A few months after its marriage to the French group PSA to form Stellantis, Dodge announced in July its intention to use electric motors to ensure the future of its muscle cars in a context of necessary electrification. We now have a somewhat more complete picture of the planned timeline.
In an interview last week with some American media, the director of the brand, Tim Kuniskis, clarified that its current performance range would be completely reformed from 2024. This will end production of the Dodge Charger and Challenger, at least in their form. current, after 19 years on the same platform.
Kuniskis told the Motor Authority website that production will end at the end of 2023, a move that draws a line on the thunderous Hellcat engine, a 6.2L V8 capped with a supercharger whose peak output is currently stands at 807 hp. It will have marked the imagination and fueled a war – justified or not – without division since 2015 between the American manufacturers on the power front. A period that many consider to be the golden age of muscle cars in all their assumed extravagance.
In the first quarter of 2022, the electrification offensive will take shape with the scheduled unveiling of an electric prototype of the first muscle car without the manufacturer’s thermal engine. Kuniskis said, also to Motor Authority, that the approach of the manufacturer in the matter would be quite different from that of the rivals, which forces the company to file a patent application soon. It should also be noted that with a maximum power announced in July by Stellantis of 443 hp for a single engine. Dodge will thus undoubtedly find its account to ensure the ardor of its next creations.
The plug-in hybrid, for the transition
PHOTO PROVIDED BY STELLANTIS
The plug-in turn is taking its course at Jeep with the marketing of the Wrangler 4xe.
As with many manufacturers, Dodge’s first steps towards electrification will be through a new plug-in hybrid model, the brand’s boss told Motor Trend. Unfortunately, nothing is known a priori about this new model, but note that the plug-in turn is taking its course among others at Jeep with the marketing of the Wrangler 4xe and soon that of the Grand Cherokee 4xe. A technological sharing would thus be highly probable.
Finally, still during the interview at Motor Trend, Tim Kuniskis said that a brand new model “very, very important” was in the boxes for 2022. Again, he did not clarify his thinking, probably preferring to fuel the suspense. One thing is certain, this change of course for this brand built on the V8s was unavoidable.