{"id":234039,"date":"2022-10-28T11:46:09","date_gmt":"2022-10-28T15:46:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/?p=234039"},"modified":"2022-10-28T11:46:21","modified_gmt":"2022-10-28T15:46:21","slug":"an-explosive-development-heres-why-dodges-last-call-muscle-car-wont-be-ready-for-sema","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/2022\/10\/an-explosive-development-heres-why-dodges-last-call-muscle-car-wont-be-ready-for-sema\/","title":{"rendered":"An Explosive Development: Here\u2019s Why Dodge\u2019s \u201cLast Call\u201d Muscle Car Won\u2019t Be Ready for SEMA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s the end of a long run for the Dodge brand\u2019s two muscle cars, the Challenger and Charger, and the brand was hoping to give them a special send-off with a series of seven limited-run \u201cLast Call\u201d models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tim
Tim Kuniskis, head of Dodge Brand, says there’s a little problem with the final “Last Call” model \u2014 they keep blowing up the engine.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s already pulled the wraps off six of them<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, including the Challenger Shakedown and Charger Super Bee, but was saving what it billed as the best for last \u2014 with a debut scheduled for next week\u2019s SEMA Show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But now, it turns out, that mysterious offering won\u2019t make it to the annual gathering in Las Vegas, Dodge boss Tim Kuniskis suggesting \u201cit\u2019ll be a funny story later.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remind me to laugh later<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During a background briefing outlining Dodge\u2019s plans for SEMA this week, Kuniskis revealed that the plan was to come up with a final model that would put the legendary Hellcat edition to shame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut we ran into some problems,\u201d Kuniskis explained. To be more precise, the modified V-8 has been blowing up when pushed to the limits in the Dodge test lab. We\u2019re not talking about a minor breakdown. Apparently, the engines really have been blowing up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And with a fix yet to be developed, Dodge decided it would wait a bit before showing off what it had billed as the most dramatic of the Last Call special editions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"2023
Dodge rolled out the 2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee, the second of seven special-edition \u201cLast Call\u201d models.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think we\u2019ve got it figured out \u2014 if we don\u2019t blow up any more engines,\u201d said Kuniskis. \u201cWe think we got it fixed but I\u2019m still holding my breath.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seven limited editions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If all goes well, he added, we could get a glimpse of the final model before the end of the year. But it won\u2019t happen until Dodge engineers are confident the special edition can hold up during what is some intensive testing. The automaker\u2019s protocol requires every new engine clock dozens, even 100s, of hours running flat out on the dyno before it\u2019s certified for sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, fans who want to get hold of something special before the Challenger and Charger drive off into the sunset do have some other options. That includes Shakedown, Super Bee, Swinger<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, Black Ghost, Go Mango and King Daytona Last Call models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"2023
A pair of modern-day \u201cSwingers\u201d with a retro-themed appearance joined the Dodge brand\u2019s \u201cLast Call.\u201d <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

All told, less than 5,000 of these will be built before the Brampton, Ontario assembly plant producing Challenger and Charger gets shut down for a yearlong makeover. (When it comes back up, the factory will be converted for production of battery-electric vehicles including an all-new Dodge muscle car based on the Daytona concept vehicle.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTransparent\u201d ordering process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dodge expects to see strong demand for the Last Call models, as well as the standard versions of the Challenger and Charger. And it\u2019s taking an unusual approach meant to make it easier for the public \u2014 the Brotherhood of Muscle, Dodge prefers to say \u2014 to track down the model they want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s set up the new 2023 Dodge Horsepower Locator website<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, potential buyers will be able to enter their zip code and then spec out the vehicle they want. They\u2019ll receive a list of nearby dealers who\u2019ll be getting that precise model and, if nothing is found, buyers will be able to expand the search nationwide. Unlike some systems, however, customers won\u2019t be able to place an order online. They\u2019ll simply be connected with a dealer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make the process as transparent as possible, Kuniski explained, Dodge is laying out the full 2023 model year allocation in one fell swoop. The seven special editions will be split amongst the brand\u2019s top 500 dealers \u2014 with those in the top 200 group receiving a few extras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"2023<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur enthusiasts will have every opportunity to locate the Dodge ‘Last Call’ model they desire,\u201d said Kuniskis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jailbreak<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no way to guarantee dealers won\u2019t demand a premium, the Dodge boss said. State franchise laws limit factory control over what retailers charge. But the locator website will allow potential buyers to not just locate a vehicle but see where they might get the best deal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his webinar, Kuniskis added a bit more good news for Dodge performance fans. All 2023 Hellcat models will come standard with the \u201cJailbreak\u201d upgrade. That will bump the pony count up to 807 hp. All 2023 Charger and Challenger models will get commemorative \u201cLast Call\u201d plaques.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dodge officials were hoping to give their limited run “Last Call” muscle cars a big send off at SEMA. However, attempting to push the limits, the engineers keep blowing up the engines on the last one. Find out more at TheDetroitBureau.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":230115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,8,5,1608,1164,2648,12,1347],"tags":[7721,8438,8436,1293,8437],"make":[],"post-state":[],"category_old":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/234039"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=234039"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/234039\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":234045,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/234039\/revisions\/234045"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/230115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=234039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=234039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=234039"},{"taxonomy":"make","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/make?post=234039"},{"taxonomy":"post-state","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-state?post=234039"},{"taxonomy":"category_old","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category_old?post=234039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}