Electric Muscle Cars Are the Future

EVs are coming. By 2030, half of all new vehicles produced and sold will be equipped with full-electric engines. It should come as no surprise that muscle cars will be electric, too. In fact, both the iconic Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger models are halting production by 2024 in favor of Dodge’s first electric vehicles.

This marks the end of an era, as Dodge moves to introduce an EV sports car to replace the gas-powered beasts of yesteryear. So, in honor of some of our favorite models, let’s take a look at what’s coming, and see if now might be the perfect time to buy one of these soon-to-be discontinued staples of the Dodge lineup.

A Quick History of Dodge Sports Cars
If you’re not plugged into the world of performance vehicles, the fact that the Charger and Challenger models are going extinct may not seem like a big deal. After all, car companies stop production on models all the time.

The Charger and Challenger, however—introduced in 1966 and 1969, respectively—have become two of the most iconic American cars in their respective classes.

The Charger, especially, has enjoyed plenty of time in various spotlights over the years. A ’69 Charger played the iconic orange roadster from The Dukes of Hazzard, and since 2006, the Charger has been the preferred sedan of police precincts all across the country because of its performance and reliability. (Click here to read more about the pros and cons of buying a used police car.) Many different iterations have been seen over the years, from spooled-up daily drivers to full-blown stock racing cars.

The Challenger is often seen as the Charger’s younger brother. It was first introduced as a direct competitor to other “pony cars” like the Mercury Cougar and Pontiac Firebird. Its popularity shifted up and down through the years, and it never quite achieved the Charger’s star power, but there can be no denying the fact that it’s been a consistent staple on American roadways and race tracks for over half a century.

Avid car historians already know that both models have been taken out of production several times over the years. So, why is this time different?

Introducing the New Electric Dodge Charger & Challenger

The industry is changing, and it’s changing fast. Last July, on EV Day 2021, Dodge’s parent company Stellantis made big waves in the industry when they announced that they’d be releasing an all-electric Dodge EV muscle car platform, which they’ve dubbed eMuscle. Using one of four EV configurations in development, they’ve pledged to move forward into a new era of environmental sustainability, without sacrificing on performance.

Unfortunately, hard details since then have been hard to come by. Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis claimed last year that they’d be announcing the project within the first few months of 2022, but, sadly, the stars haven’t aligned for that just yet. He’s now saying they hope to make a fuller announcement before August, citing supply chain woes as the main cause of the delays.

It’s unclear whether or not we’re going to get an electric Dodge Charger, and electric Dodge Challenger, or something entirely new. What is clear, is that the Dodge electric car is set to change the game in a shocking way, and promises to deliver all the thrills of a gas-guzzling V8 HEMI—in fact, MotorTrend reports that the CEO of Stellantis recently described the sound of the electric motor as “shocking.” This may just be the best electric sports car for years to come.

What Other Projects Does Dodge Have in the Works?
The new Dodge electric car isn’t the only big announcement they’ve slated for late summer.

Last month, according to The Detroit News, August will also see Dodge unveiling their first-ever plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The car, dubbed the Dodge Hornet, appears to be a compact SUV, and it represents Dodge’s desire to make a little something for everyone. Despite promising performance in the EV market as a whole, some folks have been skeptical about an electric sports car—but, in our opinion, they shouldn’t be. If you’re curious about all the pros of buying an electric vehicle in Birmingham, check out this handy guide.

PHEVs offer a practical and environmentally-friendly halfway mark between a regular hybrid, and a full-on all-electric vehicle. The powertrain works in a very similar way to a regular hybrid car, which uses a cranked-up battery and gas combustion engine together to greatly improve gas mileage, while also lowering emissions.

Plug-in hybrids take this a step further, with an even beefier battery that allows for home charging, so you can travel on battery power alone. The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica PHEV, for instance, can drive 32 miles without using a drop of gasoline, meaning these motors allow drivers to run errands and make short commutes on electricity alone, which can save drivers thousands per year.

Details for the 2023 Dodge Hornet are also scarce, but with plug-in hybrid technology being as good as it is already, we can’t wait to learn more.

Celebrating Over Five Decades of Dodge Sports Cars

There can be no denying that we’re beyond excited to see what Dodge has in store for us as we enter the Electric Age. Still, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t nostalgic. After all, it’s the end of an era of American muscle cars.

If you simply can’t imagine driving an electric muscle car, you might want to buy a new Dodge sports car while you can. Inventory is going to start dwindling more and more as we get further into the EV revolution, which means that gas-powered Chargers and Challengers are about to become a hot commodity. (Just last year, The Charger topped the list for best residual value at J.D. Power and Associates, and it’s the eighth straight year they’ve won the award in the full-sized sedan category!)

We’re proud to say that this pair is going out at the top of their game, and we have a ton of special Dodge deals and incentives on new models. If you want to get in on the action, visit Jim Burke CDJR at 1409 5th Avenue North to test drive a Dodge Charger or Challenger in Birmingham.