Update, 8/16/2022: As part of their "Speed Week" festivities on the cusp of Michigan's Woodward Dream Cruise, Stellantis has formally confirmed that the 2023 model year will be the final one for the current Dodge Charger and Challenger models. For the final year of production, Dodge will offer the cars with "Last Call" plaques under their hoods, as well as expand the almost-anything-goes Jailbreak program to all Challenger Hellcat and Charger Hellcat models — and, of course, dust off a couple classic colors that haven't been part of the palette for a while.
Oh, and they're also making it so you can kinda-sorta buy a Challenger convertible through Dodge.
The times, they are a-changing at Dodge. And it's all going down a bit sooner than we thought. We knew Dodge pledged to have an electric muscle car by 2024 and enacted a weird two-year advent calendar of events in the buildup to its release; we didn't know that that would be the end of the run for the brand's current muscle cars.
Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis recently confirmed to Motor Authority that the Charger and Challenger — and their Hellcat engines — will cease production by 2024. Motor Trend, who also spoke to Kuniskis, offered further details on the three new Dodge vehicles that will replace them.
We'll see the Electric Muscle Car concept in 2022
Our best look so far at Dodge’s new "eMuscle" car.
Dodge
Kuniskis confirmed to Motor Trend that Dodge will unveil its
electric muscle car concept by 2022 at the latest. It will run on Stellantis's new "STLA Large EV" platform, one of four electric vehicle platforms the conglomerate is reportedly developing — and one that will purportedly offer up to 500 miles of range.
A Dodge plug-in hybrid will enter production before the end of 2022
Dodge will also unveil a plug-in hybrid soon, and put it into production by the end of 2022. The report says it will be a new vehicle — not a current-gen Durango sporting the Jeep Wrangler 4xe powertrain. No word from Motor Trend on whether it will still use that engine (though that would be logical, given the timeframe).
Dodge will produce a mysterious third vehicle
Kuniskis noted to Motor Trend that Dodge has a third vehicle coming. What he did not mention is what that vehicle would be. He just said that it would be a "very, very, very significant car at the end of the year." (Here's a hoping that a revival of the Dodge Magnum wagon is the sort of thing that would require such a multitude of verys.)
Stellantis
Here's why Dodge is getting rid of the Charger and Challenger
When PSA Group merged with FCA to form Stellantis, most presumed that the new mega-conglomerate would trim down the number of brands. Dodge was thought to be one of the brands on the chopping block. Jeep sells profitable SUVs; Ram sells profitable pickup trucks. But cranking out emissions fine-courting V8-powered Chargers and Challengers on the aging Chrysler LX platform ad infinitum was not a way forward for Dodge.
It's not clear whether and how successfully Dodge can convert its enthusiast base to "eMuscle." But the brand will need to do so to survive.
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Dodge announced Monday its iconic muscle car will no longer be gas-powered. All 2023 Charger and Challenger models will bear a "Last Call" underhood plaque.
WASHINGTON — Two iconic Dodge cars that shaped the meaning of muscle cars will be discontinued in 2023 as the carmaker transitions into the era of electric vehicles.
Dodge announced Monday that its Challenger and Charger vehicle production will end in 2023. The two staple muscle car models, however, will be making a big exit as Dodge teased seven special edition 2023 models.
The 2023 Charger and Challenger models will all bear a "Last Call" plaque under the hood of the vehicle to commemorate its history.
“We are celebrating the end of an era — and the start of a bright new electrified future — by staying true to our brand,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand chief executive officer, in the press release.
Six of the seven "heritage models" will bridge a connection to past models of the muscle cars, according to the announcement.
Details about the heritage influenced 2023 models are set to be revealed later this year. Dodge teased the seventh and final model as "the very last of its kind," which will be revealed in November at the 2022 Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas.
“At Dodge, we never lift, and the brand will mark the last of our iconic Charger and Challenger nameplates in their current form in the same way that got us here, with a passion both for our products and our enthusiasts that drives us to create as much uniqueness in the muscle car community and marketplace as possible,” said Kuniskis.
In contrast to its traditional way of selling, Dodge will allocate the special edition cars to dealerships "at once" and will be a first-come, first-serve basis. Ordering and pricing for the 2023 special edition models will be announced later this year as well.
Dodge didn't expand on its plans beyond 2024 for the muscle car models, leaving a window of hope for the car to make a return in the future.