Classic American muscle cars, known for their mighty gas-powered engines and storied pasts, are starting to go electric as pressure mounts on automakers to offer more climate-friendly vehicles.
But in an effort to make the transition easier for traditional gearheads, some car companies are trying to maintain the feel of performance vehicles by showcasing new electric models with sleek designs — and even fake engine noise.
“Auto manufacturers are coming to terms with the inevitability of electrification as the predominant powertrain paradigm moving forward,” Edward Sanchez, a senior analyst in the global automotive practice at research firm Strategy Analytics, said in an email.Washington Examiner “The great American road trip is going to be fully electrified, whether you’re driving coast to coast along I-10 or on I-75 here in Michigan,” the presidentof a green 1967 Corvette Stingray with a V-8 under the hood, drove an electrified Cadillac in Detroit and was surrounded by many auto manufacturers’ latest electric vehicle models.One of them was Dodge’s new Charger Daytona SRT Concept, the “future of electrified muscle,” as the companylast month.
“In a sense, I think Dodge knew their core audience was one of the most passionate about ICE performance, and that if it were just to make another anonymous, bland EV, it would get a lot of backlash. So consequently, the Charger Daytona EV concept is about as boisterous and as bad-boy as you could envision with an EV.”