There’s a lot of movement at Stellantis right now, from new leadership at the auto conglomerate as a whole to a fresher and notably Hemi-less lineup at Dodge. The automaker itself is in a state of transition, with a new Charger successor offering an electric drivetrain or a turbocharged six-cylinder engine — but no V8. However, Dodge has frequently offered other sporty alternatives to the V8 Challenger and Charger, and in a recent interview with The Drive, it would appear the company’s CEO, Matt McAlear, hasn’t forgotten that.
What Does A New Dodge Sports Car Look Like?
The Viper is the first Charger alternative and/or halo car that springs to mind. Does Dodge need it? Not really, according to McAlear. But a new Dodge sports car has to decide which side of the fence it wants to land on:
“Is there a want, a desire, and a market? I think yeah. I think there’s a market for two things. There’s a market for an entry-level halo and a top-of-the-line halo.”
The CEO had an interesting perspective when asked for clarification. “I don’t know what I’d compare it [a future Dodge halo car] to,” he said. “I think there’s inspiration in seeing what some of the powersports companies have done. Not only the crazy side-by-sides, but the three-wheelers, the Slingshots, I think there’s something there.”
A Weekend Car For The Working Persons
The CEO also elaborated a little as to the other end of the market, away from six-figure Vipers and $60,000+ Chargers. “I think there’s some kind of entry-level [halo car], back to that sub-$30,000 mark,” he said. “I think there’s a market for people who just want to have that weekend car again, who would like a
, but don’t have that $100 or $120K. Something that doesn’t need all the safety features, doesn’t need the heated seats. Just a car.”
While it sounds a lot like a cheap sports car, Dodge also isn’t looking to rip the formula from someone like Mazda and do, for example, a cheap roadster. Instead, says McAlear, it’s got to be “original,” like the Viper once was. “Not a Corvette fighter, not a Mustang fighter. That’s why we’ve never said we want to go after Mustang or Camaro, right? We’ve always been in a straight line, different kind of performance.”
TopSpeed’s Take
Dodge wants a unique take on either a top-end halo car or an entry-level one. Both sound like great ideas, but given the volumes (relatively) that the Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ and the Miata sell in, the lower end of the market could be appetizing to Dodge. It’s easy to see an argument for a high-dollar halo car too, with better profit margins but lower production volume. Either way, it looks as if Dodge doesn’t just want one sports car on the roster.
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