Dodge wants to give its electric car a rumbling V8

Dodge showed visitors to the 2023 Chicago auto show a “second draft” of what it calls “the industry’s first BEV exhaust.”

Previewed on the Dodge Charger SRT Daytona concept, the sound is now low-pitched and rumbling and reaches 126 decibels – as loud as a Challenger or Charger Hellcat powered by a supercharged V8.

The exhaust looks more like a V8-powered muscle car and less electrified than the original concept.

The Fratzonic system acts as a speakerphone that connects to the throttle position and vehicle speed, pushing the sound out through a rear outlet.

Production Daytona SRT chargers aren’t expected to start rolling off the factory line until 2024, and more exhaust modifications could come before that.

While Dodge isn’t the only brand that has patented the exhaust for its EVs, it calls the Fratzonic system an industry first.

Ferrari has filed a patent for a similar system this early year.

In a filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) found by XeBuzzFerrari has patented a system that will “allow the driver and passengers to enjoy, inside the passenger compartment, a quality sound … very pleasing to them”.

Ferrari claims a regenerative device that will extract sound from an electric motor or another “mechanical resonant element,” such as an axle, transmission, differential or wheel rim.

The company says the sound can be diffused into the passenger compartment and/or outside the vehicle “to evoke the sensations generated by the dynamics of the internal combustion engine”.

Nine powertrain outputs are expected in Dodge’s production EV lineup.

The first powertrain produces 340kW and features a 400V electrical system, with the eStage 1 and eStage 2 upgrades coming in at 370kW and 400kW respectively.

The second one will generate 400kW of electricity and use a 400V electrical system. Increasing eStage 1 and eStage 2 can increase output power to 470kW and 500kW respectively.

Dodge hasn’t revealed the outputs for the wildest Daytona SRT Chargers, but has revealed an 800V SRT Banshee powertrain package will be offered with its own stage upgrades.

Parent company Stellantis has previously indicated that vehicles on the Charger SRT Daytona’s STLA Large platform will support single-motor and dual-motor electric powertrains with up to 660kW of power.

That’s more than the 603kW-626kW output of the upcoming Challenger SRT Demon.

The company has also confirmed the following details for the concept:

• Two-engine all-wheel drive for all variants
• The R-wing aerodynamic wing penetrates the front spoiler to increase downforce
• Multi-speed eRupt transmission offers an electromechanical shifting experience
• Four driving modes: auto, sport, track and drag

The production model will share its new STLA Large platform with upcoming EVs like the Jeep Recon and Wagoneer S, and replace the upcoming Challenger and Charger being dispatched with special Last Call versions.

The new platform can support battery capacities in the range of 101-118 kWh, which can facilitate a maximum operating range of 800 km.

Dodge endorsed this platform will also support combustion powertrainthough have not announced any plans to accommodate these.