1 best of : Report: Next-Gen Dodge Charger, Challenger Delayed Again to 2020

FCA has put off U.S. market launches for a number of new products, and now it’s apparently pushing back the redesigns for its large cars yet again. Citing two sources close to the matter, Automotive News reports the Dodge Challenger and Charger have been delayed until at least 2020.

The information comes from an internal FCA source and an FCA supplier, who corroborated details buried in a contract brief sent out to members of the Canadian auto workers union Unifor. The sources said FCA will discontinue production of one of its large sedans in 2020, a move that likely coincides with the redesign of the Challenger and Charger. Those cars are set to move to the Giorgio platform that underpins the Alfa Romeo Giulia. AN says the next-gen cars will arrive for the 2021 model year. We had previously heard the new models were pushed back to 2018.

The Giorgio platform will be stretched and widened for Dodge, but will still contribute to substantial weight savings – up to 500 pounds for the Charger. The architecture is also rigid enough to support a convertible model. Last year FCA showed dealers a Dodge Barracuda concept, a convertible with styling said to be inspired by the 1999 Dodge Charger concept.

If you’re wondering where the related Chrysler 300 sedan fits into all of this, there may be some bad news. AN reports the 300 could be on the chopping block as part of FCA’s efforts to reduce badge-engineered vehicles. The Charger, Challenger, and 300 will be refreshed again for the 2018 model year, and Dodge is planning to bring an all-wheel-drive Challenger GT model and a new wide-body Challenger Hellcat ADR to tide buyers over.

The first Giorgio-platform car, the Giulia, goes on sale by the end of 2016 – nearly a year after its planned rollout.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)