Listen to the Dodge Charger Daytona EV’s Fratzonic Exhaust
When the new Charger was revealed in March of this year, we learned of Dodge’s grand plan to offer two significantly different powertrains beneath the same shape. You’ll be able to have the new Charger with a gas-burning, twin-turbocharged straight-six, or you can go the all-electric route with the Charger Daytona EV.
The latter promised a simulated exhaust note, something the company announced at a preview of the concept back in 2022 but then quietly skipped over at the debut in March. When Dodge explained its “fratzonic” chambered exhaust, it said the system would utilize a real exhaust chamber to resonate sounds played through speakers that together would mimic the tenor of a Hemi V-8.
Yesterday, we finally got our first sample of the Fratzonic exhaust, courtesy of a short reel on Instagram. The clip shows a silver Charger Daytona EV accelerating through a tunnel, and you can hear the distinct whine of an electric motor (or a few) at the beginning of the clip, followed by the rising baritone thump of a Hemi V-8—although not a real one.
Dodge reportedly went through “hundreds” of iterations before picking the sound we assume to be the winner. We’d say the result is pleasant, if a bit sterile. Of course, we’d all love to hear an actual Hemi under the hood of Charger, but as we know, that’s not likely to happen.
How does the new Fratzonic exhaust note sound to you? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
I can see a future for the after car market by making new tunes for your EV. Imagine sitting at a stop light sounding like a big block Chevy with a big cam. Or maybe, if you are more conservative, a Volkswagen beetle.
So I listened, and? Full disclosure: I am a dyed in the wool automotive nut. But that can’t help me here. I currently live in an area in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. Not a farm area which is prominent here but a town. A smaller town that used to be quiet. We have an NHRA racetrack here that also features road racing and motocross. Now here is the irony; that track is far from a noise issue and I live about a mile from it. What is an issue are the exhaust notes of new cars in the nearby traffic. Day and night. As I type this on this summer morning I am interrupted first by what sounds to be two heavily modified diesel trucks trying to beat each other to the top of the hill that runs two blocks away. I’ll watch for the rising black clouds in a moment to confirm. Next, I hear a ear-splitting. rapping, farting sound that can only be that 5 year old Corvette that the owner of the local Japanese food joint brings around on sunny days. Not a good noise, just noise. I’m working up to feeding that thing 4 potatoes very soon. Alas, just yesterday a 5.0 litre Mustang, a Model A streetrod and a 60s big block and cammed Dodge all went through the Tim Horton’s drive through that lies just beyond the creek and trees behind my place. Wonderful and old sounds of real exhaust notes. Tones of earth vibrating low frequencies that warm my heart.
Sounds like it’s balls were clipped of course. ‘Speaker exhaust’, so ridiculous. Becoming more clown world by the day. Tragic.
Fake exhaust note? No thanks Dodge. As a life long Mopar fan, I will never buy a Mopar EV, especially one with a FAKE exhaust note. If you have to “fake” something, then that should raise a red flag. Just go EV, and leave the fakeness alone. I would respect this car a LOT more if it were just a quieter, whining electric.
It’s like they made it for politicians.
A few decades ago I used to make fun of cars that had fake wood, or fake/non functional hood scoops or ducts. Now we have fake engine noises and cars that the manufactures want to make into rolling computers complete with distracting stupid looking monitors. Count me out.