Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept EV Packs ‘Banshee’ Power And Retro Styling

The future of electric muscle cars is here, arriving in the form of the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept.

Unveiled during the third day of the Dodge Speed Week event in Pontiac, Michigan, the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept is unlike any other Dodge before it and rocks a new powertrain dubbed Banshee. Dodge says this powertrain acts as the new pinnacle of performance in the Brotherhood of Muscle, eclipsing the Hemi, Hellcat, and Redeye engines.

Curiously, Dodge has not yet said how much horsepower and torque the Banshee powertrain delivers. What it has confirmed is that it is an 800-volt system and provides performance to exceed the SRT Hellcat engine. Indeed, Dodge says its first electric vehicle is faster than a Hellcat in all key performance metrics, no doubt helped by the fact that it is equipped with all-wheel drive as standard.

The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept is also unique in that it uses the carmaker’s new eRupt multi-speed transmission with electro-mechanical shifting that should help to mimic some of the driver involvement that classic muscle car enthusiasts crave. A push-to-pass PowerShot feature that increases horsepower for a quick burst of acceleration has also been designed for the concept.

The ‘Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust’ system

Then there is the sound. In the lead-up to the launch of the car, Stellantis promised that it would produce a “shocking” sound. It has now been confirmed that it developed a patent-pending Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system for the Charger Daytona SRT Hellcat that produces a 126 dB roar, equal to that of the SRT Hellcat. This system consists of an amplifier and tuning chamber located at the rear of the vehicle and delivers a visceral “Dark Matter” sound profile that works alongside the eRupt transmission.

The design of the concept is also quite something. Whereas Dodge could have easily fallen into the trap of developing an electric vehicle with a futuristic shape, it has instead paid homage to the design of the original Charger Daytona.

A key part of the car’s design is the R-Wing that defines the front end. The R-Wing allows air to flow through the front opening of the car, increasing downforce. The front-end also catches the eye thanks to illuminated lighting around the front grille and an illuminated Fratzog badge after first being used by Dodge models in the 1960’s and 70’s.

Dodge has also created an intriguing interior for the Charger Daytona SRT Concept. Found at the heart of the driver-centric cockpit is a large 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a 16-inch digital instrument cluster. The concept has also been equipped with a large Head-Up Display and trick Ambient Attitude Adjustment Lighting.

The sculpted design theme continues across the carbon fiber-backed front and rear seats, as well as the steering wheel with both a flat top and flat bottom. A pass-through area has also been incorporated under the console while the pistol-grip shifter evokes memories of classic muscle cars. A panoramic glass roof adds to the unique feel of the concept’s cabin.

“The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept exists because performance made us do it,” Dodge brand chief executive Tim Kuniskis described in a statement. “Dodge is about muscle, attitude and performance, and the brand carries that chip on its shoulder and into the BEV segment through a concept loaded with patents, innovations, and pertformance features that embody the electrified muscle of tomorrow. The Charger Daytona SRT Concept can do more than run the car show circuit; it can run a blazing quarter-mile. And when it comes to product cycles, it outruns Darwin. Charger Daytona does more than define where Dodge is headed, it will redefine American muscle in the process.”

The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept is expected to spawn a production variant for the 2024 model year, but Dodge has yet to confirm this.