Aiming high: The Dodge Charger’s latest ad pokes fun at the Volkswagen Passat

By Andrew Hard August 21, 2014

In its latest advertisement, the wicked Dodge Charger R/T is targeting each of its 470 horsepower at the … Volkswagen Passat. Yes, you read that right.

In the commercial, a HEMI-powered Charger in Granite Crystal Metallic paint crouches at a stoplight, its V8 engine burbling at idle. Before the HEMI ferociously roars to life, the narrator reads, “No one ever sits in their brand new, 470-hp Dodge Charger and thinks, oh man, I wish I would have gotten that Passat.”

As a certain pork pie hat-wearing chemist (and Chrysler 300 driver) once said, “You’re gosh-darn right.” Or something like that.

This isn’t the first time Dodge has put the grocery-getting Passat in its crosshairs, though.

When Fiat-Chrysler announced its five-year plan in May, Tim Kuniskis, CEO of the Dodge, said, “We are willing to bet, no kid ever grew up with a poster of a [Volkswagen] Passat on his bedroom wall. We build modern performance cars.”

Geez, what did the poor Passat ever do to you guys?

Related: The 707-hp Charger Hellcat is the world’s most powerful sedan

As for owners of the German family-hauler: don’t be too down on yourself. You’ve got a lot going for you! You get good gas mileage, you’re driving an IIHS Top Safety Pick, and with a starting MSRP of $20,995, you got a lot of Passat for your money.

Hey, somebody’s got to stand up for the little guy.

Should Volkswagen Group release a counter advertisement? Possibly showing a Passat driver leisurely cruising down the freeway while the Charger lingers at gas stations and police checkpoints? Perhaps a limited fuel challenge? Let us know what you think about the Charger ad in the comments.

Editors' Recommendations

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

Cars

Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations

The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.