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Stellantis's Brampton, Ontario assembly line has gone silent, with the final Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger leaving the factory earlier this month. This marks the end for the L platform that underpinned all three models since 2004. The absolute final vehicle to roll off the line in Brampton was a 2023 Challenger SRT Demon 170 finished in an intimidating shade of Pitch Black.
The Chrysler 300 bowed out first, in the form of a V8-powered 300C with Velvet Red paint. It was followed by that aforementioned Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the final Charger, which was said to be a Scat Pack Widebody in Destroyer Gray.
There are replacements on the way for this legendary trio, but none of them will offer a Hemi V8 under the hood. The Charger and Challenger will be revived as a single model in 2024 with Hurricane inline-six and fully-electric powertrain options, while the 300 will be resurrected later on in the form of an EV-only sedan.
Just as the Chrysler 300 was the first to get the chopping block, it was also the first L-platform muscle car to hit showrooms, arriving for the 2005 model year. It immediately became an icon with its perfect blend of authentic American luxury and gangster-Bentley looks. The latter especially appealed to the hip-hop crowd, leading to plenty of cameos in music videos and song lyrics.
Dodge brought along its Charger and Challenger in 2006 and 2008 respectively, both packing 5.7 liter Hemi V8 engines with rear-wheel drive formats. The combination of the two made for plenty of tire-squealing action. The pair gained even more popularity with their major 2015 updates, which introduced the legendary SRT Hellcat models and their 6.2 liter supercharged V8s that were capable of producing up to 700 horsepower.
All three models have been given fitting sendoffs, including the seemingly endless parade of "Last Call" special editions from Dodge. The final installment in the "Last Call" series was the Challenger SRT Demon 170, which delivered an incomprehensible 1,025 horsepower on E85 gasoline. As for Chrysler, the 300 sedan was sent off with a Hemi-powered 300C special edition.
With the production lines now empty, the Brampton factory will undergo retooling over the next couple of years. However, this plant won't be making muscle cars when it reopens, as Dodge's upcoming successor to the Charger and Challenger will be built at the Windsor Assembly Plant. The Brampton facility will instead build Stellantis's forthcoming STLA Medium vehicles, starting with the next-generation Jeep Compass in late 2025.
Image Credits: Chrysler, Dodge
Discontinued
Dec 31, 2023
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The Dodge Charger And Challenger Are Officially Dead
Here's to what may be the most iconic models to ever come from Dodge.
Stellantis's Brampton, Ontario assembly line has gone silent, with the final Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Challenger leaving the factory earlier this month. This marks the end for the L platform that underpinned all three models since 2004. The absolute final vehicle to roll off the line in Brampton was a 2023 Challenger SRT Demon 170 finished in an intimidating shade of Pitch Black.
The Chrysler 300 bowed out first, in the form of a V8-powered 300C with Velvet Red paint. It was followed by that aforementioned Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the final Charger, which was said to be a Scat Pack Widebody in Destroyer Gray.
There are replacements on the way for this legendary trio, but none of them will offer a Hemi V8 under the hood. The Charger and Challenger will be revived as a single model in 2024 with Hurricane inline-six and fully-electric powertrain options, while the 300 will be resurrected later on in the form of an EV-only sedan.
Just as the Chrysler 300 was the first to get the chopping block, it was also the first L-platform muscle car to hit showrooms, arriving for the 2005 model year. It immediately became an icon with its perfect blend of authentic American luxury and gangster-Bentley looks. The latter especially appealed to the hip-hop crowd, leading to plenty of cameos in music videos and song lyrics.
Dodge brought along its Charger and Challenger in 2006 and 2008 respectively, both packing 5.7 liter Hemi V8 engines with rear-wheel drive formats. The combination of the two made for plenty of tire-squealing action. The pair gained even more popularity with their major 2015 updates, which introduced the legendary SRT Hellcat models and their 6.2 liter supercharged V8s that were capable of producing up to 700 horsepower.
All three models have been given fitting sendoffs, including the seemingly endless parade of "Last Call" special editions from Dodge. The final installment in the "Last Call" series was the Challenger SRT Demon 170, which delivered an incomprehensible 1,025 horsepower on E85 gasoline. As for Chrysler, the 300 sedan was sent off with a Hemi-powered 300C special edition.
With the production lines now empty, the Brampton factory will undergo retooling over the next couple of years. However, this plant won't be making muscle cars when it reopens, as Dodge's upcoming successor to the Charger and Challenger will be built at the Windsor Assembly Plant. The Brampton facility will instead build Stellantis's forthcoming STLA Medium vehicles, starting with the next-generation Jeep Compass in late 2025.
Image Credits: Chrysler, Dodge
