Tag:

Dodge

Thoughts on Dodge rumoured to team up with GMS Racing on their proposed return to NASCAR via Ram at Truck Series level

by Sports Benches April 16, 2025

So there you have it, not only Maury Gallagher’s son Spencer is back on a one-off ride somewhere at ARCA level, but we could see GMS Racing going back to NASCAR after all as a Ram trucks team if Dodge is officially coming back next year.

Not only that, we could see at least two entries to begin with since these engines are spec powered by Ilmor and not built by each of the current manufacturers unless you’re talking the Xfinity Series or Cup.

So no-brainer there for Dodge to get back into the stock car racing business.

Then it’s a matter of when if Dodge does want to re-join and compete the likes of Chevy, Ford and Toyota for the NASCAR Cup Series – could be 2027 or 2028.

Should Legacy Motor Club be able to finalise their purchase with that 3rd charter off Rick Ware Racing, it could be perfect timing for Dodge to team up including “The King” Richard Petty again like it was in the good ol’ past.

Although Jimmie Johnson is the majority owner nowadays with Maury still holding a small cut alongside new member Tom Brady and his investment partner who owns Birmingham City – they just got back into the Championship btw.

I wouldn’t be against it and it’s never been a better time to have Corey Heim onboard ready to battle for a championship for that newly-expanded car (could be the No.44) under Dodge and Legacy MC – pretty sure he will never be picked by Joe Gibbs because of his feud with grandson Ty.

And of course if Erik and John Hunter wanted to stay, I’m sure they will too considering they have families through a wife and a young kid of their own.

At the moment, qualifying pace ain’t bad sometimes but with just a Toyota-powered engine on their own race cars – seems like they will have to do a whole lot of work if Legacy MC was to compete for Top 10s & I mean regularly to stay on top of Playoffs.

April 16, 2025 0 comment

Thoughts on Dodge back to NASCAR once again this time from the ground up with the Truck Series starting in 2026

by Sports Benches February 19, 2025

Looks like Dodge wants to go back to NASCAR once more having heard new rumours from the weekend’s Daytona 500 but looks like they would rather start from the bottom at Trucks level under Ram since the engines everyone in this competition use now are spec ones – not too bad to get in at an affordable cost.

Gonna be great seeing more competition with Ram joining Chevy, Toyota and Ford back out on the race track that will make them a decent enough contender to fight for race wins and even championships.

Don’t know which teams will be up for it but shouldn’t be a problem if Dodge under Ram officially comes back.

And yes, they would also wanna go Cup and even Xfinity racing as well at some point as long they find an engine builder but not on their own via in-house.

It’s easy to put in the Charger there since they just got a new generation model last year that also offers an electric & plug in hybrid option and they now both come in a two-door coupe and a four-door sedan.

Watch this space for that and let’s hope the rumors do come out true this time.

February 19, 2025 0 comment

Motorsport Miscellaneous

Thoughts on Chrysler suspending development with their brand new crossover SUV building on the Airflow concept

by Sports Benches January 15, 2025

Despite Chrysler giving us an update last week with their planned model line-up over the next few years coinciding with their all-EV ambitions through the end of this decade, it seems that the development of their brand new crossover vehicle has been suspended for now.

Yes, it might take a while; Although there’s a possibility the production works would resume soon ahead of schedule next year.

This comes off the back of the EV customer demand being slow last year amongst other car makers while they prefer to own hybrids right now which is probably the reason why Stellantis is currently re-evaluating their EV masterplan for Chrysler. If so, they may as well have an hybrid at first with a plug-in option as no need of an ICE and then release a fully-electric model but maybe when the time is right for customers willing to buy one so they can recoup with their investment.

It could’ve been any better if they released the Airlow production made concept vehicle by now (don’t have to put anything regarding ICEs as an all-hybrid model would do it) had Stellantis been realistic with their EV goals. However, we do understand they decided to go back to square one with their top-secret production crossover by making it more modern from like the Halcyon four-door prototype last year as their design language. That way, they can translate it beautifully when the production made sedan comes out at some point alongside the next-generation Pacifica minivan (also planned to be an EV).

For now, looks like Chrysler is sticking with the Pacifica minivans as their one & only flagship model, with the second one (crossover based on the Airflow but much better) & potentially a production-made Halcyon 4-door model (an ideal 300 replacement) still a long way away.

January 15, 2025 0 comment

Miscellaneous Motorsport

Thoughts on Chrysler still on track to release a new crossover for 2026 alongside a facelifted Pacifica with a production Halycon concept model also in the works

by Sports Benches January 8, 2025

New year, new week coming in with some brand new Chrysler news updates coming from their CEO Christine Fuell who also looks after the North American arm of Alfa Romeo under Stellantis in the US.

The good news is that we will still expect to see the brand’s first ever EV model would be a five-door crossover (SUV) next year in 2026 – so still right on time to begin its all-electric masterplan, although they would still offer a hybrid option to begin with since the all-EV demand is slow. But we do know so far is the design of that first model would be a mix of both concept cars with less of the 2022 Airflow crossover and more of the recent Halycon four-door prototype sedan from last year.

Other than that, when we will see a production version of that lovely Halycon sedan? We don’t know but this is also still projected to come out around 2028 and according to Christine, they are looking to bring the Halycon into market that is both modern-looking and also affordable.

Sounds like they are working on a proper 300 replacement that was discontinued last year but again, this would be an all-electric model that aligns with their EV vision alongside the crossover – and if so, the price would start under $40,000.

What else? Oh, the Pacifica minivan – the only Chrysler current model out on the market right now – would get a facelift next year at the same time as the new crossover. Yes, there will also be an electric variant of the Pacifica but that will likely come out as a completely new model rather than as an additional trim when the current generation Pacifica doesn’t have a lot of life towards the end of the 2020s.

That way, buyers can continue to buy it in its current form while it lasts and if there’s any other customers who wants a Pacifica in future, then an all-new electric model would suit them best in the next decade.

I guess it’s going to be bit similar to Mitsubishi ASX really when the ageing one is still out there from 2010 while they’ve added a completely separate model of the crossover last year for thejr European market off a rebadged Renault Captur much like the Mitsubishi Colt hatchback being a cloned Renault Clio.

For now, we will have to wait and see since most of Chrysler’s electric masterplan is currently kept under wraps, with three models being just right to move forward like the popular Pacifica minivan, an SUV crossover and a four-door sedan.

January 8, 2025 0 comment