The 2023 model year will be the last for the modern Dodge Challenger and Charger, and it seems that it will be the final year for Hemi-powered Dodge muscle cars in general. Tim Kuniskis and his team are making sure that the final model year is memorable, with seven new heritage-inspired models for the Challenger and Charger released over the course of the next few months.
“We are celebrating the end of an era — and the start of a bright new electrified future — by staying true to our brand,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand chief executive officer – Stellantis. “At Dodge, we never lift, and the brand will mark the last of our iconic Charger and Challenger nameplates in their current form in the same way that got us here, with a passion both for our products and our enthusiasts that drives us to create as much uniqueness in the muscle car community and marketplace as possible.”
All seven of these models have technically been teased on the Dodge Garage 24-month road map to the brand’s future, but we don’t know which icons apply to upcoming models – or what those icons mean.
The first six of these heritage-inspired models will be introduced starting later this month and throughout September, and Kuniskis explained that these will be buzz models based on the brand’s past. We don’t know if all of these packages will be offered for both the Challenger and Charger, or if there will be a split between the two, but we know that they are not models that customers will be able to order. Dodge will build these cars and ship them to pre-selected dealerships, in what Kuniskis compared to a “sneaker drop”, and they will be sold to lucky customers on a first come, first serve basis.
The seventh heritage-inspired model will be introduced at the SEMA Show later this year, and Kuniskis stated that this car would be far more than a buzz model. He also suggested at the media preview that the SEMA Show debut will be another automotive legend. We are guessing that this is the long-rumored super-Challenger, with a big blower and more power than any production Dodge before it.
