Dodge Barracuda

Rall was very skeptical of this trim in his review, as he notes that he's previously been disappointed when rumors regarding a Barracuda hadn’t come to fruition. Whispers that the retired Plymouth Barracuda was going to make a comeback have been around for years, so there's reason for skepticism.

The reports suggested that the Cuda, which would be smaller that the current Dodge Challenger, would be released sometime in 2019 or 2020 to compete with the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. To make the whispers even more exciting, it was suggested that the Barracuda would be available in both a coupe and a convertible.

The Plymouth Barracuda, manufactured by Chrysler from 1964 through 1974, made a name for itself as an eye-catching, two-door pony car. The first-generation of the vehicle was recognizable by the long back glass, and there were a pair of available versions of the brand's slant-6 six-cylinder engine, capable of producing a horsepower of 101 (2.8-liter) or 145 (3.7-liter). 

The second-generation was available in fastback, notchback and convertible forms. Notable add-ons included similar rear and front bumpers, a smaller back glass, and a chrome tint on the body. Later generations saw revamped grilles and headlights, a change in body structure, and more powerful engines. As safety and exhaust emission regulations got more restrictive, the performance quality of the Barracuda suffered. Sales of pony cars were down across the board in the 1970s, and the car's production finally ended in 1974. 

There was a rumor back in 2007 that the Barracuda would be released in 2009, badged as a Chrysler following the demise of the Plymouth brand. There were similar rumors in 2012 (regarding a 2014 model), but once again, those rumors proved to be all smoke and no fire. Let's hope that's not what happens this time around, as we'd certainly look forward to a Cuda featuring a turbocharged V6 engine. 

Durango SRT 392

Rall writes that there's been "massive demand" for a higher performance Durango, featuring better interior space and a more "street-sport feel" than the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Reportedly featuring a 392 cubic-inch Hemi, the writer believes that the SRT is "slowly becoming a Dodge-only affair," meaning an SRT SUV would make plenty of sense for the company.

Challenger American Drag Racer

This package was apparently the most-talked about announcement at the dealer event, but Rall notes that it's also the package that has the most conflicting reports. The American Drag Racer will reportedly be a "stripped-down Hellcat model, packing only the things needed to go fast in a straight line, right down to wider rear quarter panels that house huge rear tires." Well, that sounds pretty great. The writer also notes that the main non-engine difference between a Hellcat Challenger ADR and the current package is the fact that the ADR would be street legal.

Other reports have suggested an insane 700 (or higher) horsepower, and the inclusion of 315-width tires on all four of the wheels. This would require a wider body for the Challenger, which the company has apparently taken into consideration. There are also rumors of a modified rear suspension, and there are also whispers that the driveshaft would be "beefed up." These same reports noted that the new Challenger would be produced in 2018, which is fairly optimistic since the V8 is expected to be phased out by 2019.

There has seemed to be a general consensus that this latter statement is true, and the Challenger ADR was in fact designed for street use and drag racing. However, many also "insist that it is powered by the smaller Hemi engines," ranging in size from 340 cubic inches to 392 cubic inches. The inconsistency in the reports leads to Rall being skeptical about the car, and I would tend to agree.

Next Generation Charger

The most surprising of the rumors was also the most consistent. Multiple sources told Rall that the Charger on display resembled the 1999 Dodge Charger concept, but the writer believes that the displayed vehicle may have in fact been "a styling study to judge the reaction of the dealership people." While pessimistic, that sounds a lot more reasonable than a brand new generation.

With the Charger being revamped for the 2015 model, Rall believes there wouldn't be any other changes until 2019 at the earliest. However, he also notes the general disdain for the current Charger's front end, so another overhaul wouldn't be the most surprising news.

As you can see, there's plenty of skepticism across the board when it comes to the four new performance packages and the rumored next-generation Charger. While we'll take the rumblings with a grain of salt, there's enough consistent and justifiable information to suggest that the cars and packages are at least being considered.