2023 Dodge Chargers, Challengers Go Out with a Bang, as They Should
Dodge is sending off the Charger and Challenger in their current evolution by bringing back three heritage colors, and putting "Last Call" plaques under the hood of every 2023 car.
Originally offered as a one-year run in 2020, the Durango SRT Hellcat is back for the 2023 model year, retaining the same 710-hp Hellcat V-8.
The Dodge Direct Connection lineup of parts is expanding and will now feature a Challenger Mopar rolling chassis featuring an NHRA-certified roll cage good for 7.50-second quarter mile runs.
Get your orders in now: Dodge has issued the last call on the Charger and Challenger as we know and love them. Close your eyes and remember the high-pitched whine of superchargers and the sweet yet acrid smell of burning rubber as those thumping V-8s enter their final year. As they face their EV future, "Last Call" plaques will be featured under the hood of each 2023 Charger or Challenger to denote the final year of the cars. The Durango SRT Hellcat, originally offered as a single-year run for 2020, will now be back for 2023.
2023 Charger
Dodge is teasing seven 2023 special-edition models during a promotional effort that it is calling "Speed Week." Six of the models will share some connection to vehicles from the company's past that it has deemed iconic. The seventh special edition, which the company say will be the last of its kind, is scheduled to be revealed at the SEMA tuner show this November. All 2023 Chargers will come with a commemorative "Last Call" plaque under the hood, with a silhouette and the vehicle name. The plaques will also say "Designed in Auburn Hills" and "Assembled in Brampton" as a nod to their origin.
Dodge is upping the number of exterior paint options to 14 while bringing back three heritage colors: B5 Blue, Plum Crazy Purple, and Sublime Green. 2023 Charger R/T models will now show off "345" fender badging to signify the 345-cubic-inch engine in the car. Jailbreak models, previously exclusive to the Hellcat Redeye will now be available on Charger Hellcat models. Pricing and ordering info is not available yet, but Dodge said the entire Charger lineup will be allocated to dealerships at one time in an effort to help customers achieve the car they want.
2023 Challenger
As the bar closes for the Charger, so too will it close for the Challenger. Ending its V-8 era with seven special editions, six of which will share a connection to a past Dodge icon. The seventh special edition will debut in November alongside the Charger at SEMA. The same "Last Call" plaque with "Designed in Auburn Hills" and "Assembled in Brampton" will feature under the hood of all 2023 Challengers.
Paint options also increase for the Challenger, with the same three heritage editions and a total of 14 exterior options. 2023 Challenger R/T models will feature "345" fender badging to signify the 345-cubic-inch engine in the car. Dodge offered Challenger convertibles as production vehicles in two model years: 1970 and 1971. Again, following with the Charger, Jailbreak models, previously exclusive to the Hellcat Redeye, will now be available on Challenger Hellcat models.
For those on the hunt for a more modern Challenger convertible, Dodge wants to streamline the process. Dealerships will now offer a process allowing third-party convertible modifications for 2022 Challengers through Drop Top Customs. Customers will have to shell-out $25,999, but Dodge will ship the car directly from the factory in Brampton, Ontario, to the team at Drop Top Customs before sending it to the customer. Same as with the Charger, pricing and ordering info is not available yet, but Dodge said the entire Challenger lineup will be allocated to dealerships at one time in an effort to help customers achieve the car they want.
2023 Durango SRT Hellcat
Despite Dodge's offering the Durango SRT Hellcat as a single-year run back in 2020, it's back for 2023. Why? "Muscle enthusiasts also have families, and the 2023 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat can get those families where they want to go," said Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis. That seems excessive, but we don't really have a problem with excessive. The new Durango SRT Hellcat features the same 6.2-liter Hemi Hellcat V-8 that produces 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. Accellerating those families where they need to go with speed means zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and a quarter-mile pass of 11.5 seconds. Six piston, two-piece front calipers fit over the 15.8-inch vented front rotors, while four-piston calipers cover the 13.8-inch vented rear rotors to bring the brawny SUV to a stop from its 180-mph top speed. Orders for the new Durango Hellcat are slated to open in September of this year, with deliveries scheduled to start in early 2023.
Dodge Adds to Direct Connection Performance List
Launched earlier this year, Direct Connection is Dodge's performance parts portfolio. Dodge knows its customers enjoy a trip to the drag strip, so for the cool price of $89,999 they will sell you a rolling chassis equipped with a TIG-welded roll cage, NHRA certified for 7.50-second passes down a drag strip. The chassis comes ready with a four-link rear suspension and double adjustable Bilstein coil-over shocks. Mickey Thompson drag racing tires cover the rubber while Strange Engineering Pro Series II racing breaks help to slow the car down. Dodge is leaving the powertrain, driveline, and engine management to the customer.
Direct connection is also working with Finale Speed to create a 1970 Dodge Charger body out of carbon fiber. According to Dodge, the Plymouth Barracuda and Road Runner are both part of plans for future licensed carbon-fiber bodies with Direct Connection and Finale Speed.
Dodge will be announcing more news this week, and we'll bring it to you as it happens.
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