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<Dodge Sets 2024 Death Date For Charger And Challenger To Make Way For The Brand's "eMuscle" The best selling muscle cars in America will be gone in the next two years as Dodge transitions EVs Dodge Charger and Challenger Jailbreak models. Image: Dodge It’s finally happening: The Dodge Charger and Challenger muscle machines will be no more by 2024. Motor Trend spoke with Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis about the brand’s plans for the next two years as the company tries to appease muscle fans and appeal to EV buyers. Kuniskis is aware that a lot of people won’t be happy with the direction the brand is taking (he’s already receiving death threats for the changes). He calls it, “feeding the beast.” Image: Dodge The discontinuation of the Charger and Challenger, and the start to the brand’s EV models are all a bigger part of its “Never Lift” plan. Within the 24 months of the plan, Dodge plans to release special editions of each departing model: Editions they think will get people talking like the recently introduced Jailbreak. It’s really more of a softening of the blow to muscle car fans who will soon be robbed of their Hemi fix from the brand. Image: Dodge So, you’re asking, “what’s replacing the Charger and Challenger?” Those of you waiting for an EV muscle car won’t have to wait long. Kuniskis says a concept version of the “muscle EV” is coming in the next four or five months. And in a surprising nod to automotive outlets, it’ll be able to be driven and tested. Dodge also has a plug-in hybrid expected to go into production at the end of 2022. We speculate it may be a version of the Durango, but Kuniskis didn’t say whether or not the Durango would be moving to a new platform or if the model would be around at all. A third new model is also in the works. Kuniskis is light on details, but says “The third one is going to be a very, very, very, significant car at the end of the year.” And in a move that should make our very own Jason Torchinsky very happy, Dodge’s made up Fratzog badge will be used exclusively on EVs. Whatever floats your boat, or rather, charges your batteries. So you muscle car fans who are mad about this: calm down. Chances are the power output is even better than your Hemis anyways, and it needs to be done for the planet. You can expect these new models to take the stage at major auto shows next year, presumably in Dodge’s Detroit home, at the North American International Auto Show.>

<Aston Martin V12 Vantage officially coming in 2022 Aston Martin’s dreamy small body/big engine combo is back, a new V12 Vantage is coming next year The Aston Martin V12 Vantage is officially on its way for the 2022 model year, with confirmation a top-spec Vantage is set to return to top the current Vantage range. Destined to follow the well-trodden and desirable path of shoehorning Aston’s most potent engine into its most compact model, the new V12 Vantage has already been spotted in its development phase and so far promises to be one of next year’s most exciting supercars. Official details are still scarce, but we do know that Aston Martin will be utilising a twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 engine borrowed from both the DB11 and DBS models. Peak power is unconfirmed, but we suspect given the DBS’s flagship status that power will instead reside somewhere between the DB11 AMR’s 630bhp and the 700bhp of the DBS. Like all modern Aston Martin sports cars, power will likely be sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission sourced from ZF, rather than the Mercedes-sourced nine-speed found in the new DBX. This is mostly due to its location on the rear axle, which will also help the inevitable shift in weight distribution given the considerable weight gain from the V12 engine. We also know that both Vantage and DB models are due an update in the near future, suggesting that the V12 Vantage might introduce some of these elements, some of which might have already appeared in the limited-run V12 Speedster. This might include an adoption of the V12 Speedster’s dash layout, which is completely different to both the current Vantage and DB, incorporating more touch-sensitive control elements and a larger touchscreen interface that features a newer version of Mercedes’ MBUX interface. Exterior styling should also be given a substantial update to coincide with the V12 engine, incorporating new front and rear bumpers alongside a modern interpretation of the distinctive slatted bonnet that dominated the previous generation V12 Vantage’s aesthetic. We’ll have to wait until next year to quantify these ruminations upon its reveal, but the one thing we do know is that this V12 Vantage won’t be a limited edition, but rather a final edition, as Aston Martin has since confirmed that it won’t produce any more V12 Vantages after this model’s production run is through. With tightening emissions regulations, and the push towards new hybridised powertrains in its future supercars like the Valhalla, it looks like time is being called on this most iconic of Aston Martin nameplates, but let’s just be thankful we’ve got one more generation to enjoy.>