Could Dodge’s Next-Gen “eMuscle” Cars Feature An F1-Inspired Pushrod Suspension?

There are some interesting new findings that could prove to be game-changing for the next generation of Dodge “eMuscle” cars when they arrive in showrooms in 2024. In a recent article, Muscle Cars & Trucks (MC&T) uncovered some recently approved patent designs from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a new F1-inspired pushrod suspension design using horizontal dampers, active control elements, and paired with either traditional coil springs or transverse leaf springs.

The patent describes the new suspension setup as…

“An electric vehicle includes a frame module carrying an electric motor unit and a suspension including, for each wheel, upper and lower oscillating arms connected to a wheel support by swivel joints which define a steering axis of the wheel. The suspension includes two shock absorber devices arranged in horizontal positions and along directions transversal with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction, which is carried by the frame module centrally on the vehicle.

Each shock absorber cylinder is operatively connected to a respective oscillating arm by an oscillating linkage member. Brake discs are arranged at remote positions with respect to the wheels, on two output shafts at two opposite sides of the motor unit, which, in one example, includes two electric motors and two respective gear reducer units from which project the output shafts carrying the brake discs; the latter connected to wheel hubs by respective drive shafts.”

The patent for the suspension was filed on March 8th, 2019, and was granted on January 19th, 2021.

During a pair of interviews with Motor Authority and Motor Trend, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis stated that the brand would show off a concept version of its next-gen battery-electric vehicle (BEV) eMuscle car during the Q1 of 2022 (which is right now). Sources close to MoparInsiders.com confirmed that the car would be based on the next-gen Dodge Challenger (LB), due to hit dealer showrooms for the 2024 model year. 

The concept BEV will be a full-on working model capable of high-performance driving, according to Kuniskis. Dodge will also reveal the BEV’s performance specifications, along with all the technology Stellantis is patenting. The executive said Dodge plans to “do electrification different than everybody else.” “That’s why I’m waiting, until I have all my patents done,” Kuniskis noted.

The new pushrod suspension could be one of those patents that Kuniskis was talking about.

Both the next-gen Dodge Challenger and Charger models will have both internal combustion engines (ICE) and BEV offerings when they arrive in 2024.

The Dodge muscle car duo aren’t the only vehicles that could adopt the suspension. A production version of the Chrysler Airflow Concept is expected to arrive in 2025, as is the next-gen Jeep® Cherokee (KM) around the same time.

Stellantis EV Pushrod Suspension Patent Image Gallery:

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