It seems unlikely that a 268 horsepower electric powered Dodge concept wearing a Lotus body could beat a new Dodge Challenger SRT-8 in a short race from a stop, but during a recent show-off session of the new Dodge EV, that was exactly what happened.
The Rose Bowl parking lot was the site of the showdown between high-performance and high technology, and the result helped to secure the idea that not all electric vehicles are just for low-cost commuting. So many companies have turned to hybrid and electric vehicles as a solution for “responsible efficient transportation”, that the enthusiasts’ standpoint has been forgotten. The alternative power vehicles are a great alternative for those who only use their car to get from point A to point B, but for many of us, driving is an enjoyable experience, and the Dodge EV plans to prove that electric vehicles can provide the same fun as a combustion engine powered vehicle.
The Dodge Challenger SRT-8, packing 425 horsepower into the classically styled muscle car, has been front page news around the country since its concept debut in Detroit, so there is no better way to showcase the capabilities of the Dodge EV than to pit the two head-to-head.
This video does a great job of showing how well the Dodge EV does compared to the SRT-8, but I have a few issues with the video. The EV stays right with the Challenger for the first half, but if you listen closely the SRT-8 sounds like it’s a manual transmission, and its not being very well driven in the first run, and in the second run it sounds as though the Challenger driver missed a gear late in the race. The electric sports car was able to use its instant-on 480lb-ft of torque to get it out of the hole, but the top end “performance” by the driver of the Challenger leaves some questions about how things would go if the driver knew what he or she was doing.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
It seems unlikely that a 268 horsepower electric powered Dodge concept wearing a Lotus body could beat a new Dodge Challenger SRT-8 in a short race from a stop, but during a recent show-off session of the new Dodge EV, that was exactly what happened.