Dodge ZEO Concept

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What is it?
Dodge ZEO Concept

What's special about it?
We get the feeling that Dodge might be a little uncomfortable about putting an electric motor into one of its concept cars. Instead of reveling in all the technology that went into creating the ZEO (it stands for "Zero Emissions Operation"), the company merely says that the ZEO's 268-horsepower, rear-drive motor will get you to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, "which rivals Chrysler's famed Hemi power plant."

True enough, as this would make the Dodge ZEO quicker than a Dodge Charger R/T, though slower than an SRT8. A 64-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack powers the electric motor, but Dodge doesn't get into trivialities — you know, like how to recharge it. Presumably, you'd plug in the ZEO.

In reality, the ZEO is a design study for a four-place, coupe-type vehicle that Dodge would market to younger buyers. It reminds us a bit of the Scion Fuse concept shown at the 2006 New York Auto Show. It even has scissor doors.

With the exception of its blue-lit crossbar grille, nothing about the Dodge ZEO's appearance indicates that it's gone all-electric and environmentally friendly underneath. For example, it takes the exaggerated wheel arches that are so fashionable right now to a new extreme. In fact, while Dodge's concept is about the same length and width as a Honda Civic coupe, it rides on a 5-inch-wider track — 64 inches in front and nearly 66 in back. Stuffed under these shoulder pads are 23-inch wheels wrapped in 225/40R23 Goodyear rubber up front and 255/40R23s in back.

Inside, the Dodge ZEO looks like most concept cars in that it has dramatically flowing surfaces and controls that are simplified to the point of being complex to use. It's, of course, loaded with all the connectivity options that drivers in their 20s are thought to require.

"The Dodge ZEO concept is an example of designing for people who are used to a dynamic lifestyle and who are surrounded with information and virtual friends at all times," Lou Gasevski, principal interior designer of the Dodge ZEO concept, notes.

Should those friends manifest in material form, each of the ZEO's orange-belted seats is tailored for comfort. The front seatbacks have LCD monitors, so your passengers can catch up on Dexter during the 5-minute drive to Starbucks.

What's Edmunds' take?
The longer we wait for the Tesla roadster, the less feasible an all-electric performance car seems. At least we know someone will be looking out for Dodge's hyper-masculine image when CAFE standards toughen up. — Erin Riches, Senior Editor