It looks like an era of American cars is about to come to an end. For decades, American muscle cars have been known for their big V8 petrol engines, mostly known for their torque and thirst. Last year however (few years after the introduction of 2,3-liter turbo engine with four cylinder), Ford has announced, that it is working on an electric version of their Mustang. And while there still is V8-powered Mustang for sale, we might soon have to say goodbye to yet another legendary muscle car: Dodge Challenger.
It has been over ten years since Dodge has introduced a reborn version of their 70’s sport car so it is ready for the next generation. It is going to be a totally new car from platform on. And here is the catch: according to Detroit news web site, the key part of new Challenger, its core is going to be a new, significantly lighter and made to suit a hybrid power plant. Unofficial sources are mentioning a possibility of a two-liter turbo petrol engine, combined with an electric motor.
That the end of an era really is near is something Mike Manely, FCA CEO also talked about on recent Detroit car show – NAIAS. "The reality is those platforms and that technology we used does need to move on. They can't exist as you get into the middle-2020s. New technology is going to drive a load of weight out, so we can think of the powertrains in a different way. And we can use electrification to really supplement those vehicles."