Dodge is currently working on the EV replacements for the aging Challenger and Charger, but the Challenger might have another ace up its sleeve before ending its 16-year-long lifecycle. A report from Mopar Insiders suggests that the automaker is working on a new Hellcat-based limited production special pumping out more power than the Demon and running on E85 fuel.
While we should take this rumor with a pinch of salt, the Challenger definitely deserves a swan song after so many years in the market. Dodge’s muscle car was originally introduced in 2008, with the SRT Hellcat arriving in MY2014 and the Demon following in MY2018. The rumored send-off for the Challenger could arrive in 2023, which is expected to be the final year of its production.
The report doesn’t get into details, but it claims that a specially modified version of the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 will offer even more power when running on ethanol (E85). This type of fuel is common among drag racers and supercar manufacturers, like Koenigsegg and SSC, increasing the power output of the engine compared to gasoline. The swan song of Dodge’s mighty V8 could feature a dual-fuel system similar to the one used on the Demon, which could run on either 91-octane or 100-octane unleaded fuel, with the latter unlocking its full performance potential.
The Challenger SRT Demon produced as much as 840 hp (852 PS / 626 kW) and 770 lb-ft (1,044 Nm) of torque when running on 100+ octane fuel, or 808 hp (819 PS / 603 kW) and 717 lb-ft (917 Nm) of torque on regular pump gas. In a similar manner, the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye makes 797 hp (594 kW / 808 PS), with further tuning potential.
Dodge is expected to unveil three electrified models this August during the Speed Week event in Michigan, including a new Hornet SUV, a rebadged version of the Alfa Romeo Tonale, and an EV concept closely previewing the next Charger. We will probably have all the answers at the reveal of the MY2023 Challenger in a few months’ time.
