According to MotorTrend.
www.motortrend.com
TLDR:
Our sources tell us that a brand-new generation of V-8-powered, rear-wheel-drive muscle machines are coming, and coming soon. Here you thought Dodge was going fully EV, and turning its back on the burning of gasoline.
A new, large Stellantis rear-drive platform is coming and can fit a V-8. This platform will be separate and unrelated to the EV skateboard chassis that will underpin other large Stellantis EVs. This vehicle architecture will underpin a new Charger, a new Challenger, as well as possibly a new Chrysler 300, and the next-generation Maserati Quattroporte. Any chance a large Alfa Romeo could come along to fight the 5 Series or 7 Series? Nope, as Alfa Romeo has announced its going all-EV by 2027. Opel? Vauxhall? Could either of those brands get a gas-powered, V-8-capable chassis. No clue, but hey, why not?
The new Charger and Challenger will be lighter than the cars they replace and they will handle better—probably much better. The designs are currently being finalized, so our sources haven't seen anything yet. We do hear that Dodge is aware that looks played a big part keeping both models alive for this long, so don't expect anything too radical. Expect ZF's ubiquitous (and excellent) 8-speed automatic to remain the transmission of choice, and of course for our friends in the Northeast there will be an AWD option.
We don't know which engines specifically will show up in Dodge's new muscle cars, but you don't need to be a scientitian to guess, with an asterisk. Currently, the 392 V-8 puts out 485 horsepower. Not bad for natural aspiration. However, Mopar's new 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane I-6 pumps out "more than" 500 horsepower. It's a tough intellectual conundrum for the muscle car fan, take the less powerful V-8 or go with more power but fewer cylinders. We're betting that Dodge decides to offer two flavors of Hurricane I-6 (standard will be more than 400 hp, high-output will again top 500 hp) and save the V-8 for the all-powerful, all-profitable Hellcat variant. Figure 800 hp minimum for the next-gen evil kitty.
Hellcat Lives! Dodge Ain’t Giving Up on V-8s Yet
Hot new V-8 powered Challengers and Chargers are coming.
TLDR:
Our sources tell us that a brand-new generation of V-8-powered, rear-wheel-drive muscle machines are coming, and coming soon. Here you thought Dodge was going fully EV, and turning its back on the burning of gasoline.
A new, large Stellantis rear-drive platform is coming and can fit a V-8. This platform will be separate and unrelated to the EV skateboard chassis that will underpin other large Stellantis EVs. This vehicle architecture will underpin a new Charger, a new Challenger, as well as possibly a new Chrysler 300, and the next-generation Maserati Quattroporte. Any chance a large Alfa Romeo could come along to fight the 5 Series or 7 Series? Nope, as Alfa Romeo has announced its going all-EV by 2027. Opel? Vauxhall? Could either of those brands get a gas-powered, V-8-capable chassis. No clue, but hey, why not?
The new Charger and Challenger will be lighter than the cars they replace and they will handle better—probably much better. The designs are currently being finalized, so our sources haven't seen anything yet. We do hear that Dodge is aware that looks played a big part keeping both models alive for this long, so don't expect anything too radical. Expect ZF's ubiquitous (and excellent) 8-speed automatic to remain the transmission of choice, and of course for our friends in the Northeast there will be an AWD option.
We don't know which engines specifically will show up in Dodge's new muscle cars, but you don't need to be a scientitian to guess, with an asterisk. Currently, the 392 V-8 puts out 485 horsepower. Not bad for natural aspiration. However, Mopar's new 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane I-6 pumps out "more than" 500 horsepower. It's a tough intellectual conundrum for the muscle car fan, take the less powerful V-8 or go with more power but fewer cylinders. We're betting that Dodge decides to offer two flavors of Hurricane I-6 (standard will be more than 400 hp, high-output will again top 500 hp) and save the V-8 for the all-powerful, all-profitable Hellcat variant. Figure 800 hp minimum for the next-gen evil kitty.
