The Hemi-Powered Dodge Muscle Car Is Dead

For a fleeting instant, it appeared that Dodge’s Hemi-driven coupe and sedan could reside on by the starting of the “eMuscle” era right after all. A tale posted late previous week by Motor Pattern cited nameless resources boasting that Dodge planned to produce a next-generation Charger and Challenger on a new inner-combustion, rear-wheel-push platform with house for a V8, potentially immediately after the present versions rode into the sunset in 2024. That is not going on, and we know since Dodge just stated so.

Whatsoever follows Dodge’s latest enthusiast offerings will be solely battery-electric powered, 1 of the company’s spokespeople has confirmed to Motor1:

“The [Motor Trend] tale is incorrect,” stated the spokesperson. “The Hemi in that system, as nicely as that platform, are heading absent. The subsequent technology will be BEV.”

In this scenario, the “platform” the spokesperson is referring to is in fact two: the LD for the Charger and LA for the Challenger. Both are greatly derived from the Bush-administration LX, launched in 2006 alongside the Charger, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum. (Oh, the Magnum. In no way neglect the wagon they took from us.)

Anyway, Dodge’s rejection of that much too-superior-to-be-correct report definitely tracks, because model CEO Tim Kuniskis previously explained to Motor Pattern past November that “these cars and trucks that you know right now will go out of production by the time we get to 2024.” Kuniskis connected this without any point out of an ICE successor to the existing duo, powered by possibly V8s or Stellantis’ new Hurricane turbocharged inline six. It was fairly crystal clear that Dodge’s initial all-electric powered muscle auto, also planned for 2024, will inherit all of the attention that beforehand belonged to the Charger and Challenger.

Talking of, in which is that legendary EV, specifically? In that November interview, Kuniskis told Motor Pattern that we’d get to see a fully operational prototype of the motor vehicle no afterwards than the second quarter of 2022. We’re now in the 3rd. Anything held it back again — a little something “outside [the] industry” — and the CEO admitted that in April to Muscle mass Cars & Trucks:

“TBD… we argue about (the reveal timeline of the electrical Dodge muscle mass car or truck principle) a great deal,” stated Kuniskis. “I’m pushing really actually hard to get this factor out and into general public watch, and clearly show you what we’re carrying out and how we’re accomplishing it unique as fast as I can. It drives me nuts that other men and women are way out in front of their headlights and I’m not.”

Tim also hinted that there is yet another element to the vehicle’s reveal that demands to get in sync, but did not completely elaborate what that was.

“There’s one actually significant piece that goes with (the reveal) which is exterior of my control, and it is outdoors our business rather frankly, that I want the two to be alongside one another when I show you this automobile. And I really don’t want to do it disjointed,” he claimed. “When that parts will come with each other we’ll choose when we’re gonna clearly show it. It will be quicker fairly than later. My hope is that you will see this motor vehicle effectively right before we get to that Speed 7 days, so nicely in advance of we get to August is my hope.”

Pace 7 days is a string of Dodge-themed occasions in Pontiac, Michigan. The manufacturer has scheduled 3 days of reveals in between Monday, August 15 and Wednesday, August 17. One particular of all those is guaranteed to be the new Hornet crossover, based mostly on the Alfa Romeo Tonale. Yet another — a nameless “future muscle mass car” — sounds a good deal like that extended-awaited Charger/Challenger sequel. What ever you’re expecting, just don’t expect a Hemi.