Dodge is a brand not known for subtlety. With the oncoming wave of all-electric vehicles, the purveyors of extroverted vehicles are intent on departing this era of internal-combustion with a bang (pun firmly intended). In addition to throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at the last model year for Charger and Challenger – including a host of special edition trims, plus historic colour choices – the company is bringing back the Durango Hellcat SUV and wildly expanding enthusiast support for speed freaks through its Direct Connection parts channel.
Like a popular guest who nevertheless knows not to overstay their welcome, the Charger and Challenger will cease production in Brampton at the end of 2023. After twenty years, the Dodge crew claims it’s cranked out roughly three million vehicles from the facility, equating to about a billion horsepower. It takes a moment for that figure to sink in.
And, to be clear, this is definitely the last year for Charger and Challenger as we know them today. Each 2023 model will bear a ‘Last Call’ plaque under its hood, which will surely stir the loins of bidders at Barrett-Jackson 50 years from now.
Speaking of collector items, the popular Jailbreak models – which permit customers to order off the standard menu in terms of options and colours – is in full swing, and now expanded to the 717-hp SRT Hellcat. Heritage paint options like B5 Blue and Plum Crazy are back, while a half-dozen new trim packages will be doled out in dribs and drabs over the next few months.
Dodge ain’t talking about those specifics but did say each one of these buzz models will pay homage to an aspect of the Charger or Challenger heritage. Cryptic signs were place on covered cars in the room during this announcement, including pictures of a ghost and one of a crown. Your guess is as good as ours at this point. A seventh buzz model, promised to be the last of its kind, will appear at the SEMA Show in Vegas this November.
In an interesting twist, Dodge will be allocating the entire year’s worth of Chargers and Challengers to dealers all at once in October — and publishing that information in a public place on its webpage. Top boss Tim Kuniskis admits this will be a logistical feat, but will permit customers to get in on the Last Call by determining what dealers have been allocated the car they desire. This goes for those six special buzz models as well, which won’t be available for order but landing at top-performing dealers. Get ‘em while they’re hot, kids.
Elsewhere, customers can finally take delivery of a new Challenger convertible — but it won’t be built at Brampton. Gearheads who want wind in their hair can order the car from a Dodge store, after which it will be assembled and shipped directly to a shop in Florida. Once the conversion is done, it’ll be sent to the dealer for delivery. This is as close as we’ll ever get to a factory Challenger rag-top. Price is $25,999 USD retail, though there’s no stopping greedy dealers from putting a markup on these things before shipping them to Drop Top Customs in Florida.
The expansion of the Direct Connection catalog for 2023 is worth noting, if for no other reason than the fact Dodge seems intent on eating the aftermarket’s lunch. Fans will be able to buy a Challenger body-in-white for USD$7,995, for either building into a track weapon or to make one hell of a man-cave decoration. The new Mopar Drag Pak Rolling Chassis gives NHRA or NMCA competitors a foundational building block to help create their personal drag Challenger for just under 90 grand, and includes everything from suspension to brakes — save for the powertrain, of course. New carbon-fibre parts abound, as do items like superchargers and headers, though most interesting is the promised officially licensed 1970 Dodge Charger carbon-fiber body, which can be built into a finished vehicle. Rock on.
Last – but certainly not last to the soccer game – is the Durango SRT Hellcat, which is back for a single model year in 2023. Pumping out 710 horsepower (roughly 100 ponies for each passenger, as it turns out) this three-row muscle SUV should clock a zero-to-60-mph time of 3.5 seconds, and demolish the quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds. And, yes, it can still tow 8,700 pounds. You’ll be the first one to the campsite or slipway in this rig. Production for the 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat will begin in Q4 2022, with the Hellcat scheduled to arrive in dealerships up here in early 2023.
Dodge will be unleashing more news over the next couple of days. Stay tuned.
Keyword: Last Call: Dodge details the 2023 Charger and Challenger