Are they discontinuing the Dodge Charger in 2023?
|
August 17, 2022 11:16 AM Show Posted: August 17, 2022 11:16 AM  AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger, in current form, are coming to an end, and the Dodge brand is seizing the opportunity to celebrate in true, over-the-top Dodge style, officials said. Parent company Stellantis said on Monday it will stop the production of Chargers and Challengers in December of next year. To commemorate the iconic car, the company said next year’s lineup will feature seven different special-edition models, all featuring a ‘Last Call’ plaque under the hood. The Netherlands-based auto company says they are switching its focus toward electric vehicles.
Customers will be able to choose among the following for 2023 models:
To learn more, click here. COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) by: Daisy Ruth Posted: Aug 17, 2022 / 11:14 AM EDT Updated: Aug 18, 2022 / 03:36 PM EDT TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Dodge will discontinue its Challenger and Charger vehicles starting in 2023. CNBC reports the motor company will discontinue the gas-powered muscle cars next year as it begins to transition to electric vehicles. The outlet reports the Charger and Challenge names could be used for future electric vehicles, as alluded to by Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis. For those still wanting to get their hands on one of the muscle cars, CNBC reports Dodge will allocate the 2023 models to lots all at once, rather than taking orders throughout the year. The company will also be launching special vehicles and products to celebrate the end of the era. Dodge announced its first electric vehicle, called the Hornet, will be a plug-in hybrid crossover. CNBC reports the starter model of the vehicle will come with a starting price of less than $30,000. By the time 2023 comes to a close, Dodge will have officially axed the gas-powered Challenger and Charger from its lineup. Dodge made the announcement at a critical time in the industry as automakers start manufacturing more models powered by electrified powertrains. What enthusiasts are now grappling with is a possible reality where Dodge — a brand long synonymous with today's American (and traditionally ICE-powered) muscle cars — could transition its lineup to a hybrid and electric powertrain model. With the Dodge Challenger overtaking the Ford Mustang in 2021 as the best-selling muscle car in the U.S., many want to know why Dodge is canceling its muscle cars at the peak of their powers. Why Is Dodge Discontinuing The Challenger And Charger? Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis hinted at the brand's internal combustion engine coming to an end back in December 2021 during a Motor Authority interview. Shortly after, the U.S. automaker integrated its Street & Racing Technology (SRT) division into its global engineering team. This created panic throughout the company's fan base with many fearing the end of Dodge's performance line. Not long after, in an interview with Autoweek, Kuniskis sought to quell fans' concerns. He insisted that Stellantis, Dodge's parent company, was not disbanding SRT. Further, he supported the notion that an electric Dodge future was fast approaching. Finally, Dodge confirmed that 2023 would see the last Challenger and Charger models in their current ICE-powered iterations. The automaker is bidding farewell to the beloved muscle cars with a fitting tribute: "Last Call" plaques underneath the hoods. This series of events has raised many questions for enthusiasts. Why is Dodge getting rid of the Challenger and Charger? Why is it moving away from the internal combustion? The reason becomes clearer when looking at Greenpeace East Asia's November 2021 report. According to its analysis, Greenpace ranked Stellantis second to last (after Toyota) in its efforts to decrease carbon emissions. Even before that report, Stellantis signaled it was righting the ship by July 2021 with eight upcoming electric battery vehicles and an aggressive push towards solid-state battery advancements. What Will Replace The Dodge Challenger And Charger?
Last year Dodge teased its first all-electric muscle car during Stellantis's EV Day. A little more than a year later, Dodge officially revealed the upcoming concept — dubbed the Charger Daytona SRT — to preview its ostensible V8-less future. In an effort to retain loyal fans, the Charger Daytona SRT will inherit some of the traits that make American muscle cars so appealing. There's an aerodynamic wing up front (dubbed the "R-Wing") that pays homage to the original Charger Daytona and an industry-first BEV exhaust that's supposed to rival the SRT Hellcat. While the concept presents one avenue the automaker could take to fill the void the Challenger and Charger leave behind, Dodge has yet to confirm whether they'll get proper successors. What we do know with certainty is that the 2023 Dodge Challenger and 2023 Dodge Charger models are the last opportunity for enthusiasts to own these beloved muscle cars. Will Dodge Chargers be discontinued in 2023?Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis recently confirmed to Motor Authority that the Charger and Challenger — and their Hellcat engines — will cease production by 2024.
Is Dodge discontinuing the Charger?As a result, it comes as no surprise that Dodge is dropping the gas-powered Charger and Challenger after 2023. Their potent Hellcat and Hemi V8 engines aren't keeping with the times as automakers focus on kilowatts, not horsepower.
What will replace the Dodge Charger in 2024?But Dodge already announced they are phasing out the Charger and Challenger after the 2023 model year for electrified "eMuscle." Dodge announced an electric model will follow in 2024 to replace them.
What Charger is getting discontinued?DETROIT — Dodge will discontinue its gas-powered Challenger and Charger muscle cars at the end of next year, marking the end of an era for the brand as it starts to transition to electric vehicles.
|
