Dodge’s two big, rear-wheel-drive cars will both head into the sunset after the 2023 model year. But before the 4-door Charger and 2-door Challenger disappear, Dodge will give enthusiasts an entire stable of special editions to choose from.
“We want to make sure we celebrate these cars properly,” CEO Tim Kuniskis says. By the time the Brampton (Ontario, Canada) Assembly Plant rolls out its last rear-wheel-drive Dodge car, Kuniskis says, it will have built “a billion horsepower.”
Dodge hasn’t actually revealed any of the models. They stayed under covers at an event for journalists kicking off Dodge’s Speed Week celebration today.
But we know the names of six out of seven. The Charger and Challenger each will get Demon, Hellcat, Redeye, Scat Pack, Shaker, and Jailbreak special editions for 2023. The final name is being kept under wraps until the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, scheduled for Nov. 1-4, 2022.
Dodge has not yet named prices for its 2023 cars. The 2022 Charger starts at $32,500. The 2022 Challenger starts at $30,825. Each also carries a $1,595 destination fee. But special editions routinely push prices to more than double those figures.
Sold “Just Like a Sneaker Drop”
Dodge will handle the release of each car, Kuniskis says, “just like a sneaker drop.”
Rather than allowing customers to pre-order the cars from a website, Dodge will publish lists of how many of each model will go to each dealership. Dodge’s website will maintain a countdown as they sell, but buyers will have to line up or make other arrangements with local dealers to get the one they want.
That approach will do little to rein in dealer markups. But automakers have limited control over the prices dealers set. Kuniskis says that Dodge believes transparency will help keep prices fair.
Classic Colors Return
It will still be possible to buy a non-special-edition Charger or Challenger. Both cars return mostly unchanged for the 2023 model year. Each 2023 model will wear a brushed aluminum “Last Call” plaque under the hood to commemorate the end of their run.
Several fan favorite colors return for 2023, including B5 Blue, Sublime Green, and the one you should get, Plum Crazy (because the world needs more purple cars).
Dodge Challenger Convertible (Sort Of)
Dodge still won’t build its own Challenger convertible. But you will be able to order one from a Dodge dealership for the 2023 model year.
When a customer orders a Challenger convertible, Dodge will ship it to Florida-based Drop Top Customs, which calls itself “the oldest convertible coachbuilder in the U.S.” The company will modify it and ship the droptop Challenger to the customer through their local Dodge dealership.
The process adds an eye-popping $25,999 to the cost of the Challenger.
When these Charger and Challenger models are gone, Dodge says, they won’t be replaced with gas-powered equivalents. The company plans to unveil an “electric muscle car” on Wednesday that will point the way toward the future of the Dodge brand.
