Stellantis developing vibrating EVs to mimic HEMI V8
New tech said to replicate sensation of a muscular V8 to inject more character into smooth and near-silent EV powertrainsStellantis has patented new technology that attempts to mimic the throbbing and rocking sensation generated by a lumpy V8 engine in order to make its performance EVs more characterful.
The new Active Sound Enhancement (ASE) system has been designed to work alongside the car-making giant’s equally-fresh Active Vibration System Enhancement (AVE) tech. Combined, they could restore the fizz missing from almost any EV you care to mention.
Thought to have been developed for the next-generation Dodge Charger Daytona electric muscle car, the patent was filed with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and subsequently discovered by the Mopar Insiders blog.
Stellantis-owned US brand Dodge has already developed what it called its Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust, which uses an amplifier near the rear of the car to produce up to 126 decibels of “exhaust noise” and courted plenty of controversy when it was first shown back in 2022.
Since then, the Abarth 500e has debuted with own sound generator lurking beneath the rear bumper.
The new Stellantis tech goes far further and looks like it will use interior woofers and mid-range speakers plus dedicated transducers to send vibrations through the steering wheel, seats and pedals.
The vibrations and feedback will then alter with speed and acceleration, adding an extra dimension to the sensation of performance.
Amusingly, adding noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) back into the cabin is the exact opposite of what engineers have been doing now for almost 100 years.
It’s thought both the new ASE and AVE systems could be introduced as soon as this year with the Dodge Charger Daytona, which is scheduled to be unwrapped on March 5.
The recently teased top-spec Daytona EV is primed to inherit a Maserati Folgore-derived tri-motor EV powertrain that should be good for more than 660kW. That should mean it offer supercar-humbling performance.
As we’ve previously reported, the new Dodge Charger will be available with a force-fed six-cylinder petrol engine outputting up to 373kW/644Nm, while top-spec Daytona versions will all be battery-electric, comprising single-, dual- and tri-motor configurations.
The base single-motor is reportedly good for about 300kW, the dual-motor for 500kW and the aforementioned Maserati-based tri-motor Daytona set-up for more than 660kW.
Sadly, it’s highly unlikely the new Charger will be factory-built in right-hand drive or officially offered in Australia, following the game-changing muscle car’s release in the US later this year.
Related: 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona coming March 5
Related: Reborn 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona SRT EV teased
Related: Abarth 500e 2023 Review – International
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