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  • William Maley
    William Maley

    By William Maley •

    Next-Generation Dodge Challenger To Embrace Electrification

      You can also kiss that 700 horsepower supercharged V8 good-bye

    The Dodge Challenger has been enjoying a resurgence for the past couple of years, due in part to the supercharged variants known as the Hellcat and Demon. But Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley tells the Detroit News, the next-generation Challenger will be quite different.

    "The reality is those platforms and that technology we used does need to move on. They can’t exist as you get into the middle-2020s. New technology is going to drive a load of weight out, so we can think of the powertrains in a different way. And we can use electrification to really supplement those vehicles," said Manley.

    "I think that electrification will certainly be part of the formula that says what is American muscle in the future. What it isn’t going to be is a V-8, supercharged, 700-horsepower engine."

    It is unclear what is in store for the next-generation Challenger. We previously reported that the model would move to the Giorgio platform - what underpins the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio. But last year, a story came out that next-generation Challenger and Charger would use a heavily re-worked version of the current LX platform - one that can trace its roots back to Mercedes-Benz models from the 1990s.

    As for possible engines, we wouldn't be surprised if the 2.0L turbo-four found in the Jeep Wrangler becomes available in the next-generation Challenger. There is also the rumor of a new inline-six taking the place of the current Pentastar V6, which we would assume could get some form of electrification. But Kelly Blue Book analyst Karl Brauer is skeptical about muscle cars and electrification co-existing.

    "There's a long-standing rule about what constitutes American muscle, but electrification is not part of it. I need something that gets my blood pumping," said Brauer.

    "The Challenger is now challenging the Mustang for sales primacy with a V-8. Who would have thought that? In terms of sales, the supercharged V-8s have worked well."

    We're guessing that FCA will be keeping some sort of V8 option, possibly one with some sort of electric boost.

    Source: The Detroit News

    Edited by William Maley

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    David
    On 1/26/2019 at 2:49 AM, ocnblu said:

    Car companies have always tried things.  Some things work, others do not.  Such is life with electrics.  They've been tried and failed for a century.

    True they have failed but not the power trains as has been proven with commercial electric trucks used for years on the East Coast. It has always been our tech of Power Storage, AKA Batteries that failed us. Now we are finally getting the Batteries to a point where EVs make sense.

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    A Horse With No Name
    4 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

    The fastest surface vehicles are all electrics.

    And the Porsche that just set a Nurembergring  lap record was a hybrid. Get used to hybrids and electrics as part of the automotive landscape.

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    trinacriabob

    I saw this article today while checking for spy photos and whatnot about the next Charger / Challenger ...

    https://www.motor1.com/news/376641/new-dodge-charger-challenger-hint/

    - strange odometer reading in photo of 2023, thought to cryptically suggest a further delay in the release

    - electrification possible/probably

    - retro styling will still be used for both cars while offering a lot of new and current (for the time of release) features

    - Challenger has outsold both Mustang and Camaro and the Camaro is slated to go away (?) ... didn't know that ... so delay makes sense

    I wonder if Dodge can get by a little longer with platforms that are as long in the tooth as the ones they have now, though you can't really knock these platforms.

    Edited by trinacriabob
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    David
    On 1/18/2020 at 7:22 PM, trinacriabob said:

    I saw this article today while checking for spy photos and whatnot about the next Charger / Challenger ...

    https://www.motor1.com/news/376641/new-dodge-charger-challenger-hint/

    - strange odometer reading in photo of 2023, thought to cryptically suggest a further delay in the release

    - electrification possible/probably

    - retro styling will still be used for both cars while offering a lot of new and current (for the time of release) features

    - Challenger has outsold both Mustang and Camaro and the Camaro is slated to go away (?) ... didn't know that ... so delay makes sense

    I wonder if Dodge can get by a little longer with platforms that are as long in the tooth as the ones they have now, though you can't really knock these platforms.

    Thanks for posting the story, that is a good read and I would agree with the 2023 hint.

    I think one solid reason for the success has been the price with the body style. No short bunker pony car, but an actual comfy cruiser.

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    Robert Hall
    17 minutes ago, dfelt said:

    Thanks for posting the story, that is a good read and I would agree with the 2023 hint.

    I think one solid reason for the success has been the price with the body style. No short bunker pony car, but an actual comfy cruiser.

    In a world of mediocre FWD 4cyl CUVs and ugly, bloated trucks,  a hefty, retro stylish 2dr coupe w/ available V8 and manual is very appealing to some...  I really want one.   An R/T Scat Pack w/ wide body in F8 green (or Octane Red) would be great. 

     

    Edited by Robert Hall
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    David
    7 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

    In a world of mediocre FWD 4cyl CUVs and ugly, bloated trucks,  a hefty, retro stylish 2dr coupe w/ available V8 and manual is very appealing to some...  I really want one. 

    I can actually fit in a Challenger where I have to fold up to get into a Mustang or Camaro.

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    Robert Hall
    4 minutes ago, dfelt said:

    I can actually fit in a Challenger where I have to fold up to get into a Mustang or Camaro.

    Yeah.. I'm only 6'0", but my head rubs the headliner in a Mustang and Camaro, and I can't see out of a Camaro w/o a periscope.   I've sat in Challengers several times at the dealer and at shows, and I fit in fine even w/ the sunroof (which I'd want). 

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    David
    3 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

    Yeah.. I'm only 6'0", but my head rubs the headliner in a Mustang and Camaro, and I can't see out of a Camaro w/o a periscope.   I've sat in Challengers several times at the dealer and at shows, and I fit in fine even w/ the sunroof (which I'd want). 

    For me, an Electric Challenger would be great as a weekend cruise car with the wife. 300 to 400 mile battery pack would cover the fun short road trips for me.

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    Robert Hall
    9 hours ago, dfelt said:

    For me, an Electric Challenger would be great as a weekend cruise car with the wife. 300 to 400 mile battery pack would cover the fun short road trips for me.

    I'd be happy w/ the regular 392 Hemi engine and 6 speed manual..485 hp is enough. 

    Edited by Robert Hall
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    trinacriabob
    1 hour ago, dfelt said:

    Thanks for posting the story, that is a good read and I would agree with the 2023 hint.

    I think one solid reason for the success has been the price with the body style. No short bunker pony car, but an actual comfy cruiser.

    I agree.  There's a lot of bang for the buck there and, with other American car makers peeling back their passenger cars, that might justify that market niche for them.  The article applied to both the Challenger and the Charger.  I'll just take a Charger base model with the most economical gasoline powerplant or, if up and running ... and proven, I'll take it with electrification.  I have had nothing but positive experiences with the Chargers I've rented.  And this is coming from someone who has disliked Chrysler for as long as I can remember.

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    riviera74
    58 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

    I agree.  There's a lot of bang for the buck there and, with other American car makers peeling back their passenger cars, that might justify that market niche for them.  The article applied to both the Challenger and the Charger.  I'll just take a Charger base model with the most economical gasoline powerplant or, if up and running ... and proven, I'll take it with electrification.  I have had nothing but positive experiences with the Chargers I've rented.  And this is coming from someone who has disliked Chrysler for as long as I can remember.

    I would consider a 300 over the Charger for one reason: GM will not release a semi-affordable RWD large sedan. GM expects you to pay Cadillac prices for that. SAD.

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    trinacriabob
    11 hours ago, riviera74 said:

    I would consider a 300 over the Charger for one reason: GM will not release a semi-affordable RWD large sedan. GM expects you to pay Cadillac prices for that. SAD.

    I could see that logic.  If a person awaits the next model release, the 300 sadly won't be in the fold.  They've also dropped any kind of promotion for the car.  I wonder if it would fare well with both a refresh and good marketing.  They were certainly well liked in their first 3 or 4 years and last 3 or 4 years on the market.  I see a lot of 300s around.  Some of them are piloted by gang banger types but the newer ones are driven by people who look like they can drive whatever they want and/or spend more money.

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