The Bizarre Dodge Concept Car You’ll Be Glad Never Made It To Market

The concept behind the Dodge Super8 Hemi’s oddball shape was the brand’s then-new “Passenger Priority Design” idiom, offering panoramic views of the outside world for each passenger. The rear seats were higher than the front, affording rear occupants a theater-like view of the road.

Furthermore, the truck-like features of the body panels gave it a bolder and more tangible expression, while the rear suicide doors add an exotic look to the entire shape. This car was meant to embody “the culture and essence of American optimism,” according to Freeman Thomas, Daimler-Chrysler vice president of advanced design strategy, in a 2001 press release.

Dodge/Stellantis

The Dodge Super8 Hemi’s in-your-face design had its fair share of detractors. Some say it’s one of the weirdest concepts ever produced with its forward-canted windshield, awkwardly sloping roof, bold grille design, and chrome side strakes. Others were kinder and called it “amazing,” primarily due to the concept’s rear-wheel drivetrain and potent Hemi V8 engine.

But then again, the then-bizarre design of the Dodge Super8 opened the doors to Dodge’s legendary LX cars that underpin the Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, and Dodge Charger. Thankfully, the LX lineup didn’t inherit the Super8’s weird yet futuristic windshield and googly face. Still, the concept’s slab side panels and bulging wheel arches are familiar to modern muscle car fans.