QOTD: Should Dodge Build A Pony Car?

by Tim Healey

Published: December 19th, 2025

The Dodge Venom concept. I remember it. Always thought the brand needed a Ford Mustang/Chevrolet Camaro fighter.

Sure, the reborn Challenger would come along later, but that was more of a retro-inspired muscle car really. The Venom, a Neon with Viper aspirations, could've been that pony car.

With the Camaro and Challenger gone, should Dodge build something to fight the Mustang? Or nah?

You know the drill -- sound off below.

[Image: Dodge]

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Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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3 of 76 comments

The Ayatollah of Rock n Rolla on Dec 22, 2025

Yes they should. And they could do it relatively cheaply by utilizing the already superb FCA Giorgio platform that underpins the current Giulia and Stelvio. Make it a traditional coupe, with turbo 4 and V8 options, and a proper manual transmission. It would be lightweight, well balanced, and all around fun.

2 Reply
Lorenzo on Dec 23, 2025

Well, Stellantis already wasted the Charger and Challenger names, and missed a chance to put a hemi 4-banger into a Neon, so forget it. Just see if you can build a Corolla-sized Dart.

Like Reply
- Mnemic on Dec 23, 2025
  
  Dart and Swinger were recently re-trademarked.
  
  Like

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