Fade to Pink: Dodge Changes Splitter Guard Color
The yellow front splitter guards on Dodge’s Charger and Challenger have become a major point of conflict among automotive enthusiasts. In one corner, we have traditionalists who believe protective coverings used for shipping have no business appearing on a road-going car. In the other? A bunch of maniacs who think keeping the guards on adds something to the aesthetics, sort of like how you see people maintaining the stickers and tags on a new baseball cap.
Your author has seen a Challenger where the protectors had been on so long, they became sun-bleached and had started to lose their color. Dodge/SRT design boss Mark Trostle expressed his distaste for the trend in October, saying the guards were never part of the concept drawings and basically just ruin the paint.
Despite the issue causing a ruckus online, including some top-shelf trolling, some people still refuse to take them off. Dodge appears to have a plan, however. It’s swapping the protective coverings’ coloring from yellow to hot pink, presumably in an effort to discourage the trend.
Car and Driver noticed the change over the last month and asked Fiat Chrysler to weigh in on the matter.
“The splitter guards on Dodge Charger and Challenger have taken on a life of their own. They originally made their debut in the 2015 model year to protect the performance fascias on SRT models during shipment from the manufacturing facility to the dealer, and, yes, they are designed to be removed before delivery. But today, they have their own Facebook page, and many of our performance enthusiasts have active debates on whether to keep or remove them. Some owners say they are even selling them in the aftermarket,” an FCA spokesperson said.
“Obviously, they weren’t part of the original design, so we started with yellow guards and shifted to pink, but they are still so popular that we may shift them yet again to black.”
While the trend encouraged many to post photos of their own Challenger or Charger with bananas or pool toys taped to the front splitter in jest, there are also kits ( both comical and legitimate) sold to help keep the guards pristine and protected. It’s a lot of attention to give something that’s supposed to be taken off at the dealership. But at this point salespeople know some customers might actually dig having them on, with a few providing the option to take them off at home.
Truth be told, the new hot pink probably looks decent juxtaposed with black paint — and this doesn’t seem any dumber than truck nuts or most bumper stickers. Still, it’s best to have the guards removed if you care about the condition of the enamel. Long-term usage of the guards tend to scratch up the paint rather badly as they’re buffeted by the wind. Besides, a bunch of Mopar enthusiasts will think you’re a moron for leaving them on.
[Image: Khairil Azhar Junos/Shutterstock]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Make them any color you want dodge... **people are starting to custom paint them already**. Just make more colors people want and sell them for 300$ a set and make some money.
Changing the color would be of no deterrent at all if you like them on - Fusion spraypaint will bond to any material and let you pick any of a bunch of colors.