As the auto industry charges headfirst into an electrified future, one question remains unanswered: What happens to the soul of the muscle car? This bold question is exactly what Meghna, an automotive design student from ArtCenter, set out to explore with her striking design study — Dodge Pulse
Traditionally, muscle cars are loud, aggressive, and unapologetically powerful. But as we shift toward quieter, cleaner electric mobility, the culture built around the roar of a V8 risks fading into the background. Dodge Pulse doesn't accept that future — it redefines it. It is a hybrid muscle car concept that shifts between two personalities. In electric mode, it glides with stealthy precision — quiet, refined, almost surgical in its motion. But with the flick of a switch, the vehicle transforms. The “mouth” of the car opens wide to inhale air, slim LED headlamps narrow into an aggressive glare, and the silence is shattered by a deep, feral growl — the ICE mode awakens. This emotional duality is the very core of Dodge Pulse.
Design that screams performance
From first glance, Pulse's design leaves no room for ambiguity. It is structural, aggressive, and raw — three words that guided Meghna’s design direction throughout the project.
The silhouette is low and planted, exaggerated by sharp creases and angular planes. Its body is a mix of planar surfaces and cutaways, almost as if sculpted by tension itself. What truly sets it apart, however, is the exposed mechanical structure, proudly visible through the crystal-clear canopy and rear engine bay. It’s a visual and functional homage to the muscle car’s no-frills performance ethos.
Bright red roll-cage bars slice across the glass canopy, adding to the structural aggression while emphasising safety and stiffness, just like a track car. The exposed chassis and mechanical components become aesthetic focal points, not hidden necessities. Inspired by the raw essence of early American muscle cars, Meghna deliberately chose to leave out unnecessary frills. Dodge Pulse feels engineered rather than styled, but in the most intentional way. Every surface looks like it was created with purpose, every panel a reflection of the power within.
A glowing red outline frames the rear end, flanked by hollowed vertical tail fins and an exposed twin-exhaust system. Furthermore, the Dodge-branded wheels with massive aerodynamic blades complete the look — loud, proud, and powerful.
A design journey through sketch and space
The creative process behind Pulse was as modern as the car itself. It began with traditional pen-and-paper sketches, which were translated into digital concepts and then refined in virtual reality using Gravity Sketch — a tool that allowed Meghna to shape her ideas in immersive 3d space. From there, over seven weeks were spent perfecting the 3d model, experimenting with proportions, discovering "happy accidents," and sculpting each surface until the concept captured her vision of future muscle.
As performance cars lean more into efficiency and comfort, the industry is at risk of losing what once made driving thrilling. Pulse identifies that white space — the absence of emotional, visceral driving experiences in the EV era — and fills it. This student concept offers a clear message: Dodge can still dominate the electric age, not by becoming quieter, but by building a new identity around duality — efficiency meets emotion, silence meets roar, future meets heritage.
