Dodge Doubles Down On EVs: “eMuscle” Coming in 2024

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Four-wheel burnouts and massive power are what Dodge is teasing for its electric “eMuscle” coming in 2024. In a forceful video announcement Dodge boss, Tim Kuniskis reveals the plan to dominate the power end of the EV zeitgeist. “Tear Up the Streets…Not the Planet” is how Dodge intends to market the electrification of Dodge products. 

The compelling eMuscle video is full of tire smoke and shredding pavement

Dodge eMuscle concept for 2024 | Stellantis

Included in the vid are dark images of a 2024 Dodge muscle car amid tire smoke and shredding tires. You can see just enough to tell the concept is heavy on Charger curves from the past. Especially the illuminated rectangular grille looks like a variation of the iconic 1968 Charger grille. 

Stellantis is using today, dubbed “EV Day 2021” to reveal to the public its future EV plans. Up to now, it has been crickets while GM and Ford have been screaming EV technology for over a year. Besides a peek at how Dodge will market itself in the wake of electrification, is the announcement that an all-electric Ram is also coming in 2024. 

For Dodge, its eMuscle will be supported by the STLA Large electric platform. It features zero-to-60 times at two seconds and up to 500 miles of range. With a pair of 330-kilowatt electric motors, it is touting almost 900 hp for its EVs. 

“Dodge will not sell electric cars, Dodge will sell American muscle.” 

Dodge eMuscle concept for 2024
Dodge eMuscle concept for 2024 | Stellantis

Looking for “more performance” is how Dodge pivots to electricity. In the vid, Kuniskis says “Dodge will not sell electric cars.” Then he adds, “Dodge will sell American muscle.” 

Stellantis says the Dodge engineers have squeezed as much as they can from the internal combustion platform. So now, Dodge will switch to electric power for more performance. That change is because “Dodge has an obligation to embrace” the electric future to further its muscle car mantra.

Beyond the rhetoric, nothing is revealed about which, if any, current brands will join in. We don’t know if the Charger and/or Challenger vehicles are returning. Could Dodge go the way of its Detroit counterparts by dropping all cars for trucks and SUVs? It’s hard to tell right now.

What, exactly, will eMuscle look like?

Dodge boss Kuniskis lifting cover on 2024 concept
Dodge eMuscle concept with Dodge boss Kuniskis | Stellantis

What is clear is that there is still a market for three-box cars. And with both GM and Ford abandoning the architecture, Dodge and Chrysler are the only Detroit brands still making them. And finding some success at that. Especially for such old bones. 

Beyond the hint of retro styling, it also revealed Dodge is using its old three-pointed star from the 1960s as its new electric symbol. We had forgotten about the logo, which was used for most Dodge cars and trucks in the 1960s and 1970s. So now the eMuscle route has its new/old symbol. 

Obviously, this storyline is just beginning. Stellantis announced that it will center its electric future around four EV platforms it is developing. STLA Small, STLA Medium, STLA Large, and STLA Frame for commercial applications. Obviously, MotorBiscuit will bring you more info as Stellantis announces it.

RELATED: Dodge CEO Says The One Thing It Needs To Stay In Business It Doesn’t Have

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The 2021 Dodge Challenger Goes Too Fast for the Chevy Camaro

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The race is on! So far, the 2021 Dodge Challenger is going way too fast for the 2021 Chevy Camaro. The Dodge Challenger is actually outpacing the 2021 Ford Mustang too, so let’s see what it’s challenging them with. 

The 2021 Dodge Challenger outsells the Chevy Camaro 

2021 Dodge Challenger | Dodge

Despite facing limited production due to the ongoing semiconductor chip shortage and Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the 2021 Dodge Challenger is killing it. The Challenger sold 15,051 units in the second quarter of 2021, representing a 50 percent increase in sales compared to the first quarter of 2020. 

The 2021 Ford Mustang wasn’t far behind, with 14,675 units sold in Q2. But the 2021 Chevy Camaro seemed to find itself in trouble. Only 2,792 units were sold. But the Camaro is facing a few issues, such as limited visibility and an aging design. 

Fans are still swooned by the Ford Mustang. It outsold the Challenger by about 1,800 units in the first quarter of 2021. So, perhaps the chip shortage is to blame. But the Challenger is a worthy rival with the most comfortable interior out of the three options. 

How does the Challenger perform? 

A white 2021 Ford Mustang parked on the track
2021 Ford Mustang | Ford

The 2021 Dodge Challenger has four engine options. The base engine is a 3.6-liter V6 with 303 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 delivers 375 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. 

You can upgrade to the 6.4-liter V8 engine for 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. Last and definitely not least, the 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi SRT V8 engine cranks out 717 hp and 656 lb-ft of torque. 

With the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder base engine provides 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The 3.6-liter V6 engine pumps out 335 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 6.2-liter V8 engine for 455 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque. 

The 2021 Ford Mustang has a 2.3-liter four-cylinder base engine with 339 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 5.0-liter V8 engine for 460 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. So, the Mustang has the most powerful base engine, and the Challenger has the most options with the most powerful engine. 

On the track, the Dodge Challenger can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, the Chevy Camaro gets there in 4.1 seconds, and the Ford Mustang reaches 60 mph in about 5.1 seconds. 

Does the Challenger have the best features? 

A red 2021 Chevy Camaro racing down the road
2021 Chevy Camaro | Chevrolet

The ride quality of the 2021 Ford Mustang could be just as smooth and impressive as the Challengers. The Chevy Camaro also has a quiet interior. But the 2021 Dodge Challenger has the largest backseat. 

The Mustang gains points for having more modern tech features while the camera in the Challenger has outdated graphics. But the Mustang’s interior features hard plastics, and the Camero is lacking in both areas. On that note, the Challenger’s interior has plastics and rubber materials too. 

You can get started in a new Dodge Challenger for about $28,870. The 2021 Ford Mustang begins at about $27,205, and the 2021 Chevy Camaro starts at around $25,000. 

With the Camaro starting at a significantly lower price, we’re surprised that it isn’t selling more units. None of these options come with standard safety features, but you can add adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and more. 

We recommend taking the Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang on test drives to help pick the better option for your needs. The Challenger might be a little more difficult to maneuver due to its larger size, but the extra storage space makes it more practical. Also, the Camaro has a few things to work on if it wants to survive.

RELATED: Why Is the Ancient Dodge Challenger Still so Popular?

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Two Dead After a Corvette Crashed Into a Pool at 150 MPH

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It seems that with every passing day, there are more expensive vehicle crashes happening on the roads. As summer is upon us and lockdown is loosening in some places, the shenanigans are at an all-time high. That was the case when this orange Chevrolet C8 Corvette crashed into a pool at an estimated 150 mph.

Another day, another Chevrolet Corvette crash in California

An orange Corvette crashed into a pool in California | CBS LA

According to CBS LA, out in Chino, California, a relatively new orange Chevrolet C8 Corvette was driving at a high rate of speed in a residential area. While the intersection of Schaefer Avenue and East End Avenue has a speed limit of 15 mph, the Corvette was estimated to be going 150 mph at the time of the crash. The speed limit reduces from 45 mph to 15 mph just ahead of the turn. The orange Corvette struck a median, flew over a hedge, and landed in a pool, ejecting all three occupants.

While the crash only happened this week, an investigation is underway. As the speed limit was only 15 mph and the car was estimated to be traveling at around 150 mph, speed is presumed to be a factor. Based on the initial investigation, it appears the Corvette crashed after trying to make a sharp turn. That caused the vehicle to go airborne and land into the pool.

“I heard a loud screeching or I don’t know what, but then I heard a bang,” Art Guerrero said of the crash to CBS LA. Guerrero owns the home and the pool the Chevrolet Corvette crashed into.

Are Corvettes safe in crashes?

Official video from the crash shows the orange Corvette laying half on the pool deck and partially submerged into a pool. Most of the front end is missing from the Corvette, while parts and debris are strewn around the yard. There appears to have been an impact on the road where orange pieces are visible. Two of the ejected occupants died as a result of the crash. The third is recovering at a local hospital. It isn’t clear if this is the driver or one of the passengers.

Neighbors have reported an uptick in street racing in the area and that speeding is a common occurrence in the neighborhood. Based on Google Street View images, it appears the road does come to a pretty intense 90-degree right turn in the area of the Corvette crash. Right beyond the 90-degree right turn is the pool that the Corvette landed in.

The usual critics such as Consumer Reports and Edmunds don’t have much posted about the safety features of the Corvette. For the 2001 model, it is possible testing has not been complete yet.

The street design can’t take all of the blame

Safety tests and ratings are unavailable for the C8 Corvette, but the car has various standard safety features. When a car is going 150 mph through an intersection, safety features can only do so much. The Corvette’s speed was estimated to be 10 times the posted limit, and the road was not meant for such high speeds.

The highest posted speed limit on a highway in the U.S. is 75 mph. That makes the estimated speed of this crash double the highest speed limit in America. So while the design of the road and the 90-degree corner might not be the best, the road was certainly not made to travel so quickly.

Hopefully, the third passenger can recover from the crash. Stay safe out there, and always abide by posted speed limits, especially on residential roads.

RELATED: World’s Most Expensive Supercar Crash: $3.8 Million in Damage

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Want a Tesla Supercharger at Your Work?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Tesla’s sales are staggering. Over the last three years, Tesla has accounted for three-quarters of electric vehicle sales. More and more car manufacturers are producing EVs and the world is looking to be more climate-friendly. If you own a business, you might be interested in taking advantage of these numbers by installing a Supercharger at work.

A Tesla parked at a Supercharger | Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Why would you want a Supercharger at your workplace?

A row of Teslas parked at Superchargers.
A row of Teslas at Superchargers | Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Teslas have technology that directs them to Superchargers. If your business hosts a Supercharger, you’re going to have people being sent to your business without having to do any advertising. Since it won’t cost you anything to have a Supercharger put in (or to maintain it), that’s a pretty nice stream of potential customers coming to your business for only a few parking spaces.

Tesla is looking to expand the number of Superchargers available to their network. Having more Superchargers available will make it easier for Tesla owners to keep their Teslas running and reduce range anxiety. If your business is in a highly-trafficked area, you could both benefit.

It’s a bonus for drivers of other types of electric vehicles, too. All a non-Tesla EV driver needs to be able to plug in and charge their electric vehicle is an adapter. 

So what do you need to be able to host a Tesla Supercharger at your place of business? 

Teslas parked at Superchargers.
Teslas charging at Superchargers | Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Tesla’s website states that an ideal hosting location has at least eight parking spaces available. Ideally, there is a range of nearby businesses nearby to make the charging experience more pleasant for those waiting for their vehicles to charge. If your business has or is near a restaurant, grocery store, and other types of stores, it gives Tesla drivers – and your customers – more incentive to swing by your work. WiFi and accessible bathrooms help, too. 

It’s a pretty straightforward process

A Tesla Supercharger being installed.
Electrical contractors work on installing a Supercharger | Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images

If you’re interested in learning more about have a Tesla Supercharger put in your place of business, the first thing you should do is fill out the application on their website. Tesla will get back to you to learn more and share information. 

Tesla chooses Supercharger locations based on their market expansion needs, as well as the aforementioned criteria. If your business is in a popular location with plenty to do and no other Superchargers nearby, you’re probably in pretty good shape. 

Once Tesla approves your location as the site of a Supercharger, it’s pretty straightforward from there. Tesla takes care of the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Supercharger. You won’t have to worry about troubleshooting problems or how to take care of the Supercharger. 

Altogether, hosting a Tesla Supercharger seems like a pretty good deal for a business. For just the cost of eight parking spaces, you can have regular (and likely repeat) customers visiting your workplace with time to kill and money to spend. If you own a Tesla, you’ll also be able to charge your car while at work. 

RELATED: Tesla AI Day Is Coming

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