The Hemi-Powered Dodge Muscle Car Is Dead

For a fleeting minute, it appeared that Dodge’s Hemi-run coupe and sedan may well stay on through the commencing of the “eMuscle” period following all. A tale published late very last week by Motor Craze cited nameless resources saying that Dodge prepared to produce a next-generation Charger and Challenger on a new internal-combustion, rear-wheel-generate system with space for a V8, maybe immediately after the current styles rode into the sunset in 2024. That isn’t happening, and we know for the reason that Dodge just reported so.

Whatever follows Dodge’s recent fanatic choices will be exclusively battery-electric powered, a person of the company’s spokespeople has verified to Motor1:

“The [Motor Trend] tale is incorrect,” mentioned the spokesperson. “The Hemi in that platform, as very well as that platform, are likely away. The following technology will be BEV.”

In this case, the “platform” the spokesperson is referring to is truly two: the LD for the Charger and LA for the Challenger. Both equally are closely derived from the Bush-administration LX, launched in 2006 along with the Charger, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum. (Oh, the Magnum. In no way forget the wagon they took from us.)

In any case, Dodge’s rejection of that far too-good-to-be-correct report definitely tracks, because brand name CEO Tim Kuniskis currently explained to Motor Trend final November that “these vehicles that you know nowadays will go out of production by the time we get to 2024.” Kuniskis relevant this without the need of any mention of an ICE successor to the existing duo, run by possibly V8s or Stellantis’ new Hurricane turbocharged inline six. It was quite obvious that Dodge’s initial all-electrical muscle car, also prepared for 2024, will inherit all of the notice that previously belonged to the Charger and Challenger.

Speaking of, in which is that mythical EV, precisely? In that November interview, Kuniskis informed Motor Trend that we’d get to see a absolutely operational prototype of the vehicle no later than the 2nd quarter of 2022. We’re now in the 3rd. Anything held it back — something “outside [the] industry” — and the CEO admitted that in April to Muscle Automobiles & Vans:

“TBD… we argue about (the reveal timeline of the electric powered Dodge muscle motor vehicle principle) a whole lot,” claimed Kuniskis. “I’m pushing definitely truly really hard to get this thing out and into public look at, and clearly show you what we’re performing and how we’re executing it distinctive as quickly as I can. It drives me crazy that other people are way out in entrance of their headlights and
I’m not.”

Tim also hinted that there is a further ingredient to the vehicle’s reveal that needs to get in sync, but did not completely elaborate what that was.

“There’s one seriously crucial piece that goes with (the reveal) that’s outside the house of my control, and it’s outside our market fairly frankly, that I want the two to be with each other when I display you this car. And I do not want to do it disjointed,” he mentioned. “When that items comes alongside one another we’ll make your mind up when we’re gonna demonstrate it. It will be faster instead than later. My hope is that you’ll see this automobile nicely in advance of we get to that Velocity Week, so well before we get to August is my hope.”

Pace 7 days is a string of Dodge-themed gatherings in Pontiac, Michigan. The brand has scheduled a few days of reveals amongst Monday, August 15 and Wednesday, August 17. Just one of those is certain to be the new Hornet crossover, based on the Alfa Romeo Tonale. A further — a nameless “future muscle mass car” — appears a large amount like that extensive-awaited Charger/Challenger sequel. Whatsoever you are expecting, just really don’t anticipate a Hemi.