Final Dodge Challenger Rolls of the Line and Gives Rise to the Dodge Hornet
The Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger are dead…well, not completely. What we know as the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger muscle cars is dead. No longer gasoline-powered vehicles, Dodge is making way for eMuscle. That’s what the “Last Call” Dodge models were all about. On December 22, 2023, the very last Dodge Challenger has rolled off the assembly line at Stellantis’ plant in Brampton, Canada. It’s gone. At the moment, the only all-gasoline models available are the 2023 Dodge Hornet GT and G/T Plus.
“Last Call” models have most likely all run out. A total of seven, these were the Challenger Shakedown R/T Scat Pack, Challenger Shakedown R/T Scat Pack Widebody, the 2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee, a duet with the third and fourth “Last Call” as the 2023 Dodge Challenger and Charger Scat Pack Swingers, the 2023 Dodge Charger King Daytona as the fifth “Last Call” model, and the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost as the sixth. It took Dodge a long time to release the seventh and final “Last Call” model, culminating in the return of the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon (170). The final car to roll off the line was none other than a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 in Pitch Black.
Then, the automaker made a last call for HEMI®-powered 2023 Dodge Challenger and Charger muscle cars, but we’re not here to discuss that. If still looking for an all-gasoline-powered Dodge model, the Hornet GT and G/T Plus are the choice –not to be confused with the Dodge Hornet R/T and R/T Plus. The “R/T” moniker usually noted a mid-tier Dodge model with more bang for its buck, powered by a 392 V8 SRT® HEMI® engine, able to generate 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. The R/T and R/T Plus are actually the plug-in hybrid versions of this model, powered by a combination of a 1.3-liter turbocharged all-aluminum engine, optimized with exclusive third-generation MultiAir technology, and a 15.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack powering a 90-kW electric motor.
The all-gasoline Dodge Hornet is powered by a 2.0-liter Hurricane4 Turbo able to generate 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. With a fuel economy of 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, this definitely sounds like a regular Dodge model, just with a new hint of style. Able to be driven in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, a Sport Mode comes standard for increased throttle response and control. The Hornet also comes with the PowerShot feature to increase horsepower for 15 seconds with a 15-second cooldown period, adding 25 horsepower to the Hornet during that time.
When eMuscle rolls around, the only true battery-electric vehicle (BEV) Dodge has proposed is the Charger Daytona SRT BEV Concept. We don’t see much of it, and haven’t heard a whole lot about it, but rumors say it’s coming soon with a particular tease in a recent Dodge commercial Christmas ad-spot. According to Tim Kuniskis, CEO of Dodge, the Charger Daytona SRT BEV could bring back some of the configuration Dodge muscle car enthusiasts love. Starting out with three powertrain levels from the factory, that number goes up to nine when scrolling through the Dodge Direct Connection catalog. Again, we’re not exactly sure what has happened to this concept since we last saw it 2022 SEMA Show.
Dodge is definitely putting a rest to gasoline-powered models. The Dodge Hornet GT and G/T Plus may last for another year or two, but with eMuscle on the way, and European standards becoming stricter, Stellantis will need a lot of electric cars to fly under the radar. Want to test drive a Dodge Hornet and feel the difference? Find the new Dodge Hornet at Aventura Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram.