Yes, even American muscle cars seem to be preparing to switch to 100% electric technology. Anything for big V8 fans to worry about?
For any self-respecting enthusiast, the “muscle car” is one of the institutions of the American automobile. A kind of affordable sports car still present in the ranges of Ford, Chevrolet or Dodge. At the latter brand, the Challenger coupé is also an unbreakable reference: while the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro regularly pass to new generations of models, the Challenger and its four-door Charger sister have never really changed. since the late 2000s.
But the Charger Daytona SRT concept car that Dodge has just unveiled in the United States proves that times are changing, even on the other side of the Atlantic. This concept car, whose style is inspired by the Charger coupé from the end of the 1960s, has a 100% electric motorization instead of the usual V8 tumbler. Dodge says its “Banshee” powertrain still delivers even better performance than the current ultra-sporty Hellcat variants. But fans of the unmistakable sound of the supercharged V8 Hemi will probably die of boredom listening to this new kind of muscle car under full load. However, Dodge promises to have specially developed an ingenious system to guarantee an interesting sound. A system that would be able to generate rumblings of 126 decibels!
This coupé inspired by the 1968 Charger hides a 100% electric motorization and all-wheel drive
What future for muscle cars?
Does this concept car foreshadow the mass production of 100% electric muscle cars? Most likely. The current Dodge Challenger and Charger are at the very end of their career anyway, even if the first mentioned continues to sell well. Expected for next year or 2024 at the latest, the all-new Ford Mustang will keep combustion engines. The next Chevrolet Camaro should also keep its petrol engines. And let’s be careful not to qualify the current Mustang Mach-E SUV with its opportunistic badge as a real “muscle car”.
Photos (8)
Learn more about: Dodge Charger
