While Dodge appears reluctant to send its V8-powered Charger and Challenger to the chopping block, most evident in the countless Last Call specials it has released, the brand remains adamant about the all-electric successor that's set to replace the muscle cars. The upcoming EV, which will be heavily based on the Charger Daytona SRT EV concept, is no secret. However, there may be another gas-powered Charger lurking somewhere in Dodge's playbook.
While Dodge has been tight-lipped about whether the combustion engine still has a future in its cars, a recent story from Mopar Insiders seemed to cheekily point at another gas-powered Charger, which will peacefully coexist with its anticipated EV counterpart. The report made it clear that the gas version will simply be called Charger, while the fully electric variant will be called the Charger Daytona. While the Daytona will essentially be a four-door version of the concept shown last year, there are no details regarding the looks of the gas Charger.
While styling is a mystery, we do have an idea of what could power it. Mopar Insiders says the next Charger will replace its storied Hemi V8 with a smaller six-cylinder engine, which will most likely be the Hurricane 3.0 liter twin-turbo inline-six that's already available in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
Interestingly, the report also mentions that a new "Challenger iteration" will start production in June 2024, which means it will hit the road several months before the new Charger. The wording suggests that this next-generation Challenger could serve as a two-door variant of the Charger, though it's unknown whether the two-door muscle car will follow its four-door sibling in offering both gas and electric powertrains.
Dodge may not have been planning another gas-fed Charger this whole time, as previous statements from brand officials indicated that the days of combustion-engined cars from Dodge were over. A lot of time has elapsed since those statements were made, and within that period Ford said it would not be switching its Mustang to electric power. It's also worth noting that the muscle car crowd is not the type that would be willing to trade their raucous V8s for absolute silence. Has Dodge been swayed by its fans and competition? It's a major possibility.
While the future direction for Dodge's muscle cars appears blurry right now, there's a possibility that Dodge might straighten things out at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show this September. There are several expected debuts from the Big Three, with Stellantis expected to introduce at least one new model at the event. Will it be a next-generation muscle car? We only have a couple weeks to find out.
Would you like to see the next Charger offer a gas engine?
Image Credits: Dodge
Report
Aug 31, 2023
•
New Report Suggests That Another Gas-Powered Dodge Charger Might Be In The Cards
Have fans convinced Dodge to make a U-turn back to the world of combustion engines?
While Dodge appears reluctant to send its V8-powered Charger and Challenger to the chopping block, most evident in the countless Last Call specials it has released, the brand remains adamant about the all-electric successor that's set to replace the muscle cars. The upcoming EV, which will be heavily based on the Charger Daytona SRT EV concept, is no secret. However, there may be another gas-powered Charger lurking somewhere in Dodge's playbook.
While Dodge has been tight-lipped about whether the combustion engine still has a future in its cars, a recent story from Mopar Insiders seemed to cheekily point at another gas-powered Charger, which will peacefully coexist with its anticipated EV counterpart. The report made it clear that the gas version will simply be called Charger, while the fully electric variant will be called the Charger Daytona. While the Daytona will essentially be a four-door version of the concept shown last year, there are no details regarding the looks of the gas Charger.
While styling is a mystery, we do have an idea of what could power it. Mopar Insiders says the next Charger will replace its storied Hemi V8 with a smaller six-cylinder engine, which will most likely be the Hurricane 3.0 liter twin-turbo inline-six that's already available in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
Interestingly, the report also mentions that a new "Challenger iteration" will start production in June 2024, which means it will hit the road several months before the new Charger. The wording suggests that this next-generation Challenger could serve as a two-door variant of the Charger, though it's unknown whether the two-door muscle car will follow its four-door sibling in offering both gas and electric powertrains.
Dodge may not have been planning another gas-fed Charger this whole time, as previous statements from brand officials indicated that the days of combustion-engined cars from Dodge were over. A lot of time has elapsed since those statements were made, and within that period Ford said it would not be switching its Mustang to electric power. It's also worth noting that the muscle car crowd is not the type that would be willing to trade their raucous V8s for absolute silence. Has Dodge been swayed by its fans and competition? It's a major possibility.
While the future direction for Dodge's muscle cars appears blurry right now, there's a possibility that Dodge might straighten things out at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show this September. There are several expected debuts from the Big Three, with Stellantis expected to introduce at least one new model at the event. Will it be a next-generation muscle car? We only have a couple weeks to find out.
Would you like to see the next Charger offer a gas engine?