Dodge’s Direct Connection hikes horsepower for EVs, muscle cars

Dodge’s Direct Connection aftersales program is hiking the horsepower for its traditional muscle cars — as well as the future all-electric models.

The Stellantis NV performance brand provided an idea of six of the nine power levels it will offer on its battery-electric muscle car that will launch in 2024 and unveiled the new Hellephant and HurriCrate engine series at the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show running Tuesday through Friday in Las Vegas. The display is a collision of heritage and the future as Dodge seeks to keep enthusiasts thrilled while charging toward its electrified vision.

Dodge in August revealed a look at that destination: the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Banshee concept. At the time, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis said the production muscle car will have three base models, each with two available eStage kits to kick up the power.

The vehicle is based on the STLA Large platform that can support multiple powertrains. The first two base models will have a 400-volt system. The base 340-kilowatt trim offers 455 horsepower. The Direction Connection kits would boost that to 370 kilowatts with 495 horsepower and 400 kilowatts with 535 horsepower.

“Where some people stop,” Kuniskis said, “we’re going to start.”

The next trim up starts at 440 kilowatts with 590 horsepower. That increases to 470 kilowatts with 630 horsepower at the first stage and 500 kilowatts with 670 horsepower at the second. The top trim will be an 800-volt Banshee system, and the company is waiting to share details on its output.

“It’s not linear,” Kuniskis said of the Banshee system. “It’s a totally different system. Don’t try and do the math. Trust me: It’s a lot different. A lot more.”

A radio frequency-controlled “crystal” key will plug into the dash for each of the stage kits to unlock the higher power levels. The crystals will be tied to each vehicle identification number. Kuniskis likened the crystals to the Hellcat’s black and red key fobs.

For comparison, the Tesla Model S offers horsepower starting at 670 and goes up to 1,020 with the Plaid.

Dodge last year launched Direct Connection, whose parts are exclusively sold by its roughly 100 certified “Power Broker” dealers and available online. It creates an additional revenue stream for dealers that will see income decline from EVs since they require less maintenance. Half of Dodge owners also modify their vehicles, and having a Power Broker install Direct Connection parts allows owners to retain their factory warranty.

That’s especially important for EVs and connected vehicles that will be updated over the air and in which improper modifications could create cybersecurity risks, Kuniskis said.

“We want to funnel it through our Direct Connection and Power Brokers program to support that body of people to make sure that we’re controlling everything that happens to these cars,” he said. “Now, 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.’ … We’d rather spend our time coming up with more modifications for you instead of literally trying to whack a mole the hackers, because over-the-air updates, these things get hacked, and you can just constantly be chasing your tail on that. We want to try and shut that door before that door even opens and still give you the ability to modify your car.”