The topic about the Charger EV that nobody wants to discuss: the car doesn't exist.

[WXman]

I'm going to start a new game for 2025. Everytime I see a Hornet being driven on public roads I'll count it on my left hand. Everytime I see a Charger EV being driven on public roads I'll count it on my right hand. At the end of this year we'll see which wins. I figure 4 fingers and a thumb on each hand should be plenty to cover. This should be interesting.....

 

[James.A]

It can be EV if it needs to be in the future, now isn't the time though. They need to be on their A game with the I6 release and market it so hard that people forget about the EV blunder.

Actually, the point is that now is the time. Quite frankly, they are years behind. Perhaps if the EV was around years ago we'd still have the Hemi.

 

[Mastertech63]

I'm going to start a new game for 2025. Everytime I see a Hornet being driven on public roads I'll count it on my left hand. Everytime I see a Charger EV being driven on public roads I'll count it on my right hand. At the end of this year we'll see which wins. I figure 4 fingers and a thumb on each hand should be plenty to cover. This should be interesting.....

I have yet to see a Hornet on the road! Sure, I could go to my local dealer and see one ( apparently they have a few in stock) but that doesn't count. I have seen about a dozen Cybertrucks though. Figured it would be a while to see those. Seen one 2025 Charger sitting in front of the dealership. They had seven in stock that day! (And plenty in transit). Still haven't seen one of those on the road either.

 

[cygnus]

Actually, the point is that now is the time. Quite frankly, they are years behind. Perhaps if the EV was around years ago we'd still have the Hemi.

Or maybe they should have told the EPA and previous government - "go ahead, fine me", kind of like how Elon is approaching hands free driving.

And had they bet on Trump winning, another prediction I made that ended up coming true, they could be building V8s without a care in the world, without having the albatross of billion dollar+ losses for losing bets on EVs like GM and Ford are now shouldering.

"The only winning move is not to play" with full EV. Mild hybrid? Go for it. $60K+ plug-in hybrids for rich Boomers to buy so they can feel good about themselves? Sure. But never go full EV.

Follow the smartest guys in the room - Toyota.

 

[James.A]

Or maybe they should have told the EPA and previous government - "go ahead, fine me", kind of like how Elon is approaching hands free driving.

And had they bet on Trump winning, another prediction I made that ended up coming true, they could be building V8s without a care in the world, without having the albatross of billion dollar+ losses for losing bets on EVs like GM and Ford are now shouldering.

"The only winning move is not to play" with full EV. Mild hybrid? Go for it. $60K+ plug-in hybrids for rich Boomers to buy so they can feel good about themselves? Sure. But never go full EV.

Follow the smartest guys in the room - Toyota.

“Betting” on a political candidate is a bad business plan. They need a resilient plan that can withstand whoever is in office. Trump is only around for 4 year with no guarantees of a likeminded politician for the next term so any company needs to be prepared for Democrats coming back with vengeance.

I agree that they bungled the launch and I think Dodge should have had the Sixpacks ready for 2024 (if not sooner) and need a V8 halo at least but all this EV hate is ridiculous IMO.

 

[cygnus]

“Betting” on a political candidate is a bad business plan. They need a resilient plan that can withstand whoever is in office. Trump is only around for 4 year with no guarantees of a likeminded politician for the next term so any company needs to be prepared for Democrats coming back with vengeance.

I agree that they bungled the launch and I think Dodge should have had the Sixpacks ready for 2024 (if not sooner) and need a V8 halo at least but all this EV hate is ridiculous IMO.

I don't know, it's almost as if betting on EVs and losing Billions was an ever worse idea. I mean, pay the carbon credits and tack it onto the following model year vehicle price - who cares. That's more or less what Toyota is doing (along with going all-in on hybrids), right?

 

[CloversPlusCats]

Been another moment, but have been watching the rollout continue and it still looks to be a little wonky.

2025 Chargers are now available for build and price, don't know how long they've been available for that model year, and while Bludicrous isn't an option on the tool yet, they're already delivering cars with the color to dealers.. Kinda grew on me.

https://www.dodgeofgresham.com/inventory/new-2025-dodge-charger-rt-awd-coupe-2c3cdbckxsr536817/

 

[patfromigh]

I don't know, it's almost as if betting on EVs and losing Billions was an ever worse idea. I mean, pay the carbon credits and tack it onto the following model year vehicle price - who cares. That's more or less what Toyota is doing (along with going all-in on hybrids), right?

Toyota's strategy for electrification is plug and play. That's what I call it, but I can't remember what the official name is. Basically Toyota will offer a combination of hybrid and electric drives for each vehicle to offer various degrees of electrification from a single motor hybrid transmission, the legacy hybrid system like the Prius uses, all the way to a pure battery electric drive. There are many common electrical components between each system for the economy of scale.

I don't know if Toyota pays for or has earned any carbon credits. The company does build pure battery electrics in China for the Chinese market with varying degrees of success. Their BZ4X was a flop here, but not for the usual EV reasons. People buy Toyotas because they offer a familiar driving experience, sort of like the automotive equivalent of comfort food. The BZ4X was too weird and unfamiliar. That will be corrected when the next RAV4 shows up with the BZ4X battery electric drive as one of its drive train options.

The thing which has gotten Toyota into the most trouble wasn't one of their vehicles, but a leaked confidential document, known as the 1:6:90 rule. The amount of lithium needed to make one EV can be made for 6 PHEVs or 90 legacy hybrids. That goes against the narrative and is why the head of Toyota was forced to step down by the WEF.

Keep in mind when using the 1:6:90 rule, Toyota doesn't offer mild hybrids (That I'm aware of), nor does it offer pavement crushing 3-ton EV muscle car wannabes.

 

[scatpack_69]

Actually, the point is that now is the time. Quite frankly, they are years behind. Perhaps if the EV was around years ago we'd still have the Hemi.

EV truly isn’t a viable option for most people. And almost everyone knows it. Not really behind, but their rollout has been absolutely atrocious.

How it should have been done, is roll out along with combustion. We’ve gone a year plus without a car available and that’s boneheaded. (Yes I realize there is product sitting but that’s a different twist). If someone said hey we’re not going to build pickups for a year while we get this new one ready, they would be strung up.

End the old glorious Charger, and here’s the replacement. With a new turbo six, available V8 and electric power, and see how the numbers work….absolutely 100% guaranteed the EV sales would be horrific

There’s no way to put lipstick on the EV pig to make it attractive unless it’s Ramcharger-like (actually a viable option).

 

[rdburke]

If I can't go into ANY Dealership and drive the car, it doesn't exist. This is why dodge will be out of business before the 2026 model

They definitely shot themselves in the foot when they discontinued the Challenger when it was a top seller. Not to mention that they have not filled the slot it held in the Dodge lineup. My 2020 will just have to last the rest of my life.

 

[rdburke]

I'm going to start a new game for 2025. Everytime I see a Hornet being driven on public roads I'll count it on my left hand. Everytime I see a Charger EV being driven on public roads I'll count it on my right hand. At the end of this year we'll see which wins. I figure 4 fingers and a thumb on each hand should be plenty to cover. This should be interesting.....

You definitely won't see me driving either one!