DODGE’S electrification ambitions have been turned down a contact following poor gross sales of the absolutely electrical and downside plagued Charger Daytona R/T two-door entry degree mannequin.
Launched in the USA in December final yr, the car didn’t generate curiosity amongst Charger loyalists, prompting the long-lasting model to tug the pin on its manufacturing.
Generations of Dodge Charger drivers weaned on loud and proud, petrol-powered Hemi V8s have stayed away from the Charger EVs in droves regardless of the mannequin being billed as the primary absolutely electrical muscle automobile.
In consequence, Dodge sellers stateside are caught with an estimated 3500 unsold models on their heaps.
In flip, this led to heavy discounting as reported in publication MoparInsider which says it has famous the mannequin’s on-line worth slashed, in a single occasion from an RRP of $US61,590 all the way down to a startling $34,184 with apparently a lot extra related examples throughout the nation.
Dodge’s downside with the Charger Daytona R/T is exacerbated by the next powered and probably extra marketable absolutely electrical 470kW AWD Charger Scat Pack mannequin, nonetheless in manufacturing but additionally being “worth adjusted”, and the expectation amongst rusted-on V8 fanatics of a reborn Hemi V8 Charger… even with incoming, highly effective petrol straight-six twin-turbo variations which can (or might not) enchantment to the V8 brotherhood.
V8 Hemi hypothesis has been fuelled throughout many boards together with at least Dodge’s CEO Matt McAlear reported proper right here at GoAuto earlier this yr admitting Dodge (and different Stellantis nameplates) had been actively recharting the trail of every model and… “V8 is now not a foul phrase across the firm”.
GoAuto reported on the time that pundits within the US put Dodge and Stellantis’ change of coronary heart all the way down to continuous criticism after launching the six-cylinder and electrical Charger from clients who “simply need massive capability petrol engines”. In different phrases, a Hemi V8.
However extra lately Mr McAlear has back-pedalled a tad re-asserting Dodge’s dedication to electrical powered fashions and within the Charger’s case, specializing in further turbocharged straight six-cylinder powered fashions with which the producer hopes to placate V8 fanatics.
Will it work?
Time and market forces will little doubt dictate the end result.
Effervescent away within the background the cessation of Charger Daytona R/T manufacturing appears to underline Charger purchaser sentiment including strain on Dodge to reintroduce a Charger Hemi V8, a automobile that’s ingrained in US muscle automobile tradition.
Hypothesis a couple of return of the Charger Hemi V8 is rife throughout the web with varied publications speaking about “when” and never “if” there might be a brand new Hemi V8.
Revered publication MotorTrend, for instance, stories “Dodge and Ram are mentioned to be refocusing their efforts on bringing the Hemi V8 again to their line-ups in drive”.
“As we speak, solely the three-row Durango SUV nonetheless presents the V8, but it surely’s probably coming again to the Ram 1500 and, probably, even the Charger, quickly,” it reported.
MotorTrend’s report notes different Stellantis EV delays, saying “the all-electric Ram 1500 REV is lately delayed once more, prone to 2027, whereas the Ram 1500 Ramcharger extended-range EV that beforehand was shifted forward of the REV within the manufacturing schedule is also being delayed till subsequent yr or past”.
From the above, and like many opponents, it’s obvious Dodge (and Stellantis) could also be adopting a wait and see strategy to full or partial line-up electrification that might be dictated by market forces.
