DETROIT — Dodge will discontinue its gas-powered Challenger and Charger muscle cars at the end of next year, marking the end of an era for the brand as it starts to transition to electric vehicles.
Since being resurrected in the mid- to late 2000s, the Charger and Challenger — names made popular in the 1960s and 1970s — have been stalwarts for Dodge and popular vehicles for a new generation of gearheads.
The two-door Challenger particularly struck a chord of nostalgia with buyers thanks to its retro-inspired styling, while the four-door Charger has managed to achieve notable sales milestones despite consumers flocking from sedans to SUVs in recent years.
Dodge has also been able to juice profits from the vehicles, which have starting prices ranging from the low-$30,000s to nearly $90,000 for its infamous Hellcat models that produce more than 700 horsepower.
2022 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat [left] and 2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock
Dodge
"Dodge, with the Challenger and Charger, they really found a way to really get to that muscle car root. These cars definitely expressed it ... and were able to hold onto that essence," said Stephanie Brinley, principal analyst at S&P Global. "Having that clear DNA and clear expression of what they're supposed to be is helping make the transition to electric."
Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis has alluded to the possibility that the Charger and Challenger names could be used for future electrified vehicles, including a forthcoming electric muscle car in 2024. He's previously said he believes electrification — whether hybrid vehicles with less powerful engines or all-electric models — will save what he has called the new "Golden Age of muscle cars."
For several years, Kuniskis has warned that the end was coming for the gas-powered muscle cars due to emissions regulations. Dodge parent company Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, ranks the worst among major manufacturers for U.S. corporate average fuel economy and carbon emissions.
As many brands switched to smaller and more fuel-efficient engines, Dodge rolled out Hellcat models and other high-performance vehicles. Such models helped generate attention for the brand but didn't help the automaker's carbon footprint, forcing it to buy carbon credits from automakers such as Tesla.
"The days of an iron block supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 are numbered," Kuniskis previously told CNBC, referring to engines like those in the Hellcat. "But the performance that those vehicles generate is not numbered."
Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis speaks Aug. 13, 2021 during a media event. In the back, the Fratzog logo was used alongside Dodge's current logo.
Michael Wayland / CNBC
Dodge is launching a litany of special vehicles and products to "celebrate" the end of the cars as they are today. Dodge's plans include seven special-edition, or "buzz," models; a commemorative "Last Call" under-hood plaque for all 2023 model-year vehicles; and a new dealer allocation process, among other measures.
The new dealer process will see Dodge allocate 2023 Charger and Challenger models to lots all at once, instead of making orders available throughout the year. Dodge will provide customers a guide to locate specific models at each dealership.
Kuniskis said the process is meant to assist customers in getting the specific vehicle they want.
"We wanted to make sure we were celebrating these cars properly," Kuniskis said during a media briefing for an event this week in Pontiac, Michigan.
The Charger and Challenger are produced at Stellantis' Brampton Assembly plant in Ontario, Canada. The company says it has produced more than 3 million Dodge vehicles at the plant, including 1.5 million Chargers and more than 726,000 Challengers sold in the U.S.
Stellantis earlier this year announced plans to invest $2.8 billion in the plant and another Canadian facility, but it has not disclosed what vehicles will be produced at the facilities.
"When we shut down Brampton it will be a 20-year run of Dodge muscle cars," Kuniskis said. "We needed to do this right."
Price: We expect the price of the 2023 Dodge Challenger to start at approximately $30,000.
The 2023 Dodge Challenger coupe is a glorious throwback to another era of American muscle cars. With its range of tire-burning V8 engines and rear-wheel-drive format, the Challenger makes no excuses for running against the grain of more practical and far less audacious machinery.
Granted, the base 3.6-liter V6 engine with its available all-wheel drive [AWD] makes a modest nod toward practicality, but it’s the hair-raising V8-powered models that define the Challenger’s personality.
This includes the incredibly strong lineup of supercharged Hellcat engines that deliver anywhere from 717 to 807 horsepower, depending on the chosen trim. The now-discontinued Challenger Demon nudged output even higher, to a grand total of 840 horsepower.
If you want a Hellcat, however, you better move quickly.
That’s because the 2023 model year appears to be the end of the road for at least the Hellcat range of engines. Dodge is moving its muscle car line into the world of electric vehicles, and what’s being referred to as an “eMuscle” concept car will be shown sometime in 2023. This show car will hint at a production model due to arrive in 2024.
What all this means for the rest of the Challenger range – including its 4-door sibling, the Charger – is less clear at the time of writing.
There’s a chance the two models could continue for one more model year beyond 2023. At that point, they could get a complete makeover, or be phased out entirely. Once we have more details you can be certain they’ll be broadcast loud and clear.
Speaking of loud, the Challenger Hellcat lineup is not for the faint of heart – or the stingy of car budget – thanks to its growling engines, wild color palette, and voracious appetite for gasoline. With everything added, including the mightiest of Hellcat V8 engines, a Challenger can nearly triple in price from the base model’s starting point of roughly $30,000.
In the middle of the range are the R/T and R/T Scat Pack variants that are motivated by either a 5.7-liter or 6.4-liter Hemi V8. These pack plenty of thrills, even if they don’t have the crazy-fast nature of the Hellcats.
While the Challenger’s cabin is dated in terms of its overall design, the infotainment system remains a treat to use. It’s quick to respond and has clear-cut menus. There’s also usable space in the second row for adults, plus the trunk measures in at a roomy 16.2 cubic feet.
2023 Dodge Challenger Pricing
Look for the 2023 Dodge Challenger in base trim with the 3.6-liter V6 to have a starting price of around $30,000. With 303-horsepower and optional all-wheel drive, this powertrain is about as practical as you’ll get with Dodge’s in-your-face muscle car.
Sitting in the middle of the 2023 Challenger lineup, the R/T and R/T Scat Pack are priced at approximately $38,000 and $44,000, respectively. Each comes with a Hemi V8 and can be had in a wide range of paint schemes, including wide racing stripes and other extroverted graphics.
The Hellcat range starts at around $64,000 but easily streaks past $80,000 with the range-topping SRT Super Stock variant. It’s possible — and we think likely — Dodge will offer at least one more over-the-top Hellcat model for the 2023 model year.
Could it push the price of this muscle machine past $100,000? Stay tuned!
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