Latest news with #DodgeDealers
Auto Blog
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Dodge Trademarks ‘Charger Outlaw' Name For 550‑HP SIXPACK Muscle Car
Dodge appears to be locking in its next muscle-era identity, as fresh trademark filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) confirm that both 'Outlaw' and 'Charger Outlaw' are officially in the pipeline. While the brand hasn't said the words publicly just yet, this latest paperwork backs up what insiders and dealers have hinted at for months: the 2026 Dodge Charger Outlaw is coming—and it's aiming to rewrite the rules. The High-Output SIXPACK Steps Forward First tipped through Stellantis' internal Dealer Connect system, the Outlaw badge is believed to be tied directly to the High-Output Hurricane I6, part of Dodge's new twin-turbocharged SIXPACK lineup. The standard-output variant will reportedly wear the GT badge, while the Outlaw is reserved for the top-shelf performance spec. If the early figures are accurate, we're looking at 550 horsepower and 521 lb-ft of torque, eclipsing the outgoing 6.4-liter HEMI Scat Pack by a healthy margin. And unlike the old muscle formula, the new Outlaw will feature standard all-wheel drive with a selectable rear-drive mode—an increasingly familiar move as performance brands juggle traction and tradition. Muscle Branding, Rebooted The 'Outlaw' name marks new territory for Dodge. It's not a retro callback or a Hellcat offshoot—it's something altogether fresh. And with Dodge recently pulling the plug on the all-electric Charger Daytona R/T, it's hard not to see the Outlaw as a strategic reset: back to internal combustion, back to drama, but with a modern drivetrain under the skin. In fact, while the Hurricane I6 is set to replace most of Dodge's V8 lineup, a new HEMI-powered Charger may still be in the works, suggesting Dodge isn't quite ready to give up its old-school thunder entirely. The Outlaw could end up straddling both eras—symbolic of the brand's pivot but still packing the kind of specs that would make a Challenger owner raise an eyebrow. The Setup: AWD, Turbo Power, and That Name The Outlaw's powertrain is expected to pair the Hurricane I6 with Dodge's fourth-gen 8-speed 880RE automatic transmission. Early reports suggest the AWD setup will allow daily driveability with wet-weather confidence, while a rear-drive mode will give purists the tail-happy fun they're used to. While we don't yet have images or emblem designs, the trademarks confirm that 'Outlaw' and 'Charger Outlaw' are designated for full vehicle use—not accessories or wheel trims. It's clear Dodge sees this as a cornerstone identity, not just a throwaway special edition. Source: Chrysler Where It Fits In The Charger Legacy There's no doubt the Charger name carries weight, whether you remember it as a full-size sedan, a coupe, or a dragstrip hero. From the NASCAR-bred legends of the '60s to the snarling four-doors of the 2000s, Dodge's muscle car story is long and often outrageous. The Outlaw, then, becomes the next chapter—one that trades raw displacement for turbo sophistication but aims to keep the attitude firmly intact. This is Dodge navigating a post-V8 world on its own terms. No silent EVs here. No badge engineering. Just a new badge, a big number, and a signal that the muscle car isn't dead—it's just getting smarter. About the Author Max Taylor View Profile
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Dodge blames Trump's tariffs for car delay
Shoppers are rejecting Dodge's electric reboot of a classic car — but the automaker is blaming tariffs for a new year-long delay. The company said the entry-level Charger Daytona R/T EV won't arrive at U.S. dealerships in 2026 as originally planned. Bosses say the model has been 'postponed' as it reevaluates US. trade policies — raising the possibility of a 2027 launch instead. The more expensive Scat Pack EV — priced in the mid-$70,000s — is still on sale. Dodge also plans to introduce gas-powered six-cylinder and four-door Charger variants by the end of 2025. Dodge's CEO, Matt McAlear, said it delayed the entry level EV's 'as we continue to assess the effects of US tariff policies.' The Charger is subject to President Donald Trump's 25 percent tariff: it's built in the Windsor Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada. But the bigger issue may be demand. Since launching the Charger EV earlier this year, Dodge has sold fewer than 2,000 units — a far cry from expectations. The first Chargers started rolling off factory lines in January, so the low figure may be partially due to early supply constraints. Still, fewer than 2,000 units is far weaker demand than the company anticipated when it made its big bet. Dealers currently hold around 3,500 unsold units. For years, the Charger coupe and Challenger sedan were Dodge's two most recognizable nameplates. Both were brawny, burbling muscle cars that largely appealed to testosterone-fueled American enthusiasts. Then, in March 2024, Dodge made a shocking move: it axed the Challenger nameplate and committed to offering the Charger as an EV. The battery-powered model promised instant torque, stored 670 horses in the powertrain, and projected engine-like sounds designed to mimic a gas-powered growl. These changes cut against the grain of the typical Charger buyer — many of whom remain skeptical of the EV transition. 'Americans who buy a Charger don't want an EV,' one driver said in a Reddit post. 'This entire product was a really strange decision.' Dodge's parent company has also had a rough ride recently. The automaker has drawn criticism from the Trump administration due to its European ownership. Dodge — which is part of the legacy American brand that owns Chrysler, Jeep, and Ram — has long been considered part of the Detroit 'Big Three' alongside Ford and GM. But in 2021, Dodge became part of Stellantis, a multinational auto conglomerate headquartered in the Netherlands. 'Let's face it, it's owned by Fiat, and most of the engines that go into the cars that are assembled here are from Italy,' President Donald Trump's senior advisor on trade, Peter Navarro, said on CNN. 'I mean, that's not an American company.' The international ownership has made many of its vehicles extremely susceptible to the administrations 25 percent tariffs. Stellantis was the first major company to announce tariff-related American job cuts . It also had to make a humiliating U-turn and reshoot TV ads that said cars were made in the US when they were not. At the same time, the company is seeing lagging interest in its current vehicle lineup. In February, Stellantis reported a staggering 70 percent drop in profits for 2024. Dodge serves as a prime example of the company's struggles. Once known for a robust portfolio of muscle cars, sedans, trucks, and minivans, the brand has shrunk dramatically. Its pickup and commercial vehicle division was spun off into the separate Ram brand, and today Dodge sells just three vehicles: the Charger EV, the Hornet, and the Durango.
