It has been so long since the Dodge Challenger, Charger, and Chrysler 300 were new that we’ve been through three presidents. It’s getting to the point that those three cars barely register anymore. Kind of like wallpaper. We’re sure there have been myriad proposals and efforts internally. This is the first image of something actually coming from within Dodge that even hints at what its designers are up to. Is this the next Dodge Charger?

It’s highly doubtful this is the next Dodge Charger

The image comes from FCA’s lead designer Ralph Gilles. Because he’s the one that leaked the image it’s highly doubtful this is anything more than a publicity grab. Information about future products is strictly forbidden by anyone from within no matter which company. So there can’t be anything substantive.

Still, we are supposed to assume that the rumors of a new Challenger and Charger by 2023 are sound. But, it’s a long way to 2023 and there’s a lot that can happen; especially with the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA. There may not be a Dodge or Chrysler by then. Or, reworked Peugeots and Citroens may become familiar-named Dodge and Chrysler brands. 

This is probably one in a series of front end studies placed on a generic design

So what this sketch represents is thin but fun. Our guess is that this is from a series of front end studies bonked onto a rather generic sedan. The reason it was posted is super-inside baseball, but guys like Gilles are super-inside. So it stands to reason that the post would be somewhat oblique.

Supposedly, this was a joke about those yellow spoiler guards. How the dumb trend of keeping them on after the car is delivered could be incorporated into a spoiler rather than clipped onto the edge. Within the hallowed halls of Dodge design, the yellow spoiler guards being left on by owners is a contemptible issue. Much discussion and hand wringing supposedly take place over the subject. 

“…an experimental design of a Dodge of the future…”

Here’s what Gilles said about the post, “We are still having virtual design reviews while we self isolate & work from home… While we are NEVER to show future products on social media. I have made an exception this time as this experimental design of a #Dodge of the future fell on the cutting room floor…because the designer decided to make the yellow spoiler guards a permanent part of the theme. We had a really good laugh about it though!

On average it takes about three years to develop a clean-sheet car. If that is still true then Dodge should be in the midst of its exploration for what the next Challenger and/or Charger will look like. Working from home as all of the car companies are doing due to the coronavirus crisis the different yet familiar surroundings might spark something truly unique.

The current Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 are over 15 years old

In the meantime consider this; both the current Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 came out in 2005 as 2006 models. The current Challenger arrived in 2008. Only minor changes and updates have taken place throughout their production. 

So, it’s been over 15 years that the Charger and 300 have weathered many ups and downs. Other than the Volkswagen Beetle or Ford Model T no other vehicles have been produced for these amounts of years.