Dodge Will Unveil The Barracuda And Next Challenger In 2018

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (Credit: Dodge)

After much anticipation and waiting, MOPAR fans will get to wait a little longer to finally see the return of the Barracuda nameplate. Multiple reports say the car will be unveiled in 2018, then launch into production as a 2019 model.

Word is the Dodge Barracuda will only be made as a convertible. Don’t expect huge production numbers, making it a niche vehicle. Mechanically it should be pretty much the same as the Challenger, but the body panels will be unique and the car’s footprint should be smaller.

Coming out at the same time is a new generation of the Challenger, which is sorely needed. The little pony car has been outclassed by the Mustang and Camaro, thanks to a platform that’s remained almost stagnant since 2008. Apparently it’ll share the Giorgio platform with the Alfa Romeo Giulia, much to the horror of American muscle car purists. It would make the car lighter and better at whipping through turns. It also means the Challenger will still lag behind the competition, riding on an already stale platform. If this turns out to be true, Dodge could pretty much be giving up on the Challenger as a hardcore performance machine, and that’s sad.