Dodge Admits The Challenger Could Have Been Very Different

"It's really tough to change the silhouette of the Challenger and come up with something better. So, yeah, we made some tweaks. We went from a '70 to a '71, and we changed some hoods, and we changed some wheels, and we did the widebody," said Kuniskis. "But to actually change the silhouette of the car, we would have been spending money just for the sake of spending money, and we wouldn't have ended up with something better."

Still, Dodge did enough to keep the Challenger relevant. The exterior differences were tough to spot, but the revised interior made a big difference in perceived quality and usability. The center console was angled toward the driver, making the car feel more inviting, while an updated touchscreen interface and updated gauges made it feel more expensive.

道奇也删除其老化一个6速自动变速箱nd replaced it with an eight-speed, improving both acceleration and efficiency. It was the inclusion of the supercharged Hellcat with 707 horsepower that really grabbed the headlines, however. Who cared what it looked like? At the time, Dodge was selling more horsepower than anyone else for just $60k.

We're not particularly sad about the extensive overhaul not happening, as Dodge more than made up for it over the remaining years of the Challenger's life.

The best example is the insane Challenger Demon and its 840-hp engine and drag-strip-ready accessories. Only 3,000 were made, andused examples continue to demand a hefty premium. It will undoubtedly be a future classic.

We're sadder about Dodge dropping theChallenger and Charger that would have been based on Alfa's Giorgio platform, which Kuniskis confirmed was in the pipeline.

Dodge went as far as a proposal showcased on a dealer level, but it was not to be. Demand for sedans and coupes has gone down the drain, and it was a more intelligent move to invest in cars like the Durango and the Ram TRX, which reinvigorated interest in the Dodge and Ram brands worldwide.

Still, if you've ever driven an Alfa Romeo Giulia or Stelvio, you'll know how good that platform is. Had Dodge developed those models, they would have had proper rivals to the BMW M3 and M4. The Mustang would not have had a chance against any car based on that platform.

Alas, that time has gone. Dodge will stop selling the Challenger and Charger at the end of 2023, but at least both models will get"Final Call" models as a proper sendoff.