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As this is being written, potential high-performance automobile buyers only have seven more days to order a new Dodge Challenger or Charger equipped with a Hemi V8 engine.
The Dodge Challenger and Charger. (Photo courtesy of Stellantis Media.)
On July 17th the company announced that its dealers have been notified to submit all orders for the 2023 model year muscle cars no later than July 31st, or the sale will not be fulfilled. Less than six months remain until the final vehicles roll off the line, as production is set to end no later than December 31, 2023.
“For enthusiasts looking to order a Dodge Challenger or Charger, especially a high-horsepower model such as the Scat Pack, SRT Hellcat, or a special edition model, it’s truly the last call for the ‘Last Call,’” Dodge brand CEO, Tim Kuniskis said in a statement. “As we transition to an exciting, electrified muscle car future, we’re marking the end of an unforgettable era for Dodge, and time is running out for those who want to own a piece of it.”
Dodge CEO, Tim Kuniskis. (Photo courtesy of The Detroit Bureau.)
Dodge announced in 2022 that this would be the last model year for the current LC- and LD-body Challengers and Chargers, and unveiled seven, limited-edition “Last Call” models to commemorate what have been two hugely successful vehicles for the brand.
These “Last Call” vehicles included the Challenger Shakedown, the Charger Super Bee, the Challenger and Charger Scat Pack Swinger, the Charger King Daytona, the Challenger Black Ghost, and after a delay due to powertrain issues, the Challenger SRT Demon 170, the world’s quickest and most powerful factory muscle car.
The Challenger SRT Demon 170 was the final special edition, “Last Call” model, and is the quickest and most powerful factory muscle car in the world. (Photo courtesy of Stellantis Media.)
Additionally, all 2023 Challenger and Charger vehicles carry a special commemorative “Last Call” underhood plaque, and every supercharged SRT model is now in Jailbreak form, allowing buyers to configure their cars with a wider variety of colors, upholsteries, and equipment than previously available.
Potential buyers can locate a Dodge Challenger or Charger – ranging from the entry-level SXT to the top-of-the-line SRT Hellcat Redeye and Challenger SRT Super Stock models – through the Dodge Horsepower Locator page at DodgeGarage.com, and then contact a dealer to place an order.
The Dodge Horsepower Locator webpage. (Image courtesy of Stellantis.)
The Dodge Horsepower Locator aids customers in finding their Challenger or Charger by providing information on vehicles still available for ordering through a Dodge dealer. The Horsepower Locator enables enthusiasts to search all Dodge dealerships by zip code, model, and trim level for Dodge Challenger and Charger vehicle order availability.
The cutoff date for ordering a Hemi-equipped Dodge vehicle marks the end of a 72-year history of V8s featuring overhead valve, hemispherical combustion chamber design, with the first example of the engine having been released in 1951.
The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept offers a look into Dodge’s electrified future. (Photo courtesy of Stellantis.)
Dodge is ceasing the use of Hemi engines owing to increasingly stringent fuel economy and emissions standards, two metrics where the Hemi underperforms. The company has already offered a glimpse at the all-electric future of its muscle car lineup in the form of the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept released last year. Additionally, the brand’s newest model, the Hornet R/T crossover, features a turbocharged plug-in hybrid powertrain.
For those not enamored of the idea of an electric muscle car, the time is definitely now to order the Hemi of their dreams.
