El Dodge cargador y Dodge Challenger are legendary muscle cars that can trace their popularity back to the Década de 1960 y Década de 1970. More recently appearing in the Rápido y furioso movie franchise and other popular films and TV shows, these automotive treasures helped capture a spirit of independence and speed. But, nothing lasts forever, especially in an industry where more and more fabricantes de automóviles are shifting their focus to vehículos eléctricos. 

As a result, it comes as no surprise that Esquivar is dropping the gas-powered Cargador y Desafiador after 2023. Their potent Gato infernal and Hemi V8 engines aren’t keeping with the times as fabricantes de automóviles focus on kilowatts, not caballo de fuerza. 

Why Is Dodge Discontinuing its Muscle Cars?

Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis has hinted that the brand’s future won’t include high-powered internal combustion engines. “The days of an iron block supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 are numbered,” he told CNBC in a 2021 interview. So, enthusiasts del SRT Hellcat, SRT Jailbreak, and other over-the-top model variants can’t be totally unaware that this fateful day has come. 

With growing environmental concerns and flashy Vehículos eléctricos de Tesla, Lucid, and others getting more attention, Esquivar has no choice but to go with the flow. Fully sensing the paradigm shift, the 122-year-old brand felt the time was right to scrap its gas-guzzling heritage.  

There’s also another factor in Esquivar‘s favor; it’s now part of the multi-national and multi-brand Stellantis corporate umbrella. When it was part of scrappy Chrysler, resources were always modest, so the opportunities to flourish with new products were limited. But Fíat‘s 2014 acquisition of the Mopar world helped lay the groundwork for today. Fíat Chrysler merged with PSA Peugeot Citroën in 2021 to form Stellantis, an Amsterdam-based corporation whose brands incluir Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Maserati, and RAM. 

What’s Next for Dodge?

The new structure under Stellantis is already paying off for the Dodge brand, as their first new vehicle in a decade, the Esquivar Hornet, will reach its concesionarios later in 2022. Based on the subcompact Alfa Romeo Tonale, the Hornet is a híbrido enchufable, marking Esquivar‘s first electrified vehicle. And much to Alfa Romeo’s chagrin, the Hornet will have a starting price of $10,000 less than the least expensive Tonale. 

Pero Esquivar is ready to cast off its bonds with the past, as next year will see a series of seven “Last Call” editions of the storied Desafiador y Cargador. The first of these, the 2023 Dodge Challenger Shakedown, will debut in November at the 2022 SEMA espectáculo en Las Vegas. The limited-edition Shakedown will feature unique exterior and interior treatments, with a 345-cubic-inch Hemi V8 under the hood. 

Esquivar has also teased its legion of fans with the Cargador Daytona SRT Concept. This all-electric cupé idea could foreshadow what’s ahead. Among the features highlighted during the 2022 Esquivar Speed Week event reveal is the new 800-volt Banshee electric propulsion system. Should this go into production, the system would be in the upper range of capabilities, as Lucid and top-tier GM models use 800- to 900-volt Vehículo eléctrico systems. In comparison, Tesla uses 300- to 400-volt systems for its models.

Among the other distinctive aspects of this Vehículo eléctrico concept are a multi-speed transmission (most Vehículos eléctricos have a single-speed gearbox) and the ability to artificially produce an exhaust sound as loud as the current SRT Hellcat. 

About the Charger & Challenger

This pair of memorable Dodge vehicles dates back to the height of the coche musculoso era when the Big Three battled for youthful buyers with the need for speed. Competitive offerings of the day included the Vado Mustango, Chevy Camaro, and Pontiac GTO.

Dodge cargador

El Cargador entered the automotive world for the 1966 Año del modelo and shared components with the more sedate Coronet family. But, this was a highly contested period, so Esquivar didn’t hesitate to roll out an all-new Cargador for 1968. The second generation is arguably the most memorable of classic Cargadores as it embraces the popularized “coke-bottle” estilo body made famous by the Corvette; it also served as the basis for the original and legendary Dodge cargador Daytona. 

With the rise of emisiones and safety regulations, the third-generation Cargador (1971-1974) adopted a bulkier profile thanks to more pronounced hind quarters. Yet, Esquivar introduced a brand coche nuevo named the Cargador in 1975, formulated as a personal luxury cupé to take on the Vado Thunderbird and Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The Cargador nameplate would also appear on the brand’s small front-drive hatchback cupé from 1982 to 1987. 

El Cargador name was resurrected as a four-door sedan in 2006, with the seventh-generation (and second version as a sedan) continuing to this day. Esquivar cleverly found a market for a family-friendly four-door in a market dominated by sports coupes. 

Dodge Challenger

Chrysler introduced the Desafiador in 1969 (a 1970 model) as Esquivar‘s performance benchmark (the car also shared components with its corporate cousin, the Plymouth Barracuda). A dizzying array of engines included the 426-cubic-inch Hemi and 440-cubic-inch V8s, with the former cranking out 425 caballo de fuerza (a significant feat during this time). But the onset of restrictive federal emisiones regulations spelled doom for this iconic cupé, y Esquivar axed the model after 1974.  

Desafiador fans howled when the name was used on a rebadged Mitsubishi cupé from 1978 to 1983. However, all was right again in the Mopar world as Esquivar relaunched the Desafiador for the 2008 Año del modelo. This cleverly designed cupé had just enough retro touches to pay tribute to the original Desafiador. At the same time, modern technology made the car relevant to performance-hungry consumers. And like its original mandate, this new Desafiador serves as the showcase for Esquivar‘s performance engineering. Recent models, such as the Desafiador SRT Jailbreak, offer up to 807 caballo de fuerza. There are also other six- and eight-cylinder powerplants for those looking for less expensive insurance and fuel bills. 

Be Ready for Tomorrow and Beyond with Endurance

It’s clear that Esquivar is preparing for the future by casting off its legacy vehicles and welcoming a range of models supported by electrificación. But whether you own a Dodge car or any other make or model, you can be ready for what tomorrow brings with an Plan de protección del vehículo Endurance. 

Our plans can help protect your vehicle’s vital components, like the engine and transmission, from unexpected breakdowns and take the sting out of surprise repair bills. Or, you can get near-factory-like coverage with the comprehensive Surpeme plan or the Advantage plan for comprehensive protection and up to $3,500 in maintenance services, including oil changes and tire rotations. There are also peace-of-mind options for más viejo y vehículos de alto kilometraje and select luxury models. 

Clientes Endurance also enjoy complimentary 24/7 roadside assistance, trip interruption coverage, and reembolsos de alquiler de coches. Not to mention, repairs can be performed by any Mecánico certificado ASE or repair shop. Plus, you’ll also be eligible for one year of Beneficios de élite, including tire repairs and replacements, total loss coverage, collision repair discounts, and key fob replacements. 

Protect your vehicle today from unexpected repairs tomorrow by solicitando una Presupuesto online gratuito y sin compromiso. Or, contact a member of the Ganador de premios Equipo de atención al cliente de Endurance en (800) 253-8203 to learn more about how Endurance can help you. And don’t forget to check out the Blog Endurance for useful articles with expert advice on car repairs, DIY maintenance, make/model comparisons, and more.