Dodge CEO Hints At Another “e-Muscle” Car That Is Waiting In The Wings

Yesterday, the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 was unveiled, marking the final HEMI®-powered muscle car for the current L-Series generation of cars. In contrast to previous “Last Call” models, which were often underwhelming sticker packages, the new Demon 170 showcases the true capabilities of the Gen3 HEMI engine.

It’s a bold statement from Dodge, a last hurrah that defies expectations and challenges the status quo in the world of muscle cars. It’s not just another iteration, but a powerful and exciting finale that gives enthusiasts a reason to celebrate the HEMI legacy.

Although Dodge is transitioning towards electrification and bidding farewell to the HEMI, there was an important hint dropped by Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis during his presentation of the Demon 170 that may have gone unnoticed by many.

With the recent introduction of the 800-volt Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Banshee Concept, there has been speculation about what the future of Dodge’s e-muscle lineup will look like. During his presentation of the Demon 170, Kuniskis hinted at the possibility of another e-muscle car, leading many to believe that a new Challenger may be in the works. This news is sure to excite fans who are eagerly anticipating the next generation of high-performance, electrified muscle cars from Dodge.

“While everyone else is going to bring an electric car to market, Dodge is going to bring a muscle car and use electrification to make it not more political correct, but to make it faster and dodgier,” Kuniskis stated. “So efficiency be damned, we always wanted to do a ’68 Charger and this was our chance. We just needed to study the rules and find ways to do something cool that could comply and make happy without spiritually retreating from the things that we love. That Charger Daytona has what it takes to do exactly that. The new Charger Daytona will redine American muscle, and don’t worry you know us. We haven’t fully pulled back the curtain on this car… or maybe these cars just yet.”

According to our sources, the upcoming next-generation Dodge Charger and Challenger models are expected to be unveiled during the week of the Woodward Dream Cruise. It is also speculated that Dodge may hold another “Speed Week” event, which would serve as a platform to introduce both production cars.

An event such as Speed Week would allow Dodge to showcase the new vehicles separately, along with a range of Direct Connection accessories and parts, including the Stage kits that were previously announced at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in November.

It is possible that the upcoming release of the Charger Daytona will be in the form of a four-door model, while the Challenger will remain a two-door design. The digital rendering of the Challenger seen here was created by the skilled artist Timothy Adry Emmanuel (@adry53customs).

Reports suggest that both of these models will be produced at the Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant, situated in Windsor, Ontario, which is located just across the river from Detroit.