What are your thoughts on the "Cold Start" of the Charger Daytona? | Carscoops

      Dodge's Fratzonic "exhaust" aims to evoke emotion, but does it succeed?

      6 hours ago

      by Brad Anderson

      The Fratzonic system in the Charger Daytona seeks to mimic the sound of a V8 engine.

      Many muscle car fans believe converting the Charger to an EV was a misstep.

      Despite its efforts, Dodge hasn’t managed to make the EV sound as compelling as a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE).

      One of the most appealing aspects of possessing a V8 muscle car is the typically exhilarating sound of its exhaust. The classic Dodge Challenger had a particularly captivating roar upon a cold start, and Dodge seems to have attempted to recreate that experience with the all-electric Charger Daytona. Has it succeeded? We’ll leave that up to you to decide.

      After browsing online, we came across several videos that capture the “cold start” (or rather, power-up) of the Charger EV, which can be turned on remotely via the key fob. It utilizes the controversial Fratzonic ‘exhaust’ in an effort to imitate the sound of a V8 muscle car.

      Hyundai is often credited with pioneering the use of artificial ICE sounds in high-performance EVs with its highly regarded Ioniq 5 N. Dodge sought to do something similar with the Fratzonic system, but it hasn’t achieved the same level of acclaim as Hyundai’s offering. This is likely because, unlike the Ioniq 5, which has no ICE equivalent, the Charger Daytona has to fill the shoes of one of the most cherished muscle cars, which has recently been offered with burbly V8 engines generating up to 1,025 hp.

      Given Dodge’s legacy of producing outstanding muscle cars, the introduction of an EV was bound to spark debate, especially with its effort to simulate a V8 sound drawing inevitable comparisons to genuine eight-cylinder powerhouses.

      Clearly, the Charger Daytona’s “cold start” feature doesn’t compare favorably to a V8, particularly when viewed on video. Personally, I don’t think it sounds awful, and it’s somewhat more captivating than being completely silent. While Dodge may not have perfectly mirrored the excitement of the classic Challenger with its new-age muscle car, at least it made an effort to create something appealing for fans. After all, many EVs on the market tend to feel like silent refrigerators on wheels, lacking any emotional resonance.

      @appleautos This thing is actually super loud. #dodge #charger #hellcat #hellcatcharger #hellcatchallenger #hellcatredeye #demon #dodgedemon #challengerhellcat #chargerhellcat #supercharged #coldstart #loud #ev #newcar #carguy #cartok #carsoftiktok ♬ original sound – Apple Autos