Dodge introduces 100th Anniversary Editions for LA Auto Show

Dodge is celebrating 100 years of mass-producing automobiles next year. To celebrate, the company is introducing two special 100th Anniversary Editions of the Charger and Challenger at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

John and Horace Dodge were already making a decent living supplying parts to Detroit’s burgeoning automotive industry when they decided to introduce their own car, the Dodge Model 30, in 1914. As much as we talk about Henry Ford and mass production, the Dodge brothers set a record that year for the most first-model-year automobiles ever produced at 45,033. Dodge sold about 524,000 vehicles last year in North America.

The 100th anniversary editions are purely visual upgrades. Buyers will continue to have the choice of a Hemi V8 or Pentastar V6 for both cars. No mention was made of the 6.4-liter-equipped SRT vehicles.

The special editions come in a handful of colors, including Dodge’s take on black, orange, white, silver, granite and ivory. “High octane red pearl coat” paint will be a new option for the Anniversary Editions when they arrive in the first quarter of 2014.

Beyond the new color, the packages include new 20-inch, five-spoke wheels with granite crystal-colored pockets, matching granite crystal grilles and “Dodge Est. 1914” and Dodge “100” logos. A body-color rear spoiler is added to Hemi and R/T cars.

Molten red or foundry black napa leather wraps the sports seats, center console, armrest and doors. A three-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel features die-cast paddle shifters. The leather material is set off by brass-accented stitching. More badges are interspersed inside.

Unique key fobs and a special startup message for the touchscreen that notes the industrious nature of Detroit are also included, according to Dodge.

The package will cost $2,200 on top of the SXT Plus ($32,290) or R/T trim ($31,490) for the Charger. On the Challenger, it will be an additional $2,500 on top of the $29,290 SXT Plus and $31,490 R/T trims.

The 100th anniversary edition cars will go on sale next year.

Dodge

By Jake Lingeman