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We now know that the brand new Dodge Charger gained't simply be a coupe or sedan, however will truly be each. However that leaves us with one other query: The place does that depart the Challenger? In any case, the lineup since 2008 has consisted of the Challenger as a two-door muscle automotive and the Charger as a four-door automotive. Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis was requested this query through the media briefing we attended and he didn't have a lot to say.
Mainly, he would simply affirm that Dodge and Stellantis nonetheless have the rights to the Challenger identify, and in the interim, the nameplate is not going to be used. He wouldn’t affirm in any particular means whether or not it will return sooner or later or not.
We're slightly stunned that Kuniskis wouldn't affirm something in regards to the Challenger. As we all know, it and the Charger collectively have utterly formed the picture of the Dodge model, with the model's final halo automotive after the Viper having a challenger identify: the Demon and Demon 170. And for the final three years, its gross sales have hovered between 44,000. and 55,000 models, marking the third consecutive best-seller for the model. It even outsold the Camaro within the final two years. It's onerous to think about the Dodge lineup with out the Challenger.
The issue, nonetheless, is the way it may match into the longer term lineup. The Charger-Challenger duality labored nicely, as a result of it provided two completely different kinds of the identical automotive: you had the extra modern-styled sedan within the Charger, which additionally provided some added practicality, and also you had the extra retro. , which was the pure Challenger 'It's sensible. The Charger now has sturdy retro cues, and is obtainable in two-door guise, leaving solely room for a “fashionable” look on the platform. However that's in all probability not sufficient to justify one other automobile of comparable measurement and efficiency to the Charger.
Dodge may construct one thing smaller, extra energetic, one thing like a real sports activities automotive to be referred to as the Challenger. And this is able to be in distinction to how large the charger has turn out to be. However one factor that's helped each the Charger and Challenger promote so nicely is that conventional muscle automotive appear and feel. The Camaro has largely been a sports activities automotive, and as we simply coated, its gross sales have been even worse. Plus, there are extra sports activities automotive opponents to compete with. Once more, a smaller automotive often calls for a cheaper price, and it is probably not as worthwhile to develop and promote. One other bonus of the outdated Challenger was that it was an affordable approach to get one other mannequin from the identical primary platform and vibe.
However we could also be promoting the brand new STLA electrical platform slightly brief, believing that the smaller mannequin could also be much less worthwhile. And maybe the sportier Dodge coupe is extra in demand. Solely time will inform, and we hope we don't have to attend too lengthy for a solution.
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