We knew that Dodge was going to introduce electric vehicles to its lineup. What we did not yet know was that this changeover would signal the end of the renewal of thermal engine versions, and in particular of the large V8s.
In a few weeks, the Dodge brand should reveal a little more about its future high-performance and 100% electric vehicle. In the meantime, it is an exchange between Motor1 and a spokesperson for the brand that has raised the concerns of fans of American “muscle cars”. The future generation, of these sporty models with oversized engines, will no longer be equipped with large petrol engines. Dodge has yet produced some of the most powerful thermal cars in this category.
This also does not mean that the electric version will not coexist for some time with the old thermal versions. It’s just that the thermal engine range (V6 and V8) will, a priori, not be renewed on the new platforms. The large V8s are set to gradually disappear from the manufacturer’s catalog. Dodge could very well proceed like Fiat – yes, the comparison is quite comical, but they are part of the same house – by having the electric Fiat 500 coexist on its new platform, while still marketing the old version in thermal.
What we know about Dodge electrification
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, gave some indications on the future of Dodge during the presentation of the strategic plan “Dare Forward 2030”. We were able to discover on this occasion that 3 new electric products were going to appear by 2024.
Two new electric models concern the RAM branch, that of pickups and vans, with a model scheduled for 2023 (Ram ProMaster BEV) and another in 2024 (Pickup Ram BEV). What interests us most here is the novelty indicated “performance muscle cars” for 2024.
This new model, a priori from Dodge Challenger, will be based on a platform dedicated to electric, which will inevitably lead to the disappearance of thermal versions within a few years, and this, without necessarily going through the hybridization box. .
Will Dodge succeed in producing a real electric “muscle car”?
In any case, this is what Carlos Tavares promises, also insisting that this electric model will have a unique sound: “We are creating a sound that you have no idea… It’s something shocking”he said during a presentation in March 2022, full of emphasis.
We currently have no information on the power that this 100% electric model could offer. Only the silhouette of the future model has already made a quick appearance on video.
In any case, the brand was able to irony the situation through this video broadcast in 2021, to prepare people’s minds for this electrification announcement. For our part, we are particularly curious to discover what the brand will be able to offer in terms of performance. Let’s not forget that for the moment, the group’s electric vehicles are equipped with a 100 kW motor with a 50 kWh battery. Suffice to say that we are, on the European models, very far from the muscle car spirit and the performance of a Dodge.
The electrification of Dodge could also give rise to hopes of an arrival in Europe. Without extravagant penalties, as is currently the case for imports of Dodge models, there could be customers for this electric muscle car. But, unfortunately, it remains unlikely to see Dodge land in Europe in the logic of the group. Stellantis will certainly favor Alfa Romeo in this niche of electric sportiness for Europe.
In any case, it is rumored that Ford would have some new things to announce soon about its Mustang, the real sports coupe, not the Mustang Mach-e SUV version. In the absence of a Dodge muscle car, we may have access to Mustangs to console us.