End of an era

[Dewey]

I know these are RAM forums but reading about the Challenger and Charger ending production is very hard to hear.

Dodge announces ‘Last Call’ for V8-powered Challenger and Charger muscle cars | Fox News

Dodge will build the internal combustion engine-powered Challenger and Charger through the end of 2023 and is sending both off with a series of special models.

www.foxnews.com

This will no doubt mean the end of the Hemi. I was holding out hope they would keep it around mainly due to these models.

I’m not all thrilled about electric “muscle” cars.

 

[HSKR R/T]

I know these are RAM forums but reading about the Challenger and Charger ending production is very hard to hear.

Dodge announces ‘Last Call’ for V8-powered Challenger and Charger muscle cars | Fox News

Dodge will build the internal combustion engine-powered Challenger and Charger through the end of 2023 and is sending both off with a series of special models.

www.foxnews.com

This will no doubt mean the end of the Hemi. I was holding out hope they would keep it around mainly due to these models.

I’m not all thrilled about electric “muscle” cars.

There have been multiple articles about the Hemi and EV optional and they all said the Hemi isn't going away. This is a marketing thing to try and Garner sales. The Charger and Challenger are both due for a refresh in 2024 with the new EV models, and the inline 6cyl. But most have said the Hemi will still be an option for many more years.

 

[WXman]

Yeah I've seen reputable sources going both ways. Some say the V8 cars are gone next year (2024). Some say they'll supplement EV models. Who knows?

Personally I will be shocked if Dodge as a brand just locks the door and walks away from ICE altogether....especially with their main competitor in the segment showing off a new 6th Gen Mustang with a 500 HP V8 and stick shift trans. It's almost unfathomable that the Dodge boys who saved their brand with V8s would just mail it in and go home. Doubly so when there is a high likelihood of another administration/environmental policy change in 2024.

I have a friend from eastern KY who always says, "The #1 rule to operating a money machine is to never turn it off." Fourteen years since Challenger debuted it's still the #1 seller in the segment miraculously, and that is only because of the wide range of V8s under the hood. To just walk away from that cold turkey?? That would be the dumbest business decision of the century so far.

 

[Rick3478]

Could it foreshadow the end of the Dodge brand, leaving just Chrysler sedans, Fiat minis, Ram trucks, and Jeep offroad?

 

[SD Rebel]

Actually, the talk is Chrysler going away, they only have the 300 and a Minivan. They are likely to get folded into Dodge, which is where the EV Muscle Cars will be and maybe RAM again.

 

[Dewey]

Staying true to the brand? What a load of crap.

Dodge discontinuing gas-powered muscle cars

Story at a glance Dodge is ending production of the Charger and Challenger. The Charger and Challenger models — iconic muscle cars in the 1960s and 1970s — were revived by Dodge in the early 2000s.…

thehill.com

2023 Dodge Chargers, Challengers Go Out with a Bang, as They Should

Seven special-edition Chargers and Challengers will wear Last Call plaques—plus, the Durango SRT Hellcat will be back—as we look ahead to future EV plans.

www.caranddriver.com

 

[HSKR R/T]

Staying true to the brand? What a load of crap.

Dodge discontinuing gas-powered muscle cars

Story at a glance Dodge is ending production of the Charger and Challenger. The Charger and Challenger models — iconic muscle cars in the 1960s and 1970s — were revived by Dodge in the early 2000s.…

thehill.com

2023 Dodge Chargers, Challengers Go Out with a Bang, as They Should

Seven special-edition Chargers and Challengers will wear Last Call plaques—plus, the Durango SRT Hellcat will be back—as we look ahead to future EV plans.

www.caranddriver.com

I think most of these journalists are reading too far into the announcement, and firming their own opinions. There have been numerous interviews with the Stelantis execs saying gas powered vehicles aren't going away any time soon. They are doing a refresh on the models, to include EV models, but hey will still offer ICE options

 

[Dewey]

I think most of these journalists are reading too far into the announcement, and firming their own opinions. There have been numerous interviews with the Stelantis execs saying gas powered vehicles aren't going away any time soon. They are doing a refresh on the models, to include EV models, but hey will still offer ICE options

I certainly hope your right. Hard to believe anything online these days but this sure seemed to be a pretty hot story yesterday. All the major outlets were reporting this. Haven’t seen anything official from Stellantis so that’s a good sign.

 

[Richard320]

We heard that back in the 80s. The 4 cylinder Ford Probe was supposed to be the Mustang because the V8 was obsolete.

 

[Dewey]

Seems like business suicide to cut a proven money maker.

Dodge Challenger Finally Takes Sales Crown

For the first time since American muscle returned to the assembly line in earnest, Dodge’s Challenger has managed to outsell both the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro inside the United States. Though Mopar fans might point out that Dodge would win every year if we bothered to include Charger...

www.thetruthaboutcars.com

 

[Dewey]

 

[WXman]

The new Charger looks amazing. A+ on the design.

But, they get a D- on the powertrains being offered in it, and the powertrain is what sells cars.

 

[Dewey]

I’m looking forward to seeing the first guy to yank out the electric motor and cram in a Hemi.

 

[SD Rebel]

I’m looking forward to seeing the first guy to yank out the electric motor and cram in a Hemi.

You want to check on Rich builds on Youtube, he's done that to a Telsa, put a V8 into it to spite Tesla for their right to repair policies.

That being said, you are only going to make it slower, but at least you got real sound, which to be honest is one of the biggest reasons to buy a Charger/Challenger.

 

[HSKR R/T]

The new Charger looks amazing. A+ on the design.

But, they get a D- on the powertrains being offered in it, and the powertrain is what sells cars.

Right now, it's just the EV option, which is much faster than any of the current V8 offerings.

 

[Dewey]

The used value on current Challengers/Chargers just got even more crazy. You can bet there will be a rush by guys on the fence for years on buying one who will now feel much more urgency now that the Hemi possibly may be gone.

 

[Biga]

Buying a muscle car without a V8 is kind of like buying beer without alcohol.

 

[SD Rebel]

Considering that everyday family car EVs can now do 0-60 and 1/4 times in supercar territory and a crossover/minivan EV can beat a HC Charger, what is the point of a Muscle car EV?

Now that there isn't anything really special about it in a straight line? Losing the V8, the shake and rumble, is losing the thing that makes driving a car like that enjoyable. I'm not saying we should give up, at least Dodge is trying to do something here, but for me, I don't see the point in them anymore.

However, the glimmer of hope is the electro-mechanical shifting mechanism, that is designed to give the car some "feel" while driving. Kinda like CVT trannys with simulated gears, but if it's fun, I can get on board, maybe.

 

[CalvinC]

Considering that everyday family car EVs can now do 0-60 and 1/4 times in supercar territory and a crossover/minivan EV can beat a HC Charger, what is the point of a Muscle car EV?…
… at least Dodge is trying to do something here, but for me, I don't see the point in them anymore.

Agree with this completely!!

I think speed is now a commodity. Any soccer mom in a Model X can blow your doors off accidentally while she’s on the phone with her kids school.

So now the question is… what else from the driving experience can we derive joy and uniqueness from?

I can’t expect Dodge to stick their head in the sand and not play in the EV arena at all. Going out of business definitely axes the Hemi!

So while I want to be mad and sad about this, and agree that an EV “muscle car” is pointlessly stupid…. I have to remind myself to appreciate Dodge for at least *trying* to do something to make the drive interesting.

Everyone else seems content to just be first out with the fastest, quirkiest iPad on wheels. I am not looking forward to “Mobility pods”!!!!

 

[SD Rebel]

Agree with this completely!!

I think speed is now a commodity. Any soccer mom in a Model X can blow your doors off accidentally while she’s on the phone with her kids school.

So now the question is… what else from the driving experience can we derive joy and uniqueness from?

I can’t expect Dodge to stick their head in the sand and not play in the EV arena at all. Going out of business definitely axes the Hemi!

So while I want to be mad and sad about this, and agree that an EV “muscle car” is pointlessly stupid…. I have to remind myself to appreciate Dodge for at least *trying* to do something to make the drive interesting.

Everyone else seems content to just be first out with the fastest, quirkiest iPad on wheels. I am not looking forward to “Mobility pods”!!!!

Absolutely agree, that's the key, driving interest instead of another iPad on wheels is a great point. I have Tesla friends who wonder why I would want anything else since Tesla's are so fast. These are clearly technology people, they are not car enthusiast.

There is a reason why the Miata is considered one of the best sports cars of all time, and it's not because it's fast in a straight like, which clearly it isn't. I think cars like the Porsche Taycan can show that you can have a dynamic driving EV. Though that's at a price point beyond most people.

If Dodge can make this Muscle car fun in other things, such as handling, then they could have something there. Something I can take on a canyon and it makes me smile could make me want one. Straight line speed is a baseline now for many EVs, you are going to need more than that.