There have been rumors for the past 13 years of a new Barracuda, and the buzz is making the rounds again. The last time the Barracuda was on the scene was in the late '60s and early '70s when it was marketed as the Plymouth Barracuda. Car forums and the automotive world have been abuzz with rumors concerning the Barracuda resurfacing under the Dodge family with many taking on different opinions. The main question people have at this time is whether it’s going to be real this time.
Enthusiasts have released many possible design renditions as the world gets slowly ushered into 2021. Dodge has done an excellent job of sealing its lips, but these are ten things we just learned about the upcoming Dodge Barracuda.
8 The Barracuda Could Return Under The Dodge Name As Early As 2021
Developed under the Chrysler Corporation, the company that manufactured the original Plymouth Barracuda between 1964-1974, the new Barracuda is expected to resurface as a brand-new Dodge model.
The car is likely to go into production in 2021. Back in 2007, 2012, and 2014, there were similar claims and expectations. However, it never materialized. The only way to know for certain whether the comeback will be in 2021 is for Dodge to release a concept by the end of 2020.
It's Rumored To Replace The Dodge Challenger
This news has trended among car enthusiasts for the last few months. Others believe that it’ll replace the Dodge Viper instead, especially with the announcement of Dodge's 2021 lineup, which includes the 2021 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock. However, the belief that it’s going to replace the Challenger still seems the favorite
RELATED: Dodge Challenger Vs Plymouth Barracuda: Which Was Chrysler's Best Classic Muscle Car?
Since the Dodge Barracuda is going into production in 2021, the case may be that Dodge is trying to create a smooth transition from the Challenger to the Barracuda by offering them both within the same year.
7 Its Design Will Be Based On The Original Plymouth Barracuda
This makes sense considering that both cars will share the Barracuda name. It would be odd and out of place for the modern Barracuda to be totally distinct from the original Plymouth Barracuda. In addition, multiple design attempts over the last few years have hinted at the direction of the Plymouth Barracuda gravitating towards a '70s model styling.
Regardless of the upcoming car having its roots in history, it will feature a modern and new styling suitable for 2021 cars.
6 It Will have A Competitive Interior Design And Layout
Not a lot of information is out on the interior design of the Dodge Barracuda, but a few things can be expected. The car's interior will come with a modern sports coupe layout, which typically comprises two seats in front of the driver and front passenger. There are also two in the back, which is spacious enough to fit two adults.
The car's infotainment system should be Dodge's famous Uconnect, except Dodge has a totally new design up their sleeves. The interior is sure to feature the latest technology and could give competitors such as the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro a run for their money. The highest trim levels should come with posh leather and Alcantara finishing.
5 Supercharged Engine From The Challenger Is Rumored
There's potentially leaked information that the 3.6-liter V6 engine from the Challenger will continue as an entry-level engine in the upcoming Dodge Barracuda. The engine churns out 305 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torque. It could deliver almost the same performance in the Barracuda as in the Challenger bearing that the Barracuda is more compact and lighter.
The 5.7-liter and 6.4-liter Hemi naturally aspirated mills from the Challenger may also feature in the Barracuda. The engine could also be supercharged just like the Angel. All these together make for a car that can have up to an 800-horsepower output.
4 It's Expected To Share Platforms With The Alpha Romeo Giulia
Dodge isn't going to bring back the old Plymouth Barracuda platform, which was the Chrysler LA platform, seeing as it's obsolete for modern cars. The modifications in the upcoming car's body style and size make the old platform unsuitable.
Dodge will be utilizing the Alfa Romeo Guilia platform. Some do not like this because they believe that using the Italian company's platform directly impacts the purity of the muscle car's features. However, Alfa Romeo has manufactured some high-performance vehicles, thus proving that the Guilia's platform's implementation could be advantageous for the Barracuda.
3 Dodge Will Suspend The Solid Rear Axle Design For The Barracuda In Favor Of An Independent Rear Suspension
Dodge will likely ditch the solid axle rear suspension design used in previous Dodge models in favor of the independent rear suspension. Competitors such as the Mustang and Camaro already implement this suspension. The Barracuda will also feature Magnetic dampening. Dodge has enlisted its best engineers' expertise and has also embraced external help designing the Barracuda's suspension.
It's most likely that those who worked on the SRT suspension and Viper will take the lead in this aspect, as those cars had excellent suspension types.
2 The Entry Level Barracuda Will Cost Less Than $30,000
Enthusiasts expect the upcoming Barracuda to come in at $28,000, with base models starting at around $26,000. Carmakers realize the error of slapping a high price on market appealing vehicles, with many failed production models as proof. In the eventuality that Dodge can achieve this price feat and still make a profit, the Barracuda would make for a good competitor in that regard.
High-performance supercharged models are, however, expected to be priced at about $70,000, which is reasonable given the performance they will bring to the table.
The Challenger's Market Performance May Delay The Barracuda's Launch
Leaked information has revealed that the Barracuda ought to have gone into production in 2020, but hasn't due to the Challenger's excellent performance. Dodge didn't expect the Challenger to do as well as it did in the market, and didn't want to risk sabotaging the rising sales performance by introducing the Barracuda.
However, all eyes are on next year for the big announcement of Dodge's long-awaited offering.
1 It Could Be A Limited Production Car
Despite the belief that the upcoming Barracuda ought to replace the Dodge Challenger, some maintain that it will be a limited-edition car, which may not come as an option but as its own car.
A limited-edition offering may have a slightly higher price bracket, and pricing may increase as the years go by due to scarcity from a fixed number of units. Many of those units will be bought by a hand-to-hand exchange.