Latest news with #MattMcAlear
CBS News
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
10th annual Roadkill Nights makes its return to downtown Pontiac
Start your engines, because Roadkill Nights is back, taking over the streets of Pontiac for its 10th anniversary. Many of the downtown roads will be closed for some high-octane, and most importantly, legal, drag racing on Aug. 9. There's no shortage of burned rubber out here. As this tradition celebrates 10 years on the track, Dodge also unveiled its latest lineup of high-performance vehicles for 2026 right along Woodward Avenue. Nothing describes Detroit Muscle better than the sound of a roaring engine. "It's just so much fun to see them come out, but this event, at the end of the day, is open to everyone. It's open to all muscle cars, and the competition tomorrow has as many Ford, Chevys, and competitive vehicles as Dodges. And it's about coming together as a muscle car community and having fun on Woodward," said Dodge CEO Matt McAlear. That's where Dodge unveiled its 2026 Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak. With roughly six million customizable combinations, including the color, wheels and interior, McAlear says drivers can put their personality right into their ride. "It's just that connection we have, and I say, Dodge isn't for everybody, but our customers love our vehicles because it represents who they are, their persona, and it's just so much fun to see them come out," he said. The return to downtown Pontiac is something Mayor Tim Greimel says he's proud of. "It helps bring people into our downtown, inject life into our downtown, and again celebrates the amazing automotive heritage of the entire region, and especially the city of Pontiac," said Greimel. The highlight comes Saturday night during the Grudge Race, where six racers will compete to see who's the fastest. Tickets are still available online for you to get in on all the thrills happening on Saturday.
Motor 1
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Dodge CEO Basically Confirms the V-8 Charger's Return: 'Don't Be Surprised if it Would Fit'
Dodge CEO Matt McAlear has all but confirmed what we already suspected. The American carmaker is leaning back into combustion-powered cars, and a Hemi V-8-powered Charger is very much back on the table. While McAlear didn't outright substantiate rumors of the V-8's return to the Charger, it was heavily implied. When asked during a press conference whether a Hellcat V-8 would fit in the engine bay, McAlear simply replied, "Don't be surprised if it would fit." The statement represents a shift in messaging from Dodge. A representative for the brand previously told Jalopnik in 2024 that the Hemi could not physically fit inside the engine bay. As it turns out, that wasn't entirely accurate. "That's the beauty of this platform," McAlear added. "Some can say we're lucky, some can say we're smart. We did not commit to one technology, one powertrain. A lot went into this platform from the beginning to be able to evolve over time and flex with consumer demand and changes in regulatory [policy]." With the Trump administration stripping essentially all EPA regulation and enforcement, automakers now have free rein to return to gas-guzzling engines without fear of being penalized. Dodge's sister brand Ram has already taken that step, announcing the Hemi's return to the 1500 pickup truck. "With the change in the administration, it's no secret that we're absolutely flexing into ICE production right now," McAlear said. "But we are not walking away from the power, the performance, and the excitement that battery electric provides." While Dodge has not signaled any plans to drop the Charger Daytona EV, faltering sales forced the brand to accelerate development of the straight-six-powered Charger Sixpack. That car, which was originally supposed to go on sale in 2026, will now hit dealers starting in the fourth quarter of this year. It'll also be about 10 grand cheaper than the EV, with a starting price of $51,990. It's unclear how much a V-8-powered Charger would cost, though considering the V-8 in the 2026 Ram 1500 is just a $1,200 option, we're not expecting a huge delta. As for when a Hemi-powered Charger can arrive, we suspect sooner rather than later. Stellantis execs have seen demand for the Hemi Ram explode , so they'll likely want to capitalize on that through other areas of the business. Expect an official announcement before the end of the year. More on the Hemi's Return Ram Just Proved America Can't Quit the V-8 Ram's 'Symbol of Protest' Badge for Hemi V-8s Is Ridiculous and Genius Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
The Drive
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Don't Expect to Buy a Gas-Powered Dodge Charger for Under $40,000
The latest car news, reviews, and features. The new Dodge Charger didn't exactly have an intrepid start out of the gate, but the muscle car will have an opportunity to reset with the arrival of the long-awaited gas-powered Sixpack model. The Charger has historically been an inexpensive path to power for those who want it, but the R/T Sixpack is slated to start at $51,990 delivered—exactly $15,070 higher than the cheapest last-gen one. It's possible that Dodge lowers the floor with a future trim, but based on comments from CEO Matt McAlear, we wouldn't hold our breath for a return to the sub-$40K realm. McAlear reflected on the new Charger's higher starting price during a roundtable chat with journalists attended by The Drive . The chief executive argued that if you tally up everything the R/T coupe offers as standard and compare that against the discontinued Challenger, the Sixpack is the better value. 'If you look at where we exited the market with a 375-horsepower Challenger two-door, it was just under $41,000,' McAlear said. 'Now, you take what we were charging at the time for all-wheel drive, which was $3,000, and you look at what we were charging for a widebody package at the time, which was $6,000, and you add that up—41+9, right there at 50. We're at $49,995 [without the $1,995 destination charge] and we still have 45 more horsepower. You got more rear-seat leg room, you've got more technology, more safety, more cargo room, better handling. From an outgoing to an entry, I'd say we're actually as competitive as we can be,' McAlear summed up. The 2026 Dodge Charger Sixpack in two- and four-door forms. Stellantis Like for like, purely based on equipment, the CEO is right—sort of. Standard all-wheel drive and more power should be accounted for in any value comparison, though the widebody point feels a little flimsy, as if the new Charger is so wide that Dodge couldn't possibly blow out those fenders even further in a future special edition. (And remember—this is from the same brand that is playing coy about whether or not a Hemi fits in the new car.) But McAlear's final qualifier there—'as competitive as we can be'—is a little tricky. Dodge evidently believes this formula is competitive in the low-$50K range, and that could be argued. But Dodge can go lower; it could offer rear-wheel drive, for starters. And that's well before you get into strategically cutting options and trim to hit, say, a $45K base. The question is, as ever, whether Dodge wants to go lower. Right now, it doesn't seem to. That makes sense, considering how many folks have been pining for a gas-powered, next-gen Charger. Those early adopters will pay the premium. (And if $52,000 is too rich for your blood, just imagine the premium when the Hemi finally makes its return.) My guess is only after that point will Dodge see about lowering the barrier of entry for the new Charger. But even if it does, the days of $30K Pentastar muscle are likely well behind us. Blame it on inflation, not to mention the economies of scale of those ancient LX cars. Today, Dodge starts over from scratch—for better and worse. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@
CNBC
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- CNBC
Dodge unveils additions to 2026 muscle car lineup: 'It's about choice'
Stellantis subsidiary Dodge announced two new muscle cars on Friday, flexing its 2026 model year lineup and touting customization options for its customers. The 2026 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Jailbreak is a new three-row muscle SUV featuring a 710-horsepower Hemi V-8 engine. According to Dodge, it provides more than 6 million potential combinations for customization through multiple wheel choices, interior seat colors, seat belt colors, and exterior colors and designs. It can also be customized to include seating for five, six or seven passengers. The second new vehicle is the 2026 Charger Scat Pack, featuring a Sixpack twin-turbo inline-six engine. The Charger will be available in a high-output, 550-horsepower option, as well as a standard-output, 420-horsepower variant — called the Charger R/T. It will also be available as a two-door coupe or four-door sedan. "This next generation Charger lineup delivers the most horsepower and most torque of any muscle car in its class, the widest body of any car in the industry, an award-winning interior, and, perhaps most important, what our customers have told us they want: the power to choose what fuels them," said Dodge CEO Matt McAlear in a statement. The launches come as Stellantis has been trying to recover from financial issues. New CEO Antonio Filosa last week on the automaker's earnings call teased that the company would be bringing back popular nameplates that had been discontinued in the U.S. and launching new products in an effort to reconnect with customers. The announcement adds the Jailbreak customization feature to Dodge's previously announced 2026 model year Durango lineup. It also builds on the existing Charger lineup, which includes all-electric offerings through the Charger Daytona. The new muscle cars join Dodge's offerings one day before the 10th anniversary of the automaker's "Roadkill Nights" drag racing event, which attracts tens of thousands of people in Pontiac, Michigan. McAlear said during the media event that U.S. sales for the existing Durango rose more than 50% from the first quarter of 2025 to the second quarter. Retail sales for the Durango were up 47% over the first half of 2024, he added. McAlear told reporters last week that the 2026 lineup is meant to meet customers where they are and meet the demands of the market at large. "It's all about options and giving every customer what they need and a configuration they want. It's about choice," McAlear said at a media event last week. Dodge's lineup build-out comes as automakers are grappling with changing policies surrounding electric vehicles under the Trump administration. McAlear said several months ago, he believed there would be about a 30% industry-wide EV mix. But now, given changing EV policies, he said he doesn't see that number being higher than 20% for a while. "While regulatory standards will always move and attitudes around EVs will continue to evolve, we know one thing that doesn't change: people's desire for performance," McAlear said during the media event. In terms of pricing, the 420-horsepower Charger R/T will be available starting at $49,995. The 550-horsepower Charger Scat Pack will cost $54,995, while the all-electric two-door Charger Scat Pack has a price tag of $59,995. Dodge is putting together pricing for the SRT Hellcat and the Jailbreak customization access, McAlear said. Ordering will open this month for some options, but Dodge said other customizations will become available in the first half of 2026.
The Drive
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
The V8 Is Keeping the Current Dodge Durango Alive
The latest car news, reviews, and features. The Dodge Durango Is Here to Stay The third-generation Dodge Durango has been on sale for 15 years. Every time it seems like Stellantis, née Fiat Chrysler, is ready to move on, the big bruiser sticks around—as has its hardcore Hellcat variant. Now, Dodge is doubling down by offering a Jailbreak version, so buyers can customize their 710-horsepower super SUV however they like. Consider it a statement that the Durango will continue to be, as Dodge CEO Matt McAlear put it during an interview , a 'staple' of the muscle car maker's range going forward. 'Durango, I think, has proven itself because it is such a terrific package in a segment that is dominated by CUVs (crossover suvs), for a lack of better word,' McAlear said during a roundtable chat attended by The Drive . 'Durango is the last V8 offered in the segment. It tows and performs like the segment above it, but it has garageability, parkability, drivability, handling characteristics like a segment below it.' That combination, McAlear says, has given the Durango a niche practically all to itself, and earned it a lasting place in Dodge's lineup alongside the family's other big names. 'We're committed to Durango now and in the future,' McAlear added, 'And it is a staple. Just like we celebrated, you know, the 60th anniversary of Charger, it's become a staple in the Dodge lineup.' Stellantis Stellantis Stellantis Stellantis McAlear also reflected on the regulatory challenges behind the decision to initially make the Durango SRT Hellcat a 2021 model-year vehicle only. The Hellcat took a year off in 2022 but ended up returning in 2023, after some 'fiddling with ones and zeroes in the engine's software coding' to meet emissions limits, Dodge said at the time. It's remained ever since. 'As far as the Hellcat, you know, when we did that—when we came out with the first year—we were anticipating regulatory challenges that weren't going to let us do this for the time that we've been running the Hellcat now, over the last few years,' McAlear said. 'Things evolved, the markets evolve, regulation evolves. We were excited.' The Durango Hellcat Jailbreak presents an opportunity for Dodge to, in the chief executive's words, 'give consumers what they've been asking for and what they want.' But it also signals perhaps the zenith for the third-gen Durango, before it's finally replaced. Stellantis Stellantis Stellantis Stellantis McAlear didn't speak on the next Durango during our chat, but it seems the timeline for the current SUV's replacement has shifted considerably over the past several years, at times reportedly including an electric variant as well as a smaller, two-row version supposedly named 'Stealth.' Recent market and regulatory shifts may have sunk both of those spinoffs, though the fourth-gen Durango is coming; the real question is when. The UAW said in January that it would be built at Detroit Assembly, but a more recent rumor suggests that it might not start rolling off the production line until 2028. That should give lovers of the Hemi-powered SUV plenty of time to get their last calls in. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@
