We reported in this spot a while back that the Chrysler – Stellantis, if you prefer – rear-drive platform that now underpins its ICE-powered muscle cars is long the tooth and facing the chop in the near future. This news seriously rattled one of my pals who’s a would-be Hemi Challenger buyer, and is concerned about whether traditional American high performance can co-exist with today’s carbon reduction. As this image, released last week, makes clear, Dodge is in no way prepared to abandon the performance market when the current platform is finally retired.
What you’re looking at is what Dodge is calling the future of American electrified performance as represented by this design study, the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept. You can see that the Charger is still a four-door (yes!) looks thoroughly nasty, and given past Stellantis practice, can be reasonably expected to make it to the showrooms largely intact. And if you’re worried that American muscle is doomed to sound like a dentist’s drill gone bonkers, you can take heart in this: The Daytona SRT concept includes what Stellantis is calling Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust, which, even through the car is all-electric will mimic the sound of today’s 707-horsepower SRT Hellcat for occupants and onlookers. Stop snickering, because we bet that buyers are going to love it.
Jim Donnelly On Wheels 