This is an independent design study by Hayden Ahn and is not affiliated with nor endorsed by Stellantis.
Within the realm of American automobile manufacturing, there exist numerous vehicles that have earned the distinction of timelessness. One prime example that firmly occupies this category is the Plymouth Superbird.
Introduced as the ultimate iteration of the Plymouth Road Runner, the Super Bird was manufactured for a single model year, purposefully engineered for NASCAR racing. It served as Plymouth’s subsequent design following the Charger Daytona by its sister company Dodge in the prior season. The vehicle displayed distinct graphic imagery and featured a unique horn sound, both paying homage to the iconic “Looney Tunes” cartoon character, the Road Runner.
It’s remembered for a lot of things, the most obvious of which is the towering rear wing it came fitted with. While Plymouth ceased operations in 2001, skilled designer Hayden Ahn recently set out to see if he would make a modern Superbird for the year 2045 with an all-electric powertrain.
Read: Here’s How Chrysler’s Axed 1971 Daytona And Superbird NASCAR Twins Would Have Looked
“This is a studio project done at ArtCenter College of Design with the supervision of the faculty and the aid of the school’s resources,” Hayden tells us. “This project aimed to bring back the deceased manufacturer Plymouth, which left a great mark on the American muscle car culture, by reviving the famed Superbird for the younger generation in the year 2045.”
The finished creation is a two-door, just like the original, and also has four seats. It has also been imagined with innovative bodywork that can move depending on whether the car is being driven in Normal or in Track Mode.
As standard, the car’s front fascia includes slim LED headlights and a black pointed nose that is recessed into the grille. When Track Mode is enabled, this nose and a pronounced splitter slide forward, giving the car a similar look to the original. The rear of the car also changes when in Track Mode as a rear wing deploys to held to stick the car to the pavement.
The wing isn’t the only eye-catching element of the car’s rear end. It also sports dozens of vertical LEDs across the decklid that emit a red glow into the sky. Ahn’s creation also stands out thanks to the intriguing wheel and tire package that has been installed.
Driving Ahn’s 2045 Plymouth Superbird is a battery pack where the transmission tunnel would normally be located. An extra battery can also be slotted under the hood. Power would then come courtesy of a pair of electric motors at the rear axle.
