DODGE CHALLENGER AND CHARGER PRODUCTION ENDS, AUTOMATIC GR YARIS MAY COME SOON, MORE WEEKLY UPDATE

EV Channels Review

This weekly update covers significant news for automotive enthusiasts, starting with the somber end of production for the Dodge Challenger and Charger. The final Challenger was an SRT Demon 170 in Pitch Black, and the last Charger was a Scat Pack Widebody in Destroyer Gray. The host laments the loss of the Mopar V8 era, acknowledging the upcoming Charger but anticipating the absence of its V8 engine. Positive news follows, with Cadillac's Blackwing models seeing nearly 50% manual transmission take rates, a rare feat. Mazda's MX-5 Miata also experienced a notable sales increase of 45.4% in 2023 compared to 2022, even surpassing 2019 figures. Excitingly, an automatic version of the Toyota GR Yaris is rumored to debut soon, with implications for the GR Corolla. Volkswagen teased its Golf Mk8.5 refresh and confirmed an electric ID.GTI for 2026. Lucid aims for more affordable EVs around $48-50k, targeting a $25k car with reduced battery needs and range. A Tesla Model Y refresh is also rumored for 2024, likely mirroring the Model 3's updates. Finally, an electric Volvo S90 (potentially ES90) is slated for late 2024 production.