Dodge Zeo
Sports cars and electric vehicles rarely mix. When they do, however, the results can be pretty amazing.
Enter the Dodge ZEO – or Zero Emission Operation – electric vehicle, a 2008 concept from Dodge that reimagined what an electric vehicle could look like, and what it could be in general. Boasting a 64 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack “capable of at least 250 miles,” the ZEO can push out an estimated 268 horsepower and go from zero to 60 in less than six seconds – and that’s all without using a drop of gas.
The ZEO featured some pretty cool architecture too, including the three-dimensional “scissor” style doors, as well as a windshield that stretches almost to the rear to give passengers a wide sky view. For a tech heavy, muscular, future-forward concept car, we haven’t seen any more impressive than the Dodge ZEO.
Dodge Tomahawk
To be fair, one of the most impressive concept vehicles on this list comes with two caveats:
1) It would never actually be a street-legal vehicle, and
2) It’s a motorcycle.
This, of course, is the Dodge Tomahawk concept, and Art Deco-inspired mega-machine with a no-nonsense 8.3-liter, 500 horsepower V10 SRT10 engine – essentially, a Dodge Viper engine on a motorcycle body.
Dodge originally said the Tomahawk would be able to reach 400 mph but, in reality, this one-of-a-kind creation (dubbed by Dodge as more of an “automotive sculpture” than an actual, functional motorcycle) has never actually been performance tested. But, considering its beautiful aluminum styling with blocky, mechanical forms to accentuate its inner power, it’s no surprise Dodge didn’t want to risk damaging this beautiful machine.
Dodge is no stranger to making excellent automobiles, as witnessed by the excellent 2016 lineup that’s now available. These concept vehicles, however, are something special, and they show the true capabilities of this impressive brand when given the opportunity to play around a little. These are the Dodge concepts that most excited us, and we hope to see more like it in the future.
Dodge — Kahuna series
Series: , , , Aspen, Avenger, Caliber, Caravan, Challenger, Charger, Colt, Conquest, Copperhead, Coronet, Custom, Dakota, Dart, Daytona, Demon, Durango, Dynasty, Grand Caravan, Hemi, Intrepid, Journey, Kahuna, Kingsway, Lancer, M, Magnum, Maxx, Mirada, Monaco, Neon, Nitro, Omni, Polara, Powerbox, Prowler, R/T, RAM, Razor, Royal, Shadow, Sidewinder, Spirit, Sprinter, SRT-4, Stealth, Stratus, Super 8, T-Rex, Venom, Viper, WC
Sort by: Year Model Displacement Power Weight
units: metric UK US
About Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles and trucks, sold by Chrysler LLC in over 50 different countries worldwide.
Founded as the Dodge Brothers Company in 1900 to supply parts and assemblies for DetroitвЂs growing auto industry, Dodge began making its own complete vehicles during 1914. The brand was sold to Chrysler Corporation in 1928, passed through the short-lived DaimlerChrysler merger of 1998-2007 as part of the unofficial «Chrysler Group», and is now a cornerstone of the new Chrysler LLC run by Cerberus Capital Management (a private equity investment firm).
Founding and early years
After the founding of the Dodge Brothers Company by Horace and John Dodge in 1900, the Detroit-based company quickly found work producing precision engine and chassis components for the cityвЂs burgeoning number of automobile firms. Chief among these customers were the established Olds Motor Vehicle Company and the then-new Ford Motor Company. Dodge Brothers enjoyed much success in this field, but the brothers’ growing wish to build complete vehicles was exemplified by John Dodge’s 1913 exclamation that he was «tired of being carried around in Henry Ford’s vest pocket.»
By 1914, he and Horace had fixed that by creating the new four-cylinder Dodge Model 30. Pitched as a slightly more upscale competitor to the ubiquitous Ford Model T, it pioneered or made standard many features later taken for granted: all-steel body construction (when the vast majority of cars worldwide still used wood framing under steel panels), 12-volt electrical system (6-volt systems would remain the norm up until the 1950s), and sliding-gear transmission (the best-selling Model T would retain an antiquated planetary design all the way until its demise in 1927). As a result of all this, as well as the brothers’ well-earned reputation for quality through the parts they had made for other successful vehicles, Dodge cars were ranked at second place for US sales as early as 1916.
Dodge Kahuna
First Shown: 2003 Detroit Auto Show
Description: Surf-themed minivan concept
Sales Pitch: “Kahuna concept blends function and performance with equal parts of cool.”
Dodge Kahuna Concept
Details:
First shown at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, the Dodge Kahuna Concept brought the idea of the classic California Woodie “surf wagon” into the new millennium. Chrysler Group Vice President Trevor Creed said the Kahuna was for “active individuals, true free spirits, who demand vehicles that are flexible with appropriate room for gear, but they want it with style.” The minivan-esque concept featured seating for six, frameless side glass (all door glass was completely retractable, and the quarter windows were removable), and real bird’s-eye-maple laminate bodyside panels. Twenty-two-inch alloy wheels and silvery paint color called Point Break Blue finished off the beach-ready vibe.
A canvas roof opened by retracting toward the rear of the van, revealing a very large opening that would put most of today’s production panoramic sunroofs to shame. With all the windows down and with the roof retracted, the Kahuna would have provided a real open-air, convertible-like driving experience.
Inside, all six of Kahuna’s seats featured flat-folding seatbacks that were designed to be easily removable. The rear seats also converted into tables.
The Kahuna’s front-wheel drive powertrain, borrowed from Chrysler’s compact PT Cruiser, was fairly pedestrian—a 215-horsepower, 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission.
Rumors at the time were that Chrysler seriously considered the Kahuna for production, but that poor media reception killed the project. The Kahuna was presented alongside the Dodge Avenger hatchback concept.
Dodge Kahuna Concept
CG Says:
Depending on your source, the Hawaiian term “kahuna” means a wise man, a leader or person in charge, or a very large wave. Given that this concept van was shown with surf boards on its roof, I assume Chrysler was going for the whole wave/beach thing.
Cool as I find the Kahuna Concept, I seriously doubt this van had much potential as a production vehicle. American east coasters and inlanders generally don’t respond well to things they perceive to be Californian, and the Kahuna would likely have fallen into that camp.
Recall the Ford Flex crossover wagon, which, as Ford representatives frequently reminded the media, sold very well in California. Good news for Los Angeles Ford dealers, but the quirky midsize crossovers couldn’t be given away in Iowa, or New York, for that matter.
I’m a sucker for clean, open greenhouses on cars, however, and wouldn’t have minded seeing a sporty, short-wheelbase Dodge Caravan with the retractable sunroof and pillarless side glass.
Dodge Kahuna Concept.
Dodge Deora
Few Dodge concepts inspire as much fascination in the eyes of car lovers as the Dodge Deora.
Built by custom car masters Mike and Larry Alexander, this modified Dodge A-100 pickup boldly defies the conventions of car styling. Chopped and sectioned into a futuristic looking cab with a unique front-entry swinging single door built from the back hatch of a Ford station wagon, this impressive concept made a bold and popular showing in the 1967 Detroit Autorama, earning it nine awards including the prestigious Ridler award for custom concepts.
The name, a butchered form of the Spanish word for “gold,” stems from the Deora’s brilliant golden color. Highly popular with enthusiasts of every size, the Deora also made an exceptionally popular Hot Wheels car model after its initial debut.
Dodge Copperhead
Built to be nothing more than a cheaper, stripped version of the popular Dodge Viper, the Copperhead concept model actually impressed everyone with its unique aerodynamic design that still managed to retain most of the muscular styling that made the Viper so attractive. Originally debuted in 2000, this model came in a vivid Copper Fire Orange color that’s exceedingly eye-catching.
Because the Copperhead was never meant to push out the same kind of raw power as the Viper, Dodge designed this model to be much more centered around a pleasurable driving experience. Its low, wide stance gave the Copperhead excellent handling, while a stiff suspension and raised wheelbase gave the driver a firm feeling of the road under the tires.
Dodge Diamante
Sometimes, the best results come from the most unlikely combinations.
That’s the story of the Dodge Diamante, a Mopar-customized Challenger concept from 1970 that Mopar Magazine once called the “Most Valuable Mopar on the Planet,” came about. Born for greatness, this model started as the most highly-optioned Dodge Challenger ever built, a triple-black model boasting the first ever Hemi E-Body frame ever built.
Strangely enough, this model had a few runs as a concept car, first being outfitted with a shaker hood and an orange paint job and debuted at car shows during 1970 under the name “Yellow Jacket.” This made a minor splash for its accessories, but after months of touring the orange paint began to show noticeable defects and the car was repainted a sparkly white, updated with a longer nose and scooped hood, and re-shown in 1971 as the Diamante, which is Spanish for “diamond.”
Although highly popular for several years on the touring circuit, damage from shipping and a botched paint job eventually led to the Diamante being lost in the shuffle for several years before bing recovered and refinished to its former glory by a private collector.
Dodge Kahuna
First Shown: 2003 Detroit Auto Show
Description: Surf-themed minivan concept
Sales Pitch: “Kahuna concept blends function and performance with equal parts of cool.”
Dodge Kahuna Concept
Details:
First shown at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, the Dodge Kahuna Concept brought the idea of the classic California Woodie “surf wagon” into the new millennium. Chrysler Group Vice President Trevor Creed said the Kahuna was for “active individuals, true free spirits, who demand vehicles that are flexible with appropriate room for gear, but they want it with style.” The minivan-esque concept featured seating for six, frameless side glass (all door glass was completely retractable, and the quarter windows were removable), and real bird’s-eye-maple laminate bodyside panels. Twenty-two-inch alloy wheels and silvery paint color called Point Break Blue finished off the beach-ready vibe.
A canvas roof opened by retracting toward the rear of the van, revealing a very large opening that would put most of today’s production panoramic sunroofs to shame. With all the windows down and with the roof retracted, the Kahuna would have provided a real open-air, convertible-like driving experience.
Inside, all six of Kahuna’s seats featured flat-folding seatbacks that were designed to be easily removable. The rear seats also converted into tables.
The Kahuna’s front-wheel-drive powertrain, borrowed from Chrysler’s compact PT Cruiser, was fairly pedestrian—a 215-horsepower, 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission.
Rumors at the time were that Chrysler seriously considered the Kahuna for production, but that poor media reception killed the project. The Kahuna was presented alongside the Dodge Avenger hatchback concept.
Dodge Kahuna Concept
CG Says:
Depending on your source, the Hawaiian term “kahuna” means a wise man, a leader or person in charge, or a very large wave. Given that this concept van was shown with surf boards on its roof, I assume Chrysler was going for the whole wave/beach thing.
Cool as I find the Kahuna Concept, I seriously doubt this van had much potential as a production vehicle. American east coasters and inlanders generally don’t respond well to things they perceive to be Californian, and the Kahuna would likely have fallen into that camp.
Recall the Ford Flex crossover wagon, which, as Ford representatives frequently reminded the media, sold very well in California. Good news for Los Angeles Ford dealers, but the quirky midsize crossovers couldn’t be given away in Iowa, or New York, for that matter.
I’m a sucker for clean, open greenhouses on cars, however, and wouldn’t have minded seeing a sporty, short-wheelbase Dodge Caravan with the retractable sunroof and pillarless side glass.
Dodge Kahuna Concept.
Dodge Demon
You may have noticed that Dodge doesn’t fool around when it comes to naming their vehicles, with plenty of tough “T-Rexs” and “Rams” and “Vipers” that both broadcast a certain image and represent the toughness of Dodge vehicles. The Demon concept is no different – a hellish little roadster with the power to compete with sporty foreign convertibles.
Boasting a scrappy 2.4L I4 engine with enough power to pump out 172 horsepower and 165 lb.-ft of torque, this drop-top two-seater has enough power to get you just about anywhere – and excellent handling to make the drive a pleasure. First debuted in 2009, this nimble concept was actually designed to be an attainable luxury car, and, as a result, the low cost of construction and design means that Dodge could feasibly produce this model in the future.