Dodge Exec Ralph Gilles Hints to Hybrid Dodge Muscle Cars with 1000 HP
Dodge Challenger and Charger could benefit from new ZF hybrid transmissions.
Over the past few years, the Dodge brand has rocked the American performance world with a variety of monstrous supercharged Hemi-powered muscle cars. It started with the 707-horsepower Hellcat versions of the Challenger and Charger. The 840-horsepower Challenger Demon was next, followed by 797-horsepower Redeye version of the Hellcat Challenger and then the Hellcat Charger. Most recently, the 807-horsepower Challenger Super Stock was introduced as the first-ever American production street car with more than 800 horsepower.
However, with so many automakers shifting to boring hybrid models and a new administration that is likely to push for more electrified vehicles, it seems that it is only a matter of time before the likes of the Dodge Hellcat cars no longer exist. However, long-time Chrysler Group design boss Ralph Gilles recently dropped some interesting hints to possible future developments during the Brembo Red podcast. According to AutoEvolution, Gilles went so far as to suggest that Dodge could bring a 1,000-horsepower hybrid muscle car to market and based on some recent business deals, that seems very realistic.
The Future of Dodge Hybrids
While appearing on the ninth episode of the Brembo Red podcast, host Dan Sandberg asked Ralph Gilles if he thought that we would ever see a 1,000 horsepower production car. To that, Gilles replied “It might be a combination of electrification and gas. The technology is there.” He didn’t go into details, but the Stellantis engineering team has the components on hand and in the pipeline to create a hybrid Challenger or Charger with upwards of 1,000 horsepower.
Back in July of 2019, we brought you the news that then-FCA had made a deal with ZF for their newest lineup of 8-speed automatic transmissions. Those new ZF gearboxes are designed for seamless hybrid integration, adding up to 215 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque of electric assistance to the efforts of the gasoline engine. Take that hybrid transmission and pair it with the supercharged Hemi from the Hellcat Redeye models, which offer 797 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque.
The pair of the blown Hemi and the hybrid gearbox will easily be capable of creating more than 1,000 horsepower and more than 1,000 lb-ft of torque. At the same time, that 1,000-horsepower muscle car would almost surely offered better fuel economy thanks to the hybrid assistance. The important point here is that with this approach, Dodge could preserve their beloved supercharged muscle cars while improving them for the next generation of American performance cars.
Years Away
Some people will hate a hybrid Dodge Challenger or Charger, even if it does have a supercharged Hemi and a thousand horsepower. For those who like the idea of Dodge performance cars that offer more power and better fuel economy, this likely sounds great, but it isn’t likely to happen overnight.
There have been rumors that the next generation Dodge Challenger and Charger should arrive in or around 2024 or 2025. We expect that the hybrid models, if they do come to market, will do so during the next generation, meaning that they are likely still at least three years away. However, we know that the company has ordered ZF transmissions for rear-drive-based vehicles and we know that those transmissions can offer serious electric assistance. Now Dodge just needs to couple that new hybrid transmission with the Hellcat Hemi and we will have a new pair of muscle cars to dominate the next era of American performance machines.
Photos: Stellantis
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