The Charger Daytona might be Dodge's newest model, but it also exemplifies a problem with the brand—it currently lacks affordable cars. The Hornet, which starts at $33,180 for 2025, serves as the entry point into Dodge and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. However, brand boss Matt McAlear recently said in an interview that he feels there's a "a market" for a sub-$30,000 halo sports car.
"I think there's a market for people who just want to have that weekend car again," he told The Drive, noting that not everyone can, or wants to, spend six figures on a sports car. He added that sometimes people want "just a car" that's not packed with expensive technology. We're inclined to agree.
If Dodge is seriously considering such a product, and there's no apparent indication that it is, McAlear told the publication that its future cars must be original, "like the Viper." However, it's unclear what the brand's next new model could be. Dodge, along with the other Stellantis brands, are enjoying a bit more freedom now that former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares is no longer in charge, but none have provided concrete details about potential new products.
Back in August, before the head exec left, McAlear told us that he wanted to "continue to grow [Dodge] as America's performance brand," but added that "It needs to be the right nameplates that are done in the Dodge manner that stand out in the sea of sameness." He saw SRT as the brand's halo, which often comes with a high price tag, so seeing how Dodge evolves at the lower end of the market will be interesting.
Dodge certainly has plenty of opportunities in the sub-$30,000 range as the number of affordable models dwindles. Cars like the Mazda Miata and Toyota BRZ start at just over $30,000, so something that’s cheaper than that sounds exciting. However, Dodge built its following feeding fans a steady diet of V-8 engines for two decades, so much so that people might not remember other SRT standouts like the Neon SRT-4.
If Dodge had to choose between reviving V-8s or pursing a sub-$30,000 halo sports car, which would you want? We're hoping it does both.
Source: The Drive
