Will Hellcats be gone in 2023?
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Dodge's future is suddenly a lot clearer and it includes electrification but not Hellcats. Show We sat down with Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis at the 2021 LA auto show, and he laid out some of what will happen at Dodge over the next two years. Regarding Hellcat models, Kuniskis confirmed to Motor Authority "I will have this car, this platform, this powertrain as we know it through the end of '23. There's two more years to buy a Hellcat, then it's history." The 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat was a one-and-done model. The three-row people mover was available with a Hellcat engine for a single year. The reason was no secret: that engine would no longer meet emissions regulations on that platform. But that's not the case for all Hellcats. "You can still meet emissions with these cars. You're going to pay a lot of compliance fines," Kuniskis said, noting a line in the sand had to be drawn. Starting in 2024, Dodge is moving on from the Hellcat era with new platforms, new cars, and electrification.  Dodge 24 Months Of Muscle calendar Kuniskis shared a 7x11 piece of cardstock with us called "24 Months of Muscle" that will serve as the roadmap to 2024. This advent calendar for performance enthusiasts features 26 garage doors, four of which have been revealed so far, including the revival of a performance parts program and Direct Connection, plus Jailbreak models for the 2022 Charger and Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeyes. Some doors feature symbols that tease what's coming and not everything is in chronological order, but there are 22 more doors to open. The finale to these next 24 months and the final door on the calendar is the electric Dodge muscle car set to launch in 2024. Three big doors will open in the coming year. Dodge electric concept car teaser In the first quarter of 2022, Dodge will show a concept version of the electric 2024 muscle car. The concept EV will be a full-on working model capable of high performance driving, according to Kuniskis. Dodge will also reveal the EV'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. Another important door will be the introduction of a plug-in hybrid. It'll be a "new, new car" Kuniskis confirmed, not a current car. A third big reveal will occur in 2022, but Kuniskis wouldn't say what it is. "You're going to be excited about it," Kuniskis said with a smirk. Kuniskis also said there will absolutely not be a Hellcat version of the Chrysler Pacifica despite the call to Hellcat all the things. Really, that was just a pipedream given the Pacifica's front-wheel-drive layout. As for shoving the Hellcat motor into the Jeep Wrangler, Kuniskis said "that amount of power and that amount of speed while raising the center of gravity, even for me it's, ah, getting a little edgy. It's better balanced with the weight of the 392." All good things must end, as they say. According to an interview from Motor Authority published Monday, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis confirmed the Challenger and Charger Hellcat models will not survive past 2023. There will be two years left for buyers to scoop up the ultra-powerful muscle cars, and after that, they're dead. That's not to say the Charger and Challenger themselves are dead, but the name that really helped carry the sedan and coupe the past few years will retire, the CEO said. It's Dodge's decision at the end of the day since the engine would still meet emissions regulations, but the brand would need to fork over a chunk of cash to pay compliance fines. That's not on the table for the brand. Instead, things really start to kick off next year with three exciting things. The first is something we already knew about: an electric concept car. It will be a preview of the electric "eMuscle" car coming for 2024, which looks super retro and wears a reincarnated Fratzog emblem. The second will be a new plug-in hybrid vehicle, potentially a small SUV. Finally, the third big happening remains a secret, though Kuniskis told MA everyone should be "excited" about it. After hinting his job will be balancing Dodge's base and a new era of EVs, perhaps it's some sort of send-off model for the Hellcats before they use the rest of their nine lives. Dodge affirmed Kuniskis' remarks in a statement and said, "[the Hellcat] powertrain as we know it will be built through 2023 (calendar year). In 2024, we're moving on. The new Dodge cars will be electrified." The brand rolled out its "Never Lift" campaign for the next two years in which it plans some sort of announcement every three months. That kicked off with news of Direct Connection performance parts returning, Jailbreak models, new Power Brokers dealerships and a massive car giveaway through the end of this year. Parent automaker Stellantis gave each brand a decade to shape up their businesses or perhaps face the hook, so really, Dodge has a lot riding on this Never Lift strategy -- and electric muscle cars. Dodge Challenger, Charger Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak models: Endless optionsSee all photosWill there be a hellcat in 2023?Lastly, Dodge is also expanding its SRT Jailbreak models for 2023 to include the more affordable Hellcat models. The exterior design of the 2023 Dodge Challenger will remain the same for the upcoming model year.
Is Dodge really getting rid of the Hellcat?Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis recently confirmed to Motor Authority that the Charger and Challenger — and their Hellcat engines — will cease production by 2024.
Why is Dodge discontinuing the Hellcat in 2023?As many brands switched to smaller and more fuel-efficient engines, Dodge rolled out Hellcat models and other high-performance vehicles. Such models helped generate attention for the brand but didn't help the automaker's carbon footprint, forcing it to buy carbon credits from automakers such as Tesla.
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