Update on the Next-Generation Dodge Challenger and Charger

There have been a great many rumors floating around the internet about the next-generation Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger, but sadly, there has been no official word from FCA management about the future of these Mopar muscle cars. Fortunately, there has been a steady trickle of insider information that offers an idea of what we might see from the next-gen Challenger and Charger — and when we might see it.

Again, while none of this has been confirmed by the automaker, this information has been supported by insider information from the leading media outlets … including my own insiders.

First and foremost, it is widely expected that the next-generation Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger will depart from the Mercedes Benz-developed chassis that has been the basis for these two cars since they arrived in the mid-2000s. It is expected that the Challenger and Charger will both move to a new platform that will be shared with the new Alfa Romeo Giulia, which is a smaller sedan. The chassis platform of the next Challenger and Charger will likely be a stretched version of the Alfa platform, and while they are expected to retain their “large car” designations, both cars are likely to get a little smaller, and a little lighter. These cars will continue to be rear-drive, so regardless of their size, they will maintain their muscle car driving dynamics.

Automotive News has reported that the goal is to shave around 500 lbs. from the Dodge Charger, which would lead to a car in the 3,500-lb. range. Should the Charger benefit from that kind of weight loss program, the Challenger will almost certainly follow that path as well. It is unclear how much smaller the next-gen Challenger and Charger will be in relation to the current models, but the weight reduction would be the biggest story — should all of this information prove to be true.

The next and perhaps most surprising fact is there is reportedly a twin-turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the works, which is expected to be the base model engine for the Dodge Charger. This engine, codenamed Hurricane, will allegedly offer around 300 horsepower, so it will be comparable to the current Pentastar V6, but the turbo engine will almost certainly offer more torque.

There has been no mention of a twin-turbo four-cylinder Challenger, but it would certainly make sense, considering the popularity of the turbocharged four-cylinder Ford Mustang.

Finally, the worst bit of news is the timing. According to a variety of sources, the next-generation Challenger and Charger with the Alfa underpinnings will not arrive until 2020 or 2021. Word on the street is both Dodge muscle cars will get a light refresh in 2018 or 2019, but the full-scale refresh with the move to the new platform isn’t going to happen until the 2021 model year.

There are some other rumors being passed around online as fact, including a manual transmission for the Charger, and a twin-turbocharged V6, and while I’m aware of a TTV6 test program in the past, none of the insider sources have had anything to say about a boosted Pentastar V6 in the next-gen models. Finally, there are rumors of a new generation of the Hemi, and while those are unsubstantiated, the current Hemi has gotten a bit long in the tooth, so a new version is due.

Should any official information surface on the next-gen Dodge Challenger and Charger, you will find it here on DodgeForum.com, but in the meantime, it looks like we have a fairly long wait for the lighter next-gen Mopar muscle cars.

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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