diamond-cut and painted sections in what Dodge call a turbine-like design. Visible through the wheels are large disc brakes with six-piston calipers, while the fratzog appears again on the wheel caps.

On the front guards, a ”screaming” Banshee emblem is added, in the style of the Hellcat badge seen on current performance Dodges. Door handles are flush-mounted and the mirrors finished in raw carbon fibre that’s found on other exterior trim parts.

The dark metallic grey paint that cloaks the concept is dubbed ‘Greys of Thunder’; a reference to the comical names (Go Mango, Plum Crazy, Top Banana, etc.) applied to ‘High Performance’ colours that Dodge offered in the 1960s and ‘70s.

Inside, deeply sculpted race-style seats feature front and rear, with a full-width centre console splitting the cabin space. The seats carry subtle fratzog patterning and are trimmed in leather and Alcantara with ‘Plasma Blue and Silver’ contrast stitching that also features throughout the cabin.

‘Attitude Adjustment Lighting’ in the console, upper dash and doorcards is used to give a 3D effect in these areas, with detailing in the doorcards that's said to be inspired by the grille of the ’68 Charger.

Other interior features include a lightning bolt on the accelerator pedal, circuit board-like graphics on the carbon fibre floor, illuminated ‘Daytona’ lettering in the sills, a flip-up cover for the start button and a modern take on the classic muscle car pistol-grip gear shifter.

The driver gets a flat-bottom steering wheel with paddle shifters, a curved 16-inch digital instrument display and an 8x3-inch head-up display, while the 12.3-inch centre console touchscreen, the largest ever seen in a Dodge, is angled toward the driver.

Drive modes include Auto, Sport, Track and Drag that not only change the vehicle’s performance and dynamics, but also the interior lighting and what’s presented on the instrument panel and head-up displays. These drive modes are selectable off the steering wheel, as is the PowerShot feature and the usual functions like phone and audio controls.

Future Close?

While Dodge have made no claims on how many of the Charger Daytona SRT concept’s features will reach production, it’s safe to assume it won’t be radically different from what’s been presented.

No timeframe has been put on when an EV Charger will reach production, either, but with the combustion engine Charger finishing up next year, it’s likely a Charger Daytona like this could be on the market as soon as 2024.