An Electric Dodge Challenger or Charger Concept Could Debut on July 8
Stellantis will share their electrification strategy, which could include a Dodge Challenger or Charger EV.
Over the past few years, there have been multiple instances where a Dodge brand executive or someone from the parent company made a comment about future Mopar performance vehicles being electrified. Some comments have simply stated that the future won’t be full of supercharged V8s. Some have said that electrification is a part of the future and some have hinted to hybrid systems which could combine Hemi power with electric propulsion. However, there haven’t been any real hints as to what is coming down the pipeline in terms of future models, but that could all change on July 8.
According to the Stellantis corporate website, July 8 is EV Day and on that day, there will be a virtual presentation which will “provide a holistic view of Stellantis’ electrification strategy. In other words, we should get our first look at the future of the powertrain lineup for the Dodge and Ram brands, along with the other Stellantis brands around the world.
Possible Dodge Electrification
While speaking to the website Muscle Cars and Trucks, Dodge boss Tim Kuniskis stated that there would be some “pretty interesting stuff” shown on July 8. He didn’t elaborate any further, but that comment suggests that we will see something from the Dodge brand on EV Day.
Back in mid-2019, we brought you the news that then-FCA had secured a deal with transmission builder ZF to provide the next generation of 8-speed gearboxes. The key difference between the current ZF transmissions in use in almost every Dodge and Ram product and the next generation of the 8HP lineup is the addition of hybrid capabilities.
For example, the 8HP90 in the Dodge Challenger and Charger Hellcat models is not designed to connect to an electric hybrid assist system, but the next generation of this transmission will. This opens up the possibility of more Hemi hybrid drivetrains, which could help extend the lifespan of the high performance V8 engines found in the Scat Pack and Hellcat models. This type of hybrid transmission could improve fuel economy, but it could also offer some lower-speed all-electric driving.
A hybrid drivetrain for the Challenger and Charger seems to be the most likely Dodge news for EV Day, but perhaps we will see some sort of all-electric model as well. That being said, we know for a fact that the hybrid-capable ZF transmissions are on their way, so we are bound to see hybrid cars at some point.
Possible Ram Electrification
The Ram 1500 is already offered with a pair of hybrid engines featuring the eTorque system. The current V6 is only offered in hybrid form while the 5.7-liter Hemi can be had with and without the hybrid package. Having tested all of these new engines, there is no doubt that the eTorque system improves drivability of the Hemi, making it a welcomed addition to the lineup.
There is a possibility that the Ram 1500 could also use the next generation ZF 8-speed automatic transmission with a hybrid aspect, as that would be a very different type of electric assist. The eTorque system applies power to the front of the engine, so it actually drives the engine, which in turn drives the transmission and so on. A hybrid system based around the transmission sends its power directly to the wheels rather than essentially powering the engine, leading to more all-electric driving options.
Finally, with Ford introducing the new all-electric F-150 Lightning, it seems likely that the Ram brand will eventually follow suit and debut an electric pickup of their own. The big truck segment is the most important in the North American market and it is a constant game of one-upmanship. It seems very likely that Ram will watch the progress of the Lightning and use that information to bring out their own, better electric truck.
With any luck, we will see that electric truck alongside some vision of the Dodge brand powertrain future, July 8.
Photos: Stellantis
Join the Dodge Forums now!
