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Dodge CEO Addresses Fans Concerns About New Charger

Dodge CEO Addresses Fans Concerns About New Charger​

Burnouts Coming to EV Model in 2026, V8 Future Not Ruled Out...​


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Dodge fans frustrated by the lack of a HEMI® V8 engine and traditional muscle car features in the Charger Daytona may have reasons to stay optimistic. At the 2025 Detroit Auto Show, Dodge CEO Matt McAlear spoke to Motor1, addressing the car’s inability to perform standing burnouts and a possible future to V8 power.

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Dodge CEO Addresses Fans Concerns About New Charger

Dodge fans frustrated by the lack of a HEMI® V8 engine and traditional muscle car features in the Charger Daytona may have reasons to stay optimistic. At the 2025 Detroit Auto Show, Dodge CEO Matt McAlear spoke to Motor1, addressing the car's inability to perform standing burnouts and a possible...
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Bold of Dodge CEO Matt McLear to assume doubters of the new Charger....could even reasonably find one of the new Chargers to try for themselves. So many of them arrived to the dealerships already in brick form, or bricked overnight after delivery. The new Charger (at least as an EV) is an abject failure. I would call it a joke, but as a Mopar fan (I've owned 5 Dodges, and I'm currently on my 3rd Challenger), I feel more grief and betrayal at what Tavares made of my favorite brand.

Unfortunate. They're obviously trying to rush the Hurricane versions to market, and that's at least something they can maybe sell, presuming they can successfully address all the problems with the inline 6. But that's a tall order. That engine has so much potential, but so many problems. Again, due to Tavares' hubris and incompetence.

Stellantis is gonna have to fight like hell to stay above water, after waiting so long to force out that clown Carlos Tavares. I sincerely hope they can do it.

Edited to change a word.
 
How can they say the new Charger outperforms the hellcat? It's not even close. Sure the 0-60 may be within a few 10ths, but the charger runs out of steam quick and only tops out around 135. It can't do a burnout, sounds like crap compared to a V8 and costs more to boot. I know they are trying to sell them, but come on quit telling lies.
 
because the measurement is the 1/4 mile time not the top speed. That would be like saying the Demon is slower than the hellcat
 
We haven't even seen the I6 that is embarrassing the Eagle and if Apache had ever been installed in the Ram it would Embarrass it also. Mopar is a victim of its own Marketing on the Hemi... Over hyped and over reputation and I say that with Love. Charger with the new engine will easy outperform that Hemi models outside the Hellcat and Demon.... I bet with ZF it would be close to the Hellcat.

Not saying there shouldn't be low volume V8 Halo model and a high price tag, but the performance value will be the I6 HO
 
I present for your consideration The Dodge Muscle Car Plan.
Dodge Charger, too deep into the original plan. Wait for new V-8, no Hemi for this muscle car until new version is ready. I personally love the Six Pack for the Charger.
Dodge Challenger, time for the development but announce soon. Built on a shorter, lighter, much more aggressively designed coupe only Charger spin off to come to market in late 2026. GT base with Standard Hurricane Six. Six Pack Pack HO Hurricane Six. Scat Pack Standard Hurricane Six with electric hybrid assist. Hellcat Supercharged Hemi V-8. This gives Dodge time to re-engineer the shortened Charger platform and launch what I believe is the already developed Challenger. Hurricanes and hybrid enhances EPA compliance issues.
With the AWD system for all the Hurricane powered Challengers and RWD for the Hellcat.
That’s my thinking. Feedback welcomed.
 
I got the chance to actually see this car yesterday at the Philadelphia Auto Show. The pictures really don't do this car justice of just how beautiful it really is. This is not a Challenger at all. The hatchback is usable and so is the under hood storage area. The interior is actually way nicer in person with the LED lighting and materials so overall this is a very solid and luxurious car, even more so that the 300. This really is its own car and TBH, I wouldn't want to see this with a Hemi or Hellcat engine at all. It doesn't feel like a V8 should be in this car. I think for starters, an advanced 2.0L Turbo Hurricane-4 hybrid should power a GT variant of this car with about 390hp and 450lb-ft of torque and Direct Connection performance parts available for it and yes it should be AWD. The two Hurricane-6 SO & HO cars are going to be amazing but should definitely have direct connection upgrades and a top tier variant should be a hybrid version of the 3.0L HO pushing about 640hp. That car should wear the Daytona badge, the 550hp should be the scat pack, the 420hp should be the R/T and the 390hp should be the GT and should all be AWD. SRT Banshee should be the only EV. IMO
 
vbondjr1 said:
I got the chance to actually see this car yesterday at the Philadelphia Auto Show. The pictures really don't do this car justice of just how beautiful it really is. This is not a Challenger at all. The hatchback is usable and so is the under hood storage area. The interior is actually way nicer in person with the LED lighting and materials so overall this is a very solid and luxurious car, even more so that the 300. This really is its own car and TBH, I wouldn't want to see this with a Hemi or Hellcat engine at all. It doesn't feel like a V8 should be in this car. I think for starters, an advanced 2.0L Turbo Hurricane-4 hybrid should power a GT variant of this car with about 390hp and 450lb-ft of torque and Direct Connection performance parts available for it and yes it should be AWD. The two Hurricane-6 SO & HO cars are going to be amazing but should definitely have direct connection upgrades and a top tier variant should be a hybrid version of the 3.0L HO pushing about 640hp. That car should wear the Daytona badge, the 550hp should be the scat pack, the 420hp should be the R/T and the 390hp should be the GT and should all be AWD. SRT Banshee should be the only EV. IMO
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I would do a Halo Model with a Bespoke V8 for the SRT.....
 
So you can't even do a burnout in the current car? I thought all along they promised that AWD would have a button to shut it off when the driver wanted?? They absolutely gutted the soul out of this car. It's nothing but an appliance that happens to look good.
 
TripleT said:
I would do a Halo Model with a Bespoke V8 for the SRT.....
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unless they change up alot with that front end, it'd have to be very compact. A hybrid ferrari-derrived twin-turbo V8 or something like that but then it will be super expensive and definitely wont sound like a muscle car.
 
vbondjr1 said:
unless they change up alot with that front end, it'd have to be very compact. A hybrid ferrari-derrived twin-turbo V8 or something like that but then it will be super expensive and definitely wont sound like a muscle car.
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Yoiu see how much the Mustang Halo runs? You bulge the hood, all aluminum basically race engine. Twin Turbo.
 
TripleT said:
I would do a Halo Model with a Bespoke V8 for the SRT.....
Click to expand...

You would need a V8 to get the level of Hellcat and Demon performance.
Unless they can make a 700+ out of the I6.
 
vbondjr1 said:
unless they change up alot with that front end, it'd have to be very compact. A hybrid ferrari-derrived twin-turbo V8 or something like that but then it will be super expensive and definitely wont sound like a muscle car.
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The hood and front clip are low on the EV version and I suspect the Hurricane powered will have a taller front clip and bulgy hood.
 
Mopar392 said:
You would need a V8 to get the level of Hellcat and Demon performance.
Unless they can make a 700+ out of the I6.
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Well you wouldn't because the Hurricane X is already making 1000 hp. The idea you have to have V8 is incorrect. Again a V8 is more complex and the head securing geometry is more difficult.

But yes JUST for heritage reasons do a V8 expensive and exclusive V8 car.
 
TripleT said:
Well you wouldn't because the Hurricane X is already making 1000 hp. The idea you have to have V8 is incorrect. Again a V8 is more complex and the head securing geometry is more difficult.

But yes JUST for heritage reasons do a V8 expensive and exclusive V8 car.
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Hurricane X is a crate engine.
When it is certified for the street, how much will it be defined.
AMG is an example. A soulless high horsepower I4 wasn’t selling. So, they are coming back with I6 and V8 for their new coupe.
You can have a higher horsepower on paper, but at some $$$, some people would like to have a V8.
 
Mopar392 said:
Hurricane X is a crate engine.
When it is certified for the street, how much will it be defined.
AMG is an example. A soulless high horsepower I4 wasn’t selling. So, they are coming back with I6 and V8 for their new coupe.
You can have a higher horsepower on paper, but at some $$$, some people would like to have a V8.
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The X is up to 1500, if they can keep the cylinder walls intact, 700 is easy with better cylinder and connecting rods... 1000 will take some work but let's not pretend Demon don't pop heads like it's a Coyote.

And I get that people a brainwashed to assume the only HP solution is a V8 which is why I proposed the Halo as a V8.

Buutttt if one will pay to go slower, handle worse, and drink more fuel your sort of poser. So I not sure how the existing Eagle or Apache sells. I loved mine but I not taking it over the HO.

Do what Ford and GM does and make bespoke Halo V8
 
TripleT said:
The X is up to 1500, if they can keep the cylinder walls intact, 700 is easy with better cylinder and connecting rods... 1000 will take some work but let's not pretend Demon don't pop heads like it's a Coyote.

And I get that people a brainwashed to assume the only HP solution is a V8 which is why I proposed the Halo as a V8.

Buutttt if one will pay to go slower, handle worse, and drink more fuel your sort of poser. So I not sure how the existing Eagle or Apache sells. I loved mine but I not taking it over the HO.

Do what Ford and GM does and make bespoke Halo V8
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Coyotes pop heads? I owned one until last month. I spend time at car events and races every year with friends who have them. I have seen countless Coyote engines hold 1,000 HP on totally stock engines. These guys are taking Mustang GT cars that they paid $30k for and they slap a mail order twin turbo kit on them, tune them to 1000+ HP, and run the dog p*ss out of them and they hold up fine. It’s amazing. There’s not a chance that the Hurricane will ever do that in production form. Not happening.
 
vbondjr1 said:
I got the chance to actually see this car yesterday at the Philadelphia Auto Show. The pictures really don't do this car justice of just how beautiful it really is. This is not a Challenger at all. The hatchback is usable and so is the under hood storage area. The interior is actually way nicer in person with the LED lighting and materials so overall this is a very solid and luxurious car, even more so that the 300. This really is its own car and TBH, I wouldn't want to see this with a Hemi or Hellcat engine at all. It doesn't feel like a V8 should be in this car. I think for starters, an advanced 2.0L Turbo Hurricane-4 hybrid should power a GT variant of this car with about 390hp and 450lb-ft of torque and Direct Connection performance parts available for it and yes it should be AWD. The two Hurricane-6 SO & HO cars are going to be amazing but should definitely have direct connection upgrades and a top tier variant should be a hybrid version of the 3.0L HO pushing about 640hp. That car should wear the Daytona badge, the 550hp should be the scat pack, the 420hp should be the R/T and the 390hp should be the GT and should all be AWD. SRT Banshee should be the only EV. IMO
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I can’t wait to see the Charger in person and I agree this Dodge redefines itself, in essence combining smartly, SUV features, upscale performance coupe on a large pallet and pragmatic sedan in one car. It in ways is more Maserati in presentation. Leave it alone, if a V-8 is planned, wait for a new version and then decide. Little doubt a V-8 is needed throughout many brands clearly, so something is coming relatively soon.
It is also clear that Dodge needs a real performance coupe similar to my earlier description that highlights a new V-8 with some kind of head design they can call a “Hemi”. New front fenders, grill, hood on the Charger architecture from front door forward, Challenger signature roofline to a short deck all new, lighter, shorter wheelbase and we are all ready to go with a V-8 option as a halo model and the Hurricane set up from the Six Pack to give us the hard core Dodge so essential to carry the brand and call it a day. I agree, leave the Charger alone and save your money to put into a Challenger. Above all, not an electric anchor in sight for this one. Get to it Dodge.
 
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