- Dodge has introduced the final sound of the 2024 Charger Daytona.
- It’s bound to draw mixed reactions as it tries to be both classic and futuristic.
- Besides revealing what the car sounds like, Dodge announced a new 20-part video series highlighting the model.
Dodge billed the outgoing Challenger as an “authentic-yet-modern muscle car,” but how times have changed. The model is being replaced by a new two-door Charger and it’s being launched as an EV.
If that wasn’t enough of a one-eighty, authenticity has fallen by the wayside. There’s no better example of that than the sound of the Charger Daytona.
More: 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona Starts At $59,595
We’ll get to the details in a moment, but just listen to it before reading into the marketing hyperbole and divisive opinions. What does it sound like? Does it sound good or bad?
While everyone will come to their own conclusions, it sounds like a mixed bag. In certain situations, the Fratzonic chambered exhaust does a respectable job of recreating the rumble of a traditional muscle car. Is it perfect? No, but it’s still fairly good.
Unfortunately, that’s not always the case as sometimes it sounds odd or a bit too futuristic. The startup sound also seems similar to the one previewed by the Charger Daytona SRT concept, so it comes off as fake and out of place. It’s almost like the team couldn’t decide if they wanted to replicate a muscle car or go in a futuristic new direction, so they did a little bit of both to jarring effect.
Of course, that’s not how Dodge is spinning things as CEO Matt McAlear said the Fratzonic chambered exhaust has a “raw rumble” and “delivers the adrenaline-pumping spirit” customers expect. That sound is created by two “high-efficiency extreme bandwidth transducers coupled with dual Fratzonic Chamber-loaded passive radiators, all housed in a custom enclosure and powered by a dedicated amplifier with up to 600 watts of power.”
To better reflect what’s going on, the system “incorporates driver and vehicle inputs – such as accelerator pedal position, speed and torque output – to deliver the Charger Daytona’s signature performance tones.” In effect, the faster you drive, the louder things get. However, there are a host of ‘sound scenarios’ and the experience changes depending on the selected drive mode.
Dodge also offers a Stealth Mode that apparently shuts off all the non-sense. It’s billed as “fully silent” and presumably delivers a more traditional electric vehicle experience.
Besides revealing the sound of the car, Dodge announced a new 20-part video series that will highlight “game-changing facets and features” of the 2024 Charger. The first video comes off as a limp 37 second commercial, so you might not want to sit on the edge of your seat for the next 19 weeks.
As a refresher, the 2024 Charger Daytona starts at $59,595 and features a 100.5 kWh battery pack as well as a dual motor all-wheel drive system. The R/T produces up to 496 hp (370 kW / 503 PS), while the Scat Pack develops up to 670 hp (500 kW / 679 PS). The models also offer a range of up to 317 miles (510 km).
