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The current version of the Dodge Challenger and Charger will not make it to local showrooms in factory-backed form, confirmed Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Australia’s new boss Kevin Flynn.
Though his predecessor, Steve Zanlunghi, stated in 2018 that sales of the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro would dictate whether a factory right-hand-drive (RHD) Challenger and Charger would arrive, Mr Flynn has taken that plan off the table to focus on turning the struggling FCA brands around.
“At the moment, I think we need to make sure we fixed the gaps on what we’ve got before we start adding more,” he told CarsGuide.
“I want to strengthen the operation, and then we can handle those kinds of things.
“I think when we’ve sorted ourselves, then we have a place at the table to look at other opportunities.”
This doesn’t rule out the Challenger and Charger altogether, as a new-generation version is likely to be revealed soon, but for the foreseeable future, Mr Flynn is focussing on rebuilding consumer trust and reversing the brand’s slowing sales.
The current third-generation Challenger has been on sales since 2008 and the four-door Charger was introduced in 2011, with both available with a 527kW/881Nm supercharged 6.2-litre petrol V8 engine in flagship Hellcat form.
Mr Flynn also left the door open for other products across the FCA global portfolio, including the Fiat Strada ute that could arrive to take on the market-leading Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
“We’re not restricted on what we do, but we need to do what we do properly, and we need to really have a bond with our customers base, that’s our desire,” he said.
“Once we got that, we can start thinking about how we broaden the opportunity here.
“Right now, it’s about looking at our customer and making sure the gaps are filled, once all that’s there, it becomes a solid foundation – you can build on a solid foundation, you can’t build on the broken one.”
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