Dodge may add 'Barracuda' model to Challenger lineup

The upcoming re-launch of the SRT Viper (formerly a Dodge Viper, of course) may be dominating the fast-Mopar coverage to date, but that super-coupe may turn out to represent just the tip of the iceberg. Automotive News is reporting that multiple Dodge performance products are likely to hit American streets over the next three years.

Perhaps most exciting are the prospective plans for the Challenger in 2014 and 2015. The muscular coupe is likely to get a significant bit smaller for the 2015 model year, with two or three inches set to be removed from its now-generous 116-inch wheelbase, as well as having launch control added to the specification sheet.

The upcoming SRT-tuned version of the Challenger, today the SRT8 model, may very well be dubbed the "Dodge Barracuda" for 2015. The resurrected 'Cuda will feature a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, which we are strongly in favor of. And though Dodge isn't offering up any output numbers for such a mill, current competitors from Ford (Shelby GT500) and Chevrolet (Camaro ZL1) would seem to indicate that 500 horsepower is the bare minimum for entry into this market slice.

In the nearer term, look for a new Daytona performance version of the Dodge Charger to appear in the first part of 2013, along with an SRT4 tune for the new Dodge Dart around the same time.