Dodge has been hyping its electrification about-face with the Charger Daytona SRT EV for some time. For the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas this week, it presented a new version of its performance EV concept, with more info on its numbers, and some interesting updates. Plus, rumors abound of a gasoline engine version of the supposed EV-only Charger. But let’s look at what we know.

What kinds of power will the Dodge eMuscle Chargers have?

Dodge still isn’t saying how many motors and performance options we’ll be looking at. But it has revealed three power outputs from the newly-developed EV system, with the ultimate version called Charger SRT Banshee. The base package will be called “340” and will crank out 455 hp.

The middle version called the “440” will be just 10 ponies shy of 600 hp. But it gets interesting from here. The first two power options also come with eStage 1 and eStage 2 over-the-air power increases through its Direct Connection performance division. 

So the 340 can be bumped to 495 hp for eStage 1, and 535 hp for eStage 2. Opting for the 440, eStage 1 boosts power to 630 hp. Going with eStage 2, power increases to 670 hp. However, as will many electric features, it is a shame that the car you purchase has the capability of providing more power, but you have to pay more to get it. 

Will Dodge customers pay for extra power?

You must do the same today. But you’re paying for a higher-output component, like a larger turbocharger, or a second one. And in the OG days, it was a different intake manifold, better flowing exhaust, and a different carburetor. There are no expensive components with OTA upgrades. 

But each OTA upgrade does get you what Dodge calls a “crystal key.” However, Dodge doesn’t say what, exactly, the crystal key is for. Stay tuned.

And besides the crystal key, the top-tier Banshee SRT numbers aren’t being revealed for now. Dodge is saying it will use its 800-volt system, but beyond that is another mystery. At least, for now. One thing it is revealing now is the Fratzonic Chambered exhaust. It wants SEMA attendees to give feedback on the sound. And speaking of feedback, the system is supposedly turning up the sound to 126 decibels. 

Will there be any ICE-powered Dodge products left?

Just to give you an equivalent of that level of noise, 130 decibels is the sound a jet makes taking off or a gunshot at close range. We’re assuming that most of the response will be to either turn it down a few notches or include a lawyer with every purchase since you’ll need one with all of the tickets you’ll get. 

Dodge must keep parsing the Charger Daytona SRT’s attributes to build up interest, as responses to the EV future are mixed. Some of that is indicative of 5.7 Challenger and Charger sales, which are strong as we dive into the final year of production. And an interesting wrinkle is that we know Ford is sticking with internal combustion power for the 2024 Mustang. 

By 2030 Dodge says 50 percent of its vehicles will be electric. So we know it isn’t abandoning internal combustion engines completely. But it will be interesting to see if, or when, its Charger Daytona SRT offers a Hurricane inline six-cylinder engine the company has also developed for the future.