It’s no secret the automotive world is a extremely completely completely different place now than it was method once more in 2022. That’s when Dodge first confirmed what would become the current-generation Charger, all shiny with its electric-only powertrain. Hell, it’s a very completely completely different world than it was just a few months up to now. And now, Dodge is teasing “new muscle” that may doubtless be revealed in just a few days. Coincidence?
Dodge Is Debuting One factor New On August 8
We’ll need to attend until the huge disclose to know for optimistic. That’s occurring on August 8 at Dodge’s annual Roadkill Nights event – a forerunner to the annual Woodward Dream Cruise held every August throughout the northern suburbs of Detroit. Dodge has beforehand launched new fashions at Roadkill Nights, nevertheless this 12 months is clearly pretty completely completely different. Dodge Charger Daytona product sales are method off compared with the sooner expertise with its Hemi vitality. The Charger Sixpack ought to help, nevertheless there’s nonetheless the so-called “brotherhood” that principally journey or die with the Hemi. Will they accept a gutsy turbo-six over the V8?
For now, Dodge offers no clue as to what this new muscle may very well be. For that matter, it won’t even be a Charger. Lest we neglect, the Dodge Durango continues to be an element, and it not at all misplaced the Hemi throughout the first place. Rumors a few Hemi Charger are in all places, nevertheless DrivingOnRoad reached out to Dodge for a direct comment. We’re nonetheless awaiting a response on that, nevertheless right here is why we’re hedging a wager on a Hemi Charger coming rapidly. In short, the two major hurdles holding it once more in the meanwhile are gone.
New Administration And No Emissions Penalties Open The Door
Former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares was reportedly anti-V8 and the driving drive behind pulling it from Stellantis producers throughout the US, along with Ram. He resigned late remaining 12 months amid freefalling US product sales and alleged disputes with nearly all of the Stellantis board. Sooner than the ink was dry on his resignation letter, former Ram and Dodge CEO (and unofficial father of the Hellcat) Tim Kuniskis launched his return to Ram. Interim Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa gave broad administration once more to mannequin CEOs, and just a few months after that, Kuniskis launched the Hemi’s return to the Ram 1500 lineup. Tavares was hurdle main.
Nevertheless even with firm approval, emissions guidelines and potential fines are a genuine concern for a mannequin with merely three autos. Nevertheless that concern is now eradicated with the Trump Administration’s present regulation that reduces fines for not meeting current guidelines to precisely zero. If Dodge was figuring out recommendations on tips on how to take care of the financial facet of a Hemi reboot, at least by the use of appeasing the feds, that disadvantage is solved.
It seems the one issue left is to find out recommendations on tips on how to stuff the Hemi beneath the Charger’s hood. That may very well be a a lot larger disadvantage than people assume, though. Whereas the current-generation Ram was designed with V8s in ideas, the model new Charger was created for electrical and inline-six vitality. The Charger Sixpack really is not going to be sluggish, offering patrons each 420 or 550 horsepower. Nevertheless
a Hemi selection to enhance the six would almost really see a rush of patrons ordering new cars equivalent to they did with Ram. The literal million-dollar question is whether or not or not the evaluation and enchancment costs are worth it for the product sales.
We’re betting they’re. Preserve tuned.