The Dodge Charger EV Should Have Been a Chrysler
Chevrolet and Ford, on the other hand, smartly decided that their EV-muscle car offerings, such as the Ford Mustang Mach E and Chevrolet Blazer EV SS, should first be practical and sensible EVs that appeal to the unique desires of EV buyers, and performance should simply be a bi-product of powerful battery technology and finely-tuned handling, rather than leaving performance to be the determining factor of its success. With the Dodge Charger, however, Dodge decided to market their first-ever electric vehicle as a two-door high-performance muscle car, which was a mistake that destined them for failure.
Reception for the all-electric Dodge Charger was so poor that the brand just recently announced that it could be completely reverting course and bringing the Hemi V8 back into production and into the Charger, as per Car And Driver. Even before Dodge announced the return of the V8, the brand decided to rush production of its straight-six powered petrol version of the Charger, specifically citing the extreme lack of demand for its full-EV version, as per our very own Gabriel Ionica. That version should hopefully debut at some point this summer.
Where the Charger EV truly failed, however, was that it represented a decision from a major auto manufacturer to replace one of the most visceral, mind-rush-inducing experiences that people can spend their hard earned dollar on (i.e., the Charger Hellcat and Challenger Demon) with a conceited, soulless simulacra of its former self. The Charger EV even has simulated "engine noises" that are merely low-fidelity recordings of a V8 engine pumped through its interior speakers. That provided far less excitement than just playing Forza Horizon 5 with an Xbox controller because at least in Forza, the car sounds aren't lies.
As Dodge scrambles to return the Charger to its former glory with glorious V8 engines, I have high hopes for their strategy. I think the new Charger, at the very least, is a spectacular-looking muscle car, and I believe that Tim Kuniskis can bring the automaker's products back on track. However, despite the sacrilege of the Dodge Charger EV tainting the legacy of the iconic muscle car nameplate, I do believe that a second crime of that model is the utter waste of a reasonably solid EV platform. It's a huge waste, in my opinion, for Stellantis not to employ the same platform developed to underpin the Charger in models that will better appeal to actual EV buyers. Stellantis actually has a brand that is desperate for more products to sell–Chrysler–so why didn't Chrysler get their own EV lineup to sell?
Chrysler is down to just two models in its lineup–the Pacifica and the Voyager–both of which are actually just different variants of the exact same minivan, meaning they really only sell just one car in their showrooms. What happened to the days of the Chrysler cloud cars, the stately and extroverted 300 sedan, the quirky but invigorating Crossfire, and the towering V8-powered Aspen SUV?
Not only does Chrysler desperately need an EV offering to sell, they desperately need an entire lineup of vehicles to sell. I can't help but wonder why Stellantis doesn't take the Charger EV platform–which failed as a muscle car, but might not fail as a semi-luxury sedan or crossover–and give it to Chrysler so that they have a few more models to sell and the EV platform gains a purpose.
Curiously enough, Chrysler already had developed a fully-electric, 5-door SUV that was production-ready, named the Airflow EV, as pictured above. It was meant to arrive for the 2025 model year, but instead, Stellantis decided to sell the vehicle branded as the Jeep Wagoneer S. While I agree that branding the electric SUV as a Jeep was a smart move, I think that not also offering it as a Chrysler is a huge missed opportunity for the brand. With 600 horsepower, all-wheel drive, over 300 miles of range, and a 0-60 time of just 3.4 seconds, the specs of the Jeep Wagoneer S would be perfectly suited to a more luxurious, less-rugged alternative badged as a Chrysler Airflow.
Hopefully, now that former CEO Carlos Tavares is gone from Stellantis, Chrysler can make the case to revert course and put the Airflow SUV into production, for their own sake and for the sake of American buyers who will soon be paying a lot more for vehicles built outside of the USA thanks to Donald Trump's new 25% tariffs on foreign-imported cars. However, I don't just believe that the Charger EV's platform wouldn't be exceptional as a Chrysler SUV, I also think its performance-oriented handling and driving dynamics could be put to better use as a Chrysler grand-touring halo car, rather than as a Dodge pseudo-muscle car.
Imagine, instead of the Charger EV, which poorly imitates its former muscle car glory, Stellantis decided to use its chassis and setup to underpin a more luxurious, comfort-focused sports coupe. By focusing on a more comfortable sporting experience, an electric Chrysler GT car would make better use of the Charger EV's heavy-weighted handling dynamics. With ample boot room and a spacious cabin, a large Chrysler EV sports coupe, perhaps with a retro-throwback name such as Chrysler Conquest, would look right at home at the golf resort in Palm Springs or at a yacht club in Montauk.
Chrysler desperately needs to give buyers a reason to come to their showrooms, and not just because they also have Dodges, Jeeps, and Rams. An electric Chrysler sport coupe could employ an already-developed platform to get people hyped up about their brand once again. If Jaguar thinks it'll work for them, then surely Chrysler ought to give a try with a vehicle that's already mostly been made for them.
Additionally, an electric, semi-luxury crossover to compete with the likes of the Lexus RZ, the Acura ZDX, and the Cadillac Lyriq, should be of vital importance to the Chrysler brand if they want to maintain any shred of relevance in the next few years. We'd love to see Chrysler succeed, but whether Stellantis plans on actually giving them a chance is something we'll just have to wait and see about.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Here's Why Nio Stock Is a Buy Before September
Key Points Nio's stock still trades far below its IPO price. Its valuations are being compressed by the trade tensions with China. It could skyrocket if it weathers those headwinds and scales up its business. 10 stocks we like better than Nio › Nio (NYSE: NIO), a major producer of electric vehicles (EVs) in China, has been a disappointing investment over the past few years. Its stock currently trades at about $5 compared to its initial public offering (IPO) price of $6.26 per American depositary share (ADS) in September 2018 and its record closing price of $62.84 in February 2021. Nio initially impressed the bulls with its soaring deliveries, and the buying frenzy in meme stocks amplified those gains. However, its stock pulled back as its deliveries slowed down, and it racked up steep losses. Rising rates drove investors back toward safer investments. The trade war between the U.S. and China made its stock even less appealing. But as Warren Buffett famously said, investors should be "greedy when others are fearful," and there's a lot of fear baked into its current stock price. Let's take a contrarian view and see why Nio's stock could be worth buying ahead of its second-quarter report in early September. 1. Its battery-swapping network is expanding Nio produces a wide range of electric sedans and SUVs under its namesake brand. Its newer Onvo and Firefly sub-brands sell cheaper SUVs and compact cars, respectively. It differentiates its vehicles from other Chinese EVs with its swappable batteries, which can be quickly swapped out at its power swap stations as a faster alternative to traditional chargers. Its drivers can pay for those battery swaps on an individual basis or subscribe to a "battery as a service" (BaaS) plan for lower rates. At the end of June, Nio operated 3,445 power swap stations across China and Europe. That's up from just 777 stations at the end of 2021. Expanding that network is a capital-intensive effort, but it should increase the stickiness of its brand, widen its moat against its competitors, and plant the seeds for higher-margin recurring BaaS revenues. It's also been working with several major investors, including China's battery-making giant CATL, to fund the future growth of that network. 2. Its deliveries are rising Nio's annual deliveries more than doubled in 2020 and 2021 but only grew 34% in 2022 and 31% in 2023. That slowdown -- which it attributed to tougher competition, macroheadwinds in China, and adverse weather conditions -- spooked a lot of its investors. But in 2024, its annual deliveries rose 39% to 221,970 vehicles. That growth was driven by its robust sales of Nio ET series sedans and Onvo SUVs in China, which boosted its domestic market share against its rivals, as well as its ongoing expansion into Europe. Nio's deliveries rose 40% year over year to 42,094 vehicles in 2025's Q1. In the first half of the year, its total deliveries increased nearly 31% year over year to 114,150 vehicles as its new Onvo and Firefly brands attracted more budget-conscious consumers. Those rising deliveries indicate Nio still has plenty of room to expand in China and Europe in the coming years even if its days of doubling its annual deliveries are over. For 2025, analysts expect Nio's revenue to rise 37% to 90.2 billion yuan ($12.6 billion). From 2024 to 2027, they expect its revenue to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26% to 132.7 billion yuan ($18.5 billion) as it continues to roll out new vehicles. 3. Its vehicle margins are stabilizing Nio's annual vehicle margin reached a record high of 20.1% in 2021, but it plummeted to 9.5% in 2023 as it grappled with the pricing war in China's EV market and inflationary headwinds. But in 2024, its vehicle margin rose to 12.3% as it sold a higher mix of Nio's premium sedans, diluted its production costs, and streamlined its other expenses. Nio expects its namesake brand to maintain a vehicle margin of "around 15%" for 2025's Q2. That stability should offset some of the pressure from its lower-margin Onvo and Firefly brands. It probably won't come anywhere close to achieving a 20% vehicle margin again, but its vehicle margins should continue to stabilize as economies of scale kick in. That's why analysts expect Nio to narrow its net loss from 22.7 billion yuan ($3.2 billion) in 2024 to 7.6 billion yuan ($1.1 billion) in 2027. They also expect its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to turn positive by the final year. 4. Its valuation looks dirt cheap Lastly, Nio still trades at a deep discount to its growth potential presumably because the tariffs and trade tensions are driving investors away from Chinese stocks. With an enterprise value of 67.9 billion yuan ($9.5 billion), it trades at just 0.8 times this year's sales. For reference, Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) trades at 10.9 times this year's sales. So if you expect Nio's business to stabilize with narrowing losses as the trade tensions wane, it might be a great idea to accumulate this unloved stock before it posts its Q2 earnings report. Any good news could force investors to revalue its shares and send them soaring much higher. Should you buy stock in Nio right now? Before you buy stock in Nio, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Nio wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $634,627!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,046,799!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,037% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 182% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025 Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Here's Why Nio Stock Is a Buy Before September was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Newsweek
35 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Lyft Unveils Major New Feature
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Lyft has revealed a new feature, which will allow users to designate favorite drivers and ride with them when possible. Why It Matters Earlier this week, Lyft's main competitor Uber also said it was launching a new feature in select U.S. cities, which allows women riders and drivers to opt to be matched with women. In this photo illustration, the logo of Lyft, Inc., an American ride-sharing company, is displayed on a smartphone screen in front of a stock market chart on May 06, 2025, in Chongqing, China. In this photo illustration, the logo of Lyft, Inc., an American ride-sharing company, is displayed on a smartphone screen in front of a stock market chart on May 06, 2025, in Chongqing, 2021, Lyft revealed through its community safety report that it had received over 4,000 reports of sexual assaults during their trips from 2017 to 2019. The report did not specify whether this concerned riders or drivers. Back in 2023, Lyft introduced a feature called Women+ Connect which gave women and nonbinary drivers the ability to match with more women as well as nonbinary riders. How Does Lyft's New Feature Work? The feature will allow users to "favorite" drivers after they ride with them, according to a press release issued by Lyft. Then, for future schedule rides, Lyft will "prioritize connecting" users with their favorites where it is possible. What To Know Lyft said in a press release that the feature is about giving users control over their rides and building relationships with drivers. It's also about rewarding drivers, Lyft said. Drivers added to a favorite list will be notified and can unlock priority access. "When drivers know they're appreciated, it creates a positive cycle. They're motivated to continue providing exceptional service, and you get consistently great rides with people you trust," Lyft said in the press release. Lyft first launched in 2012 and is the second-largest ride-hailing provider in the world, operating in the U.S. and Canada solely, and holding a market share of 8 percent as of 2022, according to Statista. Uber's pilot program, called "Women Preferences," will be trialed in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit over the next few weeks. The feature from Uber will allow women to select female drivers when requesting a trip or reserving in advance. Women will also be able to set their driver preference in the app settings; while not guaranteed, this increases the likelihood of a female driver match. Female drivers will also be able to opt to only accept ride requests from women riders. What People Are Saying Lyft, in a press release: "We believe every ride should feel personal, safe, and connected. That's why we're thrilled to introduce a new feature letting you "favorite" your driver, which adds more personalization to your Lyft experience while celebrating the drivers who go above and beyond to make your journey special." What's Next The feature will be rolling out in select locations in the coming weeks, beginning in select regions and then having a wide launch in the U.S. and Canada by the end of August.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Making gas cans great again: White House asks for redesign after years of user frustration
The White House is trying to make gas cans fill great again. In a July 24 letter, the EPA has asked gas can manufacturers to redesign their much-maligned products to fix a long-standing problem: "People hate 'em," said Florida-based eBay gas can reseller Steven Watt, 63. "It's all about the spout." Federal regulations implemented in 2009 required portable gas cans for lawnmowers, chainsaws, ATVs and stranded vehicles to have special vents to stop vapors from escaping, contributing to ozone pollution. But many modern designs are often infuriatingly ineffective at actually filling tanks because the vents work so poorly. Instead of stopping vapors from flowing out the complicated spouts and relief valves, instead frustrated users often cause gasoline spills, which some critics say are far worse than a tiny amount of vapor escaping from an older design. Gas cans regulations developed to protect kids, reduce emissions Other regulations require the cans to be child-resistant and limit the risk of flash fires, and the EPA can't change those. But the EPA said manufacturers should figure out how to make their gas cans work both safely and effectively. Trump has sought a similar change to low-flow bathroom fixtures as part efforts to roll back regulations he considers anti-consumer and of dubious environmental benefit. "Part of powering the great American comeback means ensuring manufacturers have the clarity and encouragement to deliver products Americans want," EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a statement. "The confusion surrounding gas cans has been a frustration for years. We are proud to address this issue head on. Moving forward, Americans should have gas cans that are compliant, but most importantly, that are effective and consumer friendly," he said. Looking for alternatives The vapor-emissions regulations were first developed by regulators who noted that the approximately 80 million gas cans in the United States were a surprising source of air pollution: Emissions from a single old-style can could be 60 times higher than from a car's gas tank if both were left open side-by-side. But the new rules left many people looking for alternatives. Now, for the same price as new, Watt sells used "pre ban" cans ‒ those made before the regulations phased in in 2009 ‒ sourcing them from flea markets and recycling centers. He recently sold three of them to a man in Michigan for $300, although most of that was actually the shipping cost. Watt said he's always surprised by what people want to buy. But each year, he makes sure to stock up before hurricane season begins. He planned to pick up 50 used cans from a recycling center later in the day. "I sell a lot of stuff that's a mystery to me. I mean, it's not a collectible," he said of the old-style gas cans. "But I know that people who buy used ones like them." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Make gas cans great again: White House pushes for changes
