A sharper and more powerful Dodge Challenger Hellcat could be on its way

[lukedukem]

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/dodge-next-generation-hellcat-engine-153620697.html

article states the car will be getting smaller to compete with ford and chevy, but gains 43hp, making it 750hp. also the barracuda is on the way as well. not to sure how credible yahoo articles are. there are no pics so ill post the words. notice the bottom in bold:

"The next generation of the Dodge Challenger could inaugurate an updated version of the immensely powerful Hellcat V8 engine.

Technical details are still few and far between, but Automobile Magazine has learned that the next Hellcat engine will pack 750 horsepower, a generous 43-pony increase over the current mill. The engine will once again have eight cylinders, but it's too early to tell whether it will continue to use a large supercharger or switch to a pair of turbochargers.

All variants of the next Challenger will ride on an evolution of the rear-wheel drive platform that currently underpins the Alfa Romeo Giulia. The Italian genes will make Dodge's muscle car much lighter than the current model (pictured), smaller, and more dynamic to drive. Dodge is on a quest to build more driver-focused cars, and the Giulia chassis could also be found under the next Journey crossover.

Of course, the Hellcat won't be the Challenger's volume engine. Dodge will continue to offer six- and eight-cylinder engines, and it's reasonable to assume that the Challenger will also be available with the 300-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo four that will debut under the hood of the next Wrangler. Buyers will be asked to choose between a manual and an automatic transmission.

A smaller, sharper Challenger will allow Dodge to fight head to head against the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro. It gets better too. While the current Challenger is only available as a coupe, the next-gen model will spawn a convertible that will resurrect the iconic Barracuda nameplate that Plymouth launched during the 1960s. The first-ever Dodge Barracuda will get a look of its own, and it will be smaller than the Challenger in every direction.


We're taking the information with a grain of salt because it's just a rumor at this point, and Dodge hasn't commented on what the future holds for the Hellcat or for the Challenger. If Automobile Magazine's sources are correct, look for both the Challenger and the Barracuda to debut in time for the 2019 model year."

Luke

[crj1968]

How is Dodge going to make a Plymouth?  

OT but..
It's funny with the a lot of new Challenger owners- They don't look or notice my 70 Charger or even my friends 70 Challenger.  

[Ponch ®]

The Barracuda thing's been floating around for years...not gonna happen.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

How many more times are we going to hear speculation of a Dodge Cuda?   

[Mopar Nut]

With four doors too! 

[Mike DC]

They aren't gonna carve up Challenger sales into multiple bodystyles.  


It's not even feasible for a 2dr Charger - and the existing 4dr Charger gives them half the tooling for free.

 

[ws23rt]

If it is true that a whole new car is coming (smaller more powerful etc.) I would only be moved to buy if it looks like a mopar.
The style of the challenger to me is a home run and few seem to dislike it's style.  The mustangs are also a very nice looking car and they look like mustangs.  The camaro is a different beast and the name IMO is out of place on that car.

These days the performance part is almost a given.   ( Take the M5 bmw for example).  But to me it looks like a hundred other cars on the road.

It would take more then a name change and a few more HP to make something I would hit on.

[Mike DC]

      
The Hellcat needs more horsepower like the Federal govt needs more tax money. 

Take half a ton of weight off the Chally . . . then I'm interested.    



And don't infect it with the FWD virus.  

And electronics that last long enough to get the car home from the dealership would be an improvement.    

[Daytona R/T SE]

"The car will be getting smaller"

I'm out.

[ws23rt]

"The car will be getting smaller"

I'm out.

I'm with you.  I don't like the idea of climbing into an egg no matter how fast it can go.

In the fifties (and later) cars were about comfort.  A part of driving I grew up with.   

A high powered small car is an animal all it's own just as are 200hp motorcycles.    I like apples and others like oranges.

[crj1968]

I agree it doesn't need to be smaller, lighter would be good.

Maybe flatter too....seems a 70's challenger is flatter

[Mike DC]

                  
         
The existing modern Chally is simply too big to be lightweight.  Not without giving up modern comfort/crash/quiet/etc.  





The "square/cube law" in physics:  As an object gets bigger, the internal volume (read: weight) grows MUCH faster than the size of the outer shape.  The weight snowballs.  


Imagine these barrels are filled up solid:  Does the middle barrel look like 1/2 the weight of the right one?  It's pretty close.  The middle one is 30 gallons and the right one is 55.  

[Mytur Binsdirti]

It's funny to see  how supersized the new Challenger is next to the original, but there is no more legroom in the back seat. However, the cargo volume in the trunk grew significantly.

[Mike DC]

            
And the old Challengers were some of the biggest ponycars of that era.  Park the modern Chally next to an early Mustang or Camaro and the difference is even more glaring.  


Then imagine the 50yo Mustangs/Camaros with their long front & rear overhangs reduced a bit, like a car of that cabin size would be today.  Now the old ponycars look even smaller still.  



The current LX cars are big enough to be modern C-bodies.

[odcics2]

How is Dodge going to make a Plymouth?  

OT but..
It's funny with the a lot of new Challenger owners- They don't look or notice my 70 Charger or even my friends 70 Challenger.  

"Kids" could care less about our cars.

Interest in "our cars" will die with us!   

[Mike DC]

  

I don't expect kids to be into cars that cost MUCH more, are MUCH less reliable, wear out MUCH faster, have fewer luxuries, and are no faster than, everything else on the road. 

[RallyeMike]

The article says they will fix the one key thing that has kills the current Chally for me....... " it will be much lighter". Finally! 

Now lets hope it comes true.

[Mike DC]

My mind is going: 

"2dr, sporty, small, moderately cheap . . . okay, what's the catch?  Are they gonna turn it into a FWD V6 or something?  Mopar has been denying us a small cheap RWD V8 for the last 40 years.  The Mustang is practically the only one in existence.  Even the GM F-bodies are land yachts now."

[Ryan.C]

My mind is going: 

"2dr, sporty, small, moderately cheap . . . okay, what's the catch?  Are they gonna turn it into a FWD V6 or something?  Mopar has been denying us a small cheap RWD V8 for the last 40 years.  The Mustang is practically the only one in existence.  Even the GM F-bodies are land yachts now."

I agree. The coyote mustang is a fun nimble cheap car.