by Dave Ashton
The year 2022 is shaping up to be an automotive crossroad for the muscle car sector. Dodge is likely to announce in the coming months their initial designs for an electric muscle car. On the other hand, Ford has some interesting trademarks in the works.
What’s in store for Dodge
Any lifelong, paid-up member of the muscle car fraternity is going to react to any electrification plans to their vehicles like water being shown to the witch from the Wizard of Oz. Not so much physically melting away, but just as much of an aversion.
However, legislation and the powers that be across the globe have decided electric is the best solution for all future vehicles. Dodge has decided to get in early and slowly acclimatize the fan base with a possible production vehicle coming in 2024. This news doesn’t mean the iconic V8 will stop production and disappear overnight. Rather, a slow transition before every V8-packed vehicle becomes a collector’s classic.
A recent trademark filing, June 23, 2022, has been put forward by FCA US for the name ‘Tomahawk.’ The trademark is to cover passenger and land vehicles. The Tomahawk name was used in Gran Turismo 6 in 2015, but this was a Viper V10-powered monster, not an electrically powered machine. However, until official announcements are made, the Tomahawk name could be used on any future Dodge vehicle.
In any case, we won’t have to wait for long as three big announcements are due between August 15 to 17 at the Woodward Avenue in Metro, Detroit. The three announcements will cover the current muscle car lineup, ‘gateway muscle announcements,’ and future muscle cars. The hints at this stage are an electric muscle car that can at the least outrun a Tesla model S plaid. Essentially, a new Dodge vehicle that can do 0-60mph in 2 seconds.
Initial reports of this new electric muscle car show design hints from the late sixties and early seventies Chargers and Challengers. Plus, an all-wheel drive powertrain with a two-motor setup could be the way forward.
There should also be a Dodge Hornet coming this summer, being a plug-in hybrid, and probably based on the Alfa Romeo Tonale compact SUV.
Ford stuff
Ford seems to be hanging onto the Mustang moniker for what could be a future EV muscle car. Recently, Ford registered a trademark for a ‘Mustang Dark Horse’ which in reality could end up being a Black Accent Package, rather than a new model. Ford already has the Mustang Mach-E SUV, but there is no news yet about a fully electric Mustang pony car.
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