The 2011 or 2012 Dodge Charger: Current Rumors
The 2011 or 2012 Dodge Charger four door sedan will be made in Brampton alongside the 300C, Alfa Romeo 169, the Challenger, and a Lancia 4-door sedan. Substantial revisions may need to be made due to the Daimler situation; Daimler has apparently been holding some components for the Grand Cherokee as a negotiating chip, and plans to change the automatic transmissions for the Charger may be voided to keep key Daimler parts flowing. Alternatively, Chrysler could, at no small cost, delay introductions of new products and engineer out any trace of the former owners. There have already been rumors that Fiat has ordered some re-engineering.
(The lead photo is from the Five Year Plan and may or may not be the Charger. Jeff Tramontano pointed it out.)
The launch was scheduled for around February 2011, but it may be delayed. The introduction was expected to take place in calendar-year 2010; pilots were to be made in late 2009 or early 2010 for crash-testing, ride and handling tuning, and HVAC tuning and testing.
The Charger in this photo was, in the summer of 2009, believed to be remarkably accurate with regard to the sides and hood. The drawing at the top of the page was based on revised information.
CEO Sergio Marchionne reportedly sent designers back to the drawing board when he saw the 2011 Charger, demanding a more distinctive look and other modifications. There is no evidence for this rumor, but Marchionne did indicate that Chrysler was seeking a vendor to replace the expensive Mercedes automatic transmissions currently used in the LX and rumored to be in the original 2011 plans.
Aerodynamics. The Charger will be less boxy, to improve noise and gas mileage; Styling now reports to Engineering’s Frank Klegon, and aerodynamics has taken a more advanced position.
Fuel efficiency. As with the police cars, expect modified axle ratios, made more practical by the greater power from the V6 and V8 alike. Yet, all-around performance is to go up; the revised V6 and the 2009 Hemi changes will make this possible.
Pentastar V6 engine (née Phoenix Engine). The 3.6 liter will pump out 280 hp with better mileage than the current 250 hp 3.5 liter — more quietly than the Toyota V6. The restructuring plan tells us it will reach at least 25 mpg highway. A turbocharged and twin-turbo V6 will be made, but might or might not be in the Charger. The 3.6 will gain Fiat’s MultiAir and was already slated for direct injection.
More gears in the transmission: an eight-speed is being studied, but one source has the five-speeds continuing. We’re betting on the five-speed with the Hemi and a six-speed with the V6.
Better interiors. The next generation will set a new standard, going up against the best sedans.
Comfort features. New entertainment systems and driver comfort options will appear - no surprises there.
SRT-8s were expected to eventually use a production version of the 392 (6.4) Hemi with about 450-475 hp and MDS for better gas mileage. This appears to be in the works.
The LY was to be used as the basis for three Mercedes classes: E, CLS, and R (starting in 2010-2012), when Daimler still owned Chrysler. We don’t know that status of that deal.
The next generation Charger is expected to merge the styling of the current version with a more classic look from the famous 1968 Chargers, one of the most stylish vehicles ever built. We expect that most of the “look” will be based on the current Charger rather than the 1968s. The official image shows a faux-Coke-bottle side view, with integrated front tail-light but separate rear tail-light. Note that it will be more different from the 300C; and that the following illustration is not based on rumors or speculation or personal knowledge.
The Challenger convertible is on indefinite hold; a Chrysler rep asserted that the 2010 and 2011 Challengers are both in the “definite” category, with the 2010 getting “certain” changes. The Chrysler 200C will provide a stablemate with the same wheelbase.
“Dodgeguy1961” reported the following engine list; the diesel may or may not be sold in North America.
- 3.0 liter Phoenix V6 (possibly for export)
- 3.0 liter Mercedes turbodiesel V6 — same as current version
- 3.6 liter Phoenix V6 — around 280 hp
- 5.7 liter Hemi MDS/VCT — around 340-360 hp
- 6.4 liter Hemi (SRT) — we’d guess around 400-440 hp
Transmissions appear to be up in the air. We'd expect the diesel to have a Mercedes five-speed automatic, as it will in the Grand Cherokee. While a better automatic was discussed for fuel economy reasons, gas prices have fallen dramatically, and that might not be as much of an issue; and issues with Daimler may force the issue and require either the presence or the absence of the Mercedes automatic.
In August 2009, “o4major97” wrote:
I may have been behind a “new” Charger this morning, on the beltway in Alexandria VA. The Charger in front of me looked very different. The tail only had the word Charger, it had round taillights and slanted from outside to inside back up lights. The trunk lid also was more rounded where it meets the bumper. It took off before I could get a look at the front or side. It had Michigan plates and an extra antenna with a cord running inside the door.
Other Dodge Charger pages at Allpar
| General | Engines | Variants |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Dodge Chargers | New Hemi | Dodge Charger squad cars | |
| 2011 Dodge Chargers | 426 Hemi | Charger Daytonas: 180 mph | |
| 2006-2010 Dodge Charger | 440 Six-Pack | Australian Valiant Chargers | |
| Dodge and Plymouth at NASCAR | 318 | South American Valiant Chargers | |
| Classic Charger creation story | 383 | Dodge Omni Chargers | |
| Charger birthday party | 440 | Magnum (Charger SE) | |
| Charger Sidelights | Other Engines | 1999 Dodge Charger R/T | |
| Charger forums | Torqueflite | Dodge Charger model review |
