Dodge used to have a robust lineup. For two decades, the Charger and Challenger sport utility vehicles were sold alongside the Durango, a family sport utility vehicle (SUV). For a time, it sold the Nitro and Journey SUVs; Avenger, Caliber and Dart sedans; Minivan caravan and Magnum car.

Today, the Dodge lineup is down to just three models: the Hornet (a two-row SUV), the aging Durango, and the Charger muscle car. The automaker’s new version of the Charger, either with powerful six-cylinder engines or in battery electric vehicle (BEV) form, will hit dealerships soon.

It is a controversial generational exchange. Reddit forums, YouTube and social media are full of people voicing their displeasure at the changes.

He considers the company’s past Viper, Demon, Scat Pack and Hellcat models to be “stepping stones for the future.” With the new models, McAlear said the company “remains the core of our DMA, the core of who we are, the core of what got us here.”

Part of what has propelled the company to enthusiast-lauded status is its powerful internal combustion engines (ICEs). “We’re not backing away from ICE technology. We’re just evolving to a different performance, but it’s all about performance. Every single powertrain that comes in outperforms [the] the powertrain it replaces,” he said.

McAlear would know. He has spent a lot of time behind the wheel during his short tenure as CEO, having taken over the role six months ago. He was previously head of sales operations for the Dodge brand.

“If you look at today’s Scat Pack that we’re getting ready to launch and compare it to the last generation Charger/Challenger…this car blows that car out of the water. Today’s Scat Pack beats yesterday’s Hellcat Red Eye.” from zero to 60 [mph] in terms of, in terms of capabilities, in terms of safety, in terms of comfort and spaciousness, in terms of cargo capacity,” he said.

The proof of concept is in the pudding, McAlear said. He saw “smiles on people’s faces” when he showed up to drive one of the new cars in the Home Depot parking lot for cars and coffee. “Everywhere I go, the reactions are unbelievable. And once they see it, once they hear it, once they sit down, they start to get it, and it just takes time,” he said.

McAlear acknowledged that not everyone is or will be happy with the brand’s new direction: “People are always going to push back. When you bring something new and different, that’s natural, right? We’re going to settle for what we love, right? .” ?”

But that doesn’t mean Dodge will let off the gas pedal. “This is the future. We’re just getting started. It’s revolutionary in the sense that it’s a new powertrain, but it’s evolutionary in the sense that it’s just a new way to perform,” he said. “When I look to the future, I’m excited.