Dodge Puts Horsepower Numbers to Charger Daytona SRT Concept

by Matthew Guy

Published: November 1st, 2022

dodge puts horsepower numbers to charger daytona srt concept

Earlier this year, the speed freaks at Dodge rolled out their Charger Daytona SRT Concept car, an all-electric glimpse into the brand’s future. At the time much noise (literal and figurative) was made about its style and so-called Fratzonic chambered exhaust – the latter remains the source of much debate.

What they didn’t tell us were power numbers – until now.

Dodge is illustrating a stair-step approach to its electrified performance, with a 400-volt system bringing entry levels of output in two flavors plus an 800-volt SRT Banshee powertrain package which will likely turn sets of rear tires into copious amounts of fine rubber dust. Think of their current Challenger menu – SXT V6, up through the R/T 5.7L and Scat Pack 6.4L onto the Hellcat range – and you’ve got the general idea of where they’re going with their EVs.

First out of the gate is a 400-volt system, offered in two basic output levels. The ‘340’ base trim will generate 455 horsepower, capable of being boosted to 495 hp or 535 hp with eStage 1 and eStage 2 kits, respectively. More on them in a moment. Next up the ladder is a ‘440’ base trim good for 590 ponies but upgradeable to 630- and 670-horse outputs with the eStage products. Sitting atop the heap is an 800-volt system whose power outputs Dodge is not yet ready to disclose but will surely crest the four-figure mark.

Compared to its present roster of internally combusted Challengers, the horsepower ladder seems to jump in similar increments but starts a lot higher up the scale. A base SXT makes about 300 horses; the least powerful 400-volt configuration, at 455 ponies, outstrips the existing R/T 5.7L and damn near beats the 6.4L Scat Pack. Despite what some of us say about the ‘scourge of electric cars’, they certainly do post some hearty numbers in the right hands.

Speaking of numbers, it is our opinion that the base trim notations of ‘340’ and ‘440’ are smart choices since they are digits that some gearheads of a certain age will readily associate with cubic inch displacements. Shrewd. This time around, they refer to the base output in kilowatts, a measure few of us this side of the pond have yet to inject in our brains as a replacement for horsepower. Those ‘eStage’ kits mentioned earlier will be upgrades that use a crystal key, one that plugs into the dash to unlock the extra horses and is tied to the car’s specific VIN. We’ll see how long it takes a 12-year-old computer hacker to get around that little stipulation.

You’ll have also noticed the Charger Daytona SRT Concept now wears a tasty coat of Stryker Red paint, a hue with which it should have been introduced instead of the dour grey which was flaunted back in August. The car will be on display at the SEMA Show in Vegas all this week.

[Image: Stellantis]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.

#Dodge #SEMA #EV #allelectric

Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

More by Matthew Guy

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 24 comments

Doug Dye on Nov 02, 2022

Chrysler/ Dodge has a fantastic new turbo six but hasn't added it to anything other than a really expensive Jeep for some reason. That engine should be offered in a bunch of new models!

Like Reply
MrIcky on Nov 02, 2022

1st on sound: it doesn't sound like a vacuum cleaner. There is a lot of deep bass and sub bass. I guess I'll decide when I hear it in person but I'd bet it's startling when it fires up. Considering that electric vehicles are now *required* to emit sound but the kind of sound is not specified- it's a hell of a lot better than beeping like a delivery truck in reverse. I would guess that it's defeatable but only after 30kph. There is probably a way to tone it down.

2nd if Dodge was only going to put the inline 6 in this there would be just as many people b1+ching as with electric because v8 or nothing bro.

I own a 14 Challenger rt and it's been a great car. I wish things could stay the same, but since they can't- it seems like Dodge is at least trying to do this the right way and stay true to brand identity. I like that it 'shifts', I like that it does some borderline obnoxious things with a smirk, I like that it's on the larger side. Hope it ends up being implemented well.

I also remember the best and brightest saying there's no way Dodge could ever put together an electric car- too late, too dumb, (insert out of date dodge quality comment here). Guess we'll see, but looks like they figured something out.

1 Reply

Recent Comments

Bd2 Lexus is just a higher trim package Toyota. ^^
Tassos ONLY consider CIvics or Corollas, in their segment. NO DAMNED Hyundais, Kias, Nissans or esp Mitsus. Not even a Pretend-BMW Mazda. They may look cute but they SUCK.I always recommend Corollas to friends of mine who are not auto enthusiasts, even tho I never owed one, and owned a Civic Hatch 5 speed 1992 for 25 years. MANY follow my advice and are VERY happy. ALmost all are women.friends who believe they are auto enthusiasts would not listen to me anyway, and would never buy a Toyota. They are damned fools, on both counts.
Tassos since Oct 2016 I drive a 2007 E320 Bluetec and since April 2017 also a 2008 E320 Bluetec.Now I am in my summer palace deep in the Eurozone until end October and drive the 2008.Changing the considerable oils (10 quarts synthetic) twice cost me 80 and 70 euros. Same changes in the US on the 2007 cost me $219 at the dealers and $120 at Firestone.Changing the air filter cost 30 Euros, with labor, and there are two such filters (engine and cabin), and changing the fuel filter only 50 euros, while in the US they asked for... $400. You can safely bet I declined and told them what to do with their gold-plated filter. And when I changed it in Europe, I looked at the old one and it was clean as a whistle.A set of Continentals tires, installed etc, 300 EurosI can't remember anything else for the 2008. For the 2007, a brand new set of manual rec'd tires at Discount Tire with free rotations for life used up the $500 allowance the dealer gave me when I bought it (tires only had 5000 miles left on them then)So, as you can see, I spent less than even if I owned a Lexus instead, and probably less than all these poor devils here that brag about their alleged low cost Datsun-Mitsus and Hyundai-Kias.And that's THETRUTHABOUTCARS. My Cars,
NJRide These are the Q1 Luxury division salesAudi 44,226Acura 30,373BMW 84,475Genesis 14,777Mercedes 66,000Lexus 78,471Infiniti 13,904Volvo 30,000*Tesla (maybe not luxury but relevant): 125,000?Lincoln 24,894Cadillac 35,451So Cadillac is now stuck as a second-tier player with names like Volvo. Even German 3rd wheel Audi is outselling them. Where to gain sales?Surprisingly a decline of Tesla could boost Cadillac EVs. Tesla sort of is now in the old Buick-Mercury upper middle of the market. If lets say the market stays the same, but another 15-20% leave Tesla I could see some going for a Caddy EV or hybrid, but is the division ready to meet them?In terms of the mainstream luxury brands, Lexus is probably a better benchmark than BMW. Lexus is basically doing a modern interpretation of what Cadillac/upscale Olds/Buick used to completely dominate. But Lexus' only downfall is the lack of emotion, something Cadillac at least used to be good at. The Escalade still has far more styling and brand ID than most of Lexus. So match Lexus' quality but out-do them on comfort and styling. Yes a lot of Lexus buyers may be Toyota or import loyal but there are a lot who are former GM buyers who would "come home" for a better product.In fact, that by and large is the Big 3's problem. In the 80s and 90s they would try to win back "import intenders" and this at least slowed the market share erosion. I feel like around 2000 they gave this up and resorted to a ton of gimmicks before the bankruptcies. So they have dropped from 66% to 37% of the market in a quarter century. Sure they have scaled down their presence and for the last 14 years preserved profit. But in the largest, most prosperous market in the world they are not leading. I mean who would think the Koreans could take almost 10% of the market? But they did because they built and structured products people wanted. (I also think the excess reliance on overseas assembly by the Big 3 hurts them vs more import brands building in US). But the domestics should really be at 60% of their home market and the fact that they are not speaks volumes. Cadillac should not be losing 2-1 to Lexus and BMW.
Tassos Not my favorite Eldorados. Too much cowbell (fins), the gauges look poor for such an expensive car, the interior has too many shiny bits but does not scream "flagship luxury", and the white on red leather or whatever is rather loud for this car, while it might work in a Corvette. But do not despair, a couple more years and the exterior designs (at least) will sober up, the cowbells will be more discreet and the long, low and wide 60s designs are not far away. If only the interiors would be fit for the price point, and especially a few acres of real wood that also looked real.