Dodge's Gas-Powered Charger Will Launch by This Summer
Last year's report on Dodge moving up the timeline for the gas-powered Dodge Charger Sixpack models is proving true. On Thursday, Dodge officially confirmed that the gasoline-powered version of the new Charger will be launching by the summer of this year.
The turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-powered Charger models will join the electric Daytona R/T and Scat Pack that are already on sale. Dodge is planning on offering the Sixpack in both a standard output and a high-output version, much as with the Hurricane-powered Ram 1500; even the base model is potent what with its 420 horsepower, but the high-output Sixpack should be notably quicker, thanks to the 550 horsepower available from its 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six.
Both electric and gas-powered Chargers are exclusively offered in all-wheel drive, but Dodge phas romised there will be a way to send power just to the rear wheels for the shenanigans we're accustomed to from Mopar muscle cars. The gas-powered versions coming this summer will also all be equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission; sadly, no manual is planned.
Dodge didn't specify which Sixpack model(s) will be launching first, but in addition to the engine output, the gas-powered Charger will be offered in both two-door and four-door variants. Dodge chose to lead with the coupe for its electric Daytona, but we do know that sedan versions of both the EV and internal-combustion version are coming. Whether or not the Hemi V-8 ever returns to the Charger, for now, still remains a mystery, but we're sure that won't stop rumors from circulating.
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Fox News
34 minutes ago
- Fox News
Ram to enter trucks in 2026 with possible future move to Cup for Dodge
BROOKLYN, Mich. — Dodge parent company Stellantis will enter NASCAR racing in 2026 with its Ram brand competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with an eye toward going Cup racing in the years beyond. Whether that's 2027 or later — 2027 is possible but would be an aggressive timeline — remains to be seen as the announcement Sunday focused primarily on the truck, a much easier lift than going Cup racing. With all trucks in the series using an Ilmor engine and several common body elements, Ram just needed to design a nose, a hood, front fenders and a tail for its racing vehicle. Ram did not announce who will drive its trucks nor the teams that will field its trucks. Ram CEO Tim Kinuskis said he hopes to have somewhere between four and six trucks for the 2026 season opener at Daytona. "We're looking for a date to the prom right now [for trucks]," Kinuskis said. "So how am I going to get the Cup? That's going to depend on how I get to truck. So however we get to truck is going will obviously weigh heavily on do I have a path to Cup? "Our intention is not to do a one-hit wonder and go to truck and not to Cup. That's not our plan." Ram does not have cars so what brand of car — Dodge? Plymouth's possible rebirth? — is still to be determined although Dodge has a lengthy history in the sport and motorsports as a whole. "Ram is coming back to the truck series," Kinuskis said. "It has nothing to do with Dodge, despite the fact that everyone in the world calls it Dodge Ram. ... If we go back to Cup, which is our intention, Ram doesn't have a car, so obviously that would have to be Dodge coming back. "But I'm not making that announcement. I'm not saying Dodge is back. Don't put that headline. But when we get to that point, it wouldn't be Ram, obviously." There is speculation in the industry that GMS, which has competed in all three national series over the last decade and was eventually bought out by Jimmie Johnson in the rebranding to Legacy Motor Club, will be involved in building chassis and/or fielding trucks for Ram. Kinuskis promised a program that will elevate fan engagement, and YouTube star Cleetus McFarland, who has competed in some ARCA races, has been linked to the Ram program. Dodge had Cup teams from 2001-12 before exiting the sport on a high note with Brad Keselowski winning a Cup title at Team Penske. When Penske left for Ford, Dodge had trouble landing a premier team and opted to leave the sport. No new manufacturer has entered the sport since Toyota did so in 2004 in trucks and 2007 in Cup. Kinuskis also said when he returned to Ram earlier this year, his two goals were to reintroduce the Hemi engine and get into NASCAR, where 50 percent of its fan base own trucks. "It's always bothered me," Kinuskis said. "We've always been looking for a way to get back. It took us a long time to find the absolute right time." To re-enter Cup would take some engine development and significant body design, a process that would take at least 18 months, NASCAR Chief Racing Development Officer John Probst said. "The last time that engine ran was 2012 — the core components of the block, the head, the manifold, are all still relevant," Probst said. "Our existing engine builders develop their engines every year. There's been a gap there, so there'd be some development of that engine needed. "But from the basic building blocks they could start from that and do some catch-up development." Kinuskis wouldn't talk about a timeline Sunday for going to Cup racing. "Our full intention is to be back in Cup," Kinuskis said. "But right now we're on a path for Daytona next year with truck, with our eye on when we can be in Cup after that. TBD. "We're a fly with no net right now trying to get to Daytona. That's our focus right now." Keselowski, currently a driver and co-owner at RFK Racing, said the trucks are the right entry point for a manufacturer as it doesn't have to immediately get an engine available and because of the parity in the series. "[The truck series] is a great place for an OEM [original equipment manufacturer] to enter NASCAR and really kind of get that appetite going for the Cup Series," Keselowski said. "It's a big jump from the truck series to the Cup Series, but nonetheless it's a great entry point for OEMs, and hopefully they aren't the only one that will enter the truck series." Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and IndyCar for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
Fox Sports
6 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Ram to enter trucks in 2026 with possible future move to Cup for Dodge
BROOKLYN, Mich. — Dodge parent company Stellantis will enter NASCAR racing in 2026 with its Ram brand competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with an eye toward going Cup racing in the years beyond. Whether that's 2027 or later — 2027 is possible but would be an aggressive timeline — remains to be seen as the announcement Sunday focused primarily on the truck, a much easier lift than going Cup racing. With all trucks in the series using an Ilmor engine and several common body elements, Ram just needed to design a nose, a hood, front fenders and a tail for its racing vehicle. Ram did not announce who will drive its trucks nor the teams that will field its trucks. Ram CEO Tim Kinuskis said he hopes to have somewhere between four and six trucks for the 2026 season opener at Daytona. "We're looking for a date to the prom right now [for trucks]," Kinuskis said. "So how am I going to get the Cup? That's going to depend on how I get to truck. So however we get to truck is going will obviously weigh heavily on do I have a path to Cup? "Our intention is not to do a one-hit wonder and go to truck and not to Cup. That's not our plan." Ram does not have cars so what brand of car — Dodge? Plymouth's possible rebirth? — is still to be determined although Dodge has a lengthy history in the sport and motorsports as a whole. "Ram is coming back to the truck series," Kinuskis said. "It has nothing to do with Dodge, despite the fact that everyone in the world calls it Dodge Ram. ... If we go back to Cup, which is our intention, Ram doesn't have a car, so obviously that would have to be Dodge coming back. "But I'm not making that announcement. I'm not saying Dodge is back. Don't put that headline. But when we get to that point, it wouldn't be Ram, obviously." There is speculation in the industry that GMS, which has competed in all three national series over the last decade and was eventually bought out by Jimmie Johnson in the rebranding to Legacy Motor Club, will be involved in building chassis and/or fielding trucks for Ram. Kinuskis promised a program that will elevate fan engagement, and YouTube star Cleetus McFarland, who has competed in some ARCA races, has been linked to the Ram program. Dodge had Cup teams from 2001-12 before exiting the sport on a high note with Brad Keselowski winning a Cup title at Team Penske. When Penske left for Ford, Dodge had trouble landing a premier team and opted to leave the sport. No new manufacturer has entered the sport since Toyota did so in 2004 in trucks and 2007 in Cup. Kinuskis also said when he returned to Ram earlier this year, his two goals were to reintroduce the Hemi engine and get into NASCAR, where 50 percent of its fan base own trucks. "It's always bothered me," Kinuskis said. "We've always been looking for a way to get back. It took us a long time to find the absolute right time." To re-enter Cup would take some engine development and significant body design, a process that would take at least 18 months, NASCAR Chief Racing Development Officer John Probst said. "The last time that engine ran was 2012 — the core components of the block, the head, the manifold, are all still relevant," Probst said. "Our existing engine builders develop their engines every year. There's been a gap there, so there'd be some development of that engine needed. "But from the basic building blocks they could start from that and do some catch-up development." Kinuskis wouldn't talk about a timeline Sunday for going to Cup racing. "Our full intention is to be back in Cup," Kinuskis said. "But right now we're on a path for Daytona next year with truck, with our eye on when we can be in Cup after that. TBD. "We're a fly with no net right now trying to get to Daytona. That's our focus right now." Keselowski, currently a driver and co-owner at RFK Racing, said the trucks are the right entry point for a manufacturer as it doesn't have to immediately get an engine available and because of the parity in the series. "[The truck series] is a great place for an OEM [original equipment manufacturer] to enter NASCAR and really kind of get that appetite going for the Cup Series," Keselowski said. "It's a big jump from the truck series to the Cup Series, but nonetheless it's a great entry point for OEMs, and hopefully they aren't the only one that will enter the truck series." Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and IndyCar for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. recommended Get more from NASCAR Cup Series Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ram announces its return to NASCAR's Truck Series with a lot of hyperbole and very little detail
Ram Trucks' re-entry into the NASCAR Truck Series became official on Sunday. And its announcement was heavy on hyperbole and light on details. The Stellantis brand will return to the Truck Series next season after Dodge had been a mainstay in NASCAR's third-tier series since its mid-1990s inception. Dodge's last season in the Cup Series came in 2012 when Brad Keselowski won the title for Team Penske in a Charger and a Ram truck was last driven in the Truck Series in 2013. Advertisement Ram made its announcement ahead of Sunday's Cup Series race at Michigan, but that announcement didn't include any teams or drivers for next season. It did, however, include this whopper of a quote from Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis. From NBC Sports: 'Our objective is to take the 20 million (avid fans of NASCAR) and turn it into 80 or 100 million,' he said. 'We have a plan. We know how we're going to do it. We think we have a path to get to that. We think people are going to like the way we're doing it because it's going to be fun. Not ready to share all the details with you yet, but I told you that the experiential piece was going to be just a little bit of how we're doing it. It's going to get crazier from there.' In case you were wondering, the average weekly TV audience for the Cup Series was 2.9 million people in 2024 — or, if you prefer, roughly 17.1 million fewer people than the number of avid fans that Kuniskis cited. But even quadrupling NASCAR's average Cup Series viewership to 12 million would be one of the greatest audience turnarounds in modern American sports history. And, well, the odds are quite stacked against a single truck manufacturer pulling that off. Especially with the number of trucks that Ram expects to field in 2026. Kuniskis said the brand wants to have four to six trucks in the field next season — though it was notable that no one had been locked up ahead of the announcement to be unveiled as Ram's first partner. Advertisement One of the drivers Ram is rumored to have a truck for next season is Garrett Mitchell. Far more widely known as the YouTuber Cleetus McFarland, Mitchell, 30, has made starts in the ARCA Series in 2025. He has over 4 million followers on his YouTube page and it reasons that many of them aren't already regular NASCAR fans. If Mitchell gets a ride in a Ram truck and is successful, he could certainly boost the Truck Series. But without many details — or even a confirmed ride for him — it's way too early for predictions or proclamations. Ram's return is, however, a moment that's been over 20 years in the making for NASCAR. Though the truck brand isn't truly new to NASCAR, Ram is the first since Toyota in 2004 to join NASCAR. Since Dodge left NASCAR in 2013, Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota have been the only three manufacturers in NASCAR's top three series. Will a fourth manufucturer join the Cup Series anytime soon? NASCAR has said for years that it's been having discussions with other automakers, but nothing has come of those discussions. Advertisement Sunday, that hedging continued. NASCAR vice president John Probst told the Sports Business Journal that the sanctioning body was "very close" with a new manufacturer while also saying that the manufacturer was yet to make a decision. Finally adding that fourth Cup Series manufacturer would be a big win for NASCAR. If and when it happens.
