Barracuda Rumored for 2021 Challenger Replacement
Name would apply to smaller, wider car aimed at Camaro and Mustang, expected to carry turbo-four as an option.
April 1, 1964 was the day the pony car was born, for it was the day the Barracuda swam into the spotlight. A couple of weeks later, of course, the Mustang stole the spotlight, never letting go. Yet, the fishy evolved over the ’60s, fully coming into its own in the ’70s with fantastic styling, and lots of horsepower.
Then, it disappeared. Unlike the Challenger, which returned in the 2000s, the Barracuda remains in history. Yet, there have been rumors of its return since 2007, including the ones TopSpeed is reporting upon at present. The biggest one, though? It’ll replace the Challenger in 2021.
The alleged Barracuda will draw upon styling cues from the third-gen E-body, though the aim is for a more aerodynamic ride. It’ll also be smaller than the Challenger, matching up with the wheelbases of the Camaro and Mustang, and be wider than the other two pony cars.
The inside is expected to include all the modern touches, including the fabulous Uconnect infotainment system, carbon-fiber trim, soft-touch materials, and so on. It’ll also be more snug than the big Challenger, owing to the smaller wheelbase and overall length.
Under the hood of the alleged Barracuda, you’ll probably find anything from the old-and-reliable Pentastar 3.5-liter V6 to the biggest, boisterous V8s. A big shock, though, is it could also have a turbocharged inline-four, a first for a Dodge muscle car. This is to pit the new fish against the Mustang EcoBoost and Camaro Turbo 1LE.
Of course, if the alleged Barracuda is going small, a change in platform might be in order. According to TopSpeed, the fish will have some Italian engineering from Alfa Romeo, in the form of the Giorgio platform currently supporting the Giulia and Stelvio. It’ll also have things like independent rear suspension, magnetic damping, and a low ride height.
Of course, all of the above should be taken with a mine’s worth of salt. The only thing we know regarding the Challenger’s replacement is what Car and Driver learned back in 2019: the release date for the next-gen muscle coupe was pushed back, and is expected to stay around until the 2023 model year. We guess some people just want something new sooner rather than later.
Photos: Facebook/Mopar
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