Ever since Dodge unveiled the Charger Daytona SRT concept, enthusiasts have been wondering if the company will allow aftermarket tuning of its EVs.
Well, now we know the answer, and you might want to take a seat and have a warm cuppa ready.
Talking to Muscle Cars and Trucks, Tim Kuniskis, Dodge’s CEO, said: “We don’t want to lock the cars and say you can’t modify them. We just want to lock them and say modify them through us so that we know that it’s done right.”
The Dodge CEO said there will be a desire to hack their EV system, but he wanted “to try and shut that door before that door even opens”, that way the company can spend its time “coming up with more modifications for you instead of, literally, trying to whack-a-mole the hackers”.
Upgrades or “crystals” for Dodge EVs can be purchased through the company’s Direct Connection and Power Broker program.
Kuniskis sought to reassure potential buyers by saying the “crystals are tied to the car, tied to the VIN, tied to the ECM of that car”, so all subsequent owners will be able to use all purchased upgrades for a particular vehicle.
Dodge has confirmed a number of eStage “crystals” for the production version of last year’s Charger Daytona SRT EV concept.
Chargers equipped with the 400V electrical architecture can be upgraded 340kW in the base model to either 370kW with an eStage 1 “crystal” or 400kW with an eStage 2 “crystal”. The step-up model can tuned from the standard 440kW to either 470kW or 500kW.
The automaker has yet to announce what upgrades will be available for cars fitted with the flagship 800V system. So far Stellantis has only confirmed said the car will be available in tunes up to 660kW.
Due in 2024, the new Dodge muscle car will be one of the first vehicles to utilize the STLA Large Architecture, which will eventually underpin cars offered by Alfa Romeo, Chrysler and Jeep. Battery offerings said to range from 101 to 118kWh, allowing for a maximum range of up to 800km.
Although it is engineered around the needs of electric drivetrains, STLA Large is a “multi-energy platform” that supports internal combustion engines.
Despite speculation straight-six engines will one day be offered in the Charger, Kuniskis said: “I can put an ICE engine in it. It doesn’t mean we’re going to.”
Keyword: Dodge will lock out aftermarket tuners from EVs