Dodge has been slow to adopt electrification but now that it has become a member of the Stellantis empire, what will come of its massive, thirsty V8 engines? According to Dodge, they’ll change with the times.
Speaking to Muscle Cars and Trucks, Dodge’s head of sales, Matt McAlear, said that although there’s no official end date for gas engines, everyone (including the staff at Dodge) can feel it coming. But he’s not too worried.
“It will come to an end, but the replacements are going to be so much more exciting,” McAlear told MC&T. “I think more than anything, people are looking for the next generation.”
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Once the V8 is gone, then what?
The powertrain of the future has been decided. After more than a century, the internal combustion engine has begun its phased withdrawal. Battery-electric technology will take its place. Existing non-BEV passenger vehicles will either have to adapt or retire as well. For brands like Dodge, which relies heavily on powerful V8-powered muscle cars, the stakes couldn t be higher. But this technological shift also presents huge opportunities and Dodge is determined to embrace this path. Speaking to Muscle Cars and Trucks, head of Dodge Sales Operations, Matt McAlear, acknowledged changes abound. But not all change is bad.
V-8 to volts: How do American muscle brands transition to EVs?
Dodge//SRT Performance Lineup: Left to right, 2021 Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye, 2020 Challenger SRT Super Stock and the 2021 Durango SRT Hellcat. Dodge s earth-shaking 700-horsepower Hellcat engines have pulled buyers into showrooms. The challenge ahead is to translate that excitement to an electric car. (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles/TNS)
The 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye has a 797-horsepower V-8. The challenge ahead is how to translate that excitement to an electric car. (FCA/TNS)
Ford is already edging toward the future with Mustang Mach-E, a battery-electric vehicle badged with the emblem of its performance sports car. (Ford/TNS)