Dodge Challenger - Dodge meets challengers SRT8-away

Dodge’s road with the Challenger was never going to be an easy one. Even in the good old days, the car was over-shadowed by its arch rivals, the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro. As the latest generation was prepared for market, Ford launched a brand-new retroish Mustang and Camaro rolled out a future-tech concept with all the right style. In comparison, the Challenger looked cool, but stood in the shadows. Now that I think about it, that’s really unfair.

Although I’m asked often, you really can’t compare the Challenger to either the Mustang or Camaro – they have very different attitudes. Mustang is a little old school with its solid rear axle, but maintains a lineage back to ’64 without feeling retro in any way. Camaro is light on its feet with a four-wheel-independent suspension with passengers are all tucked down inside as in a Corvette. It is instantly familiar, but also very-much a 21st Century ride. Challenger is perhaps the best of both.

Challenger’s exterior seems retro, but upon closer inspection, is crisp and modern. Front and rear overhangs are noticeably shorter than on the original with 20” Alcoa forged aluminum wheels filling out the wheelwells. I could do without the General Lee orange paint on our test car, but am a big fan of the black plastic front splitter, rear spoiler, and carbon fibre-look hood application. Four round headlamps, rectangular taillamps, thick C-pillar, and kicked up shoulderlines tie the Challenger to its ancestors. That little SRT badge in the grille tells you this is no ordinary Challenger.

Moving inside, a big fat steering wheel and thick-bolstered heated leather seats make you feel like you’re driving a substantial automobile, especially as you look over the wide hood. If you grew up in the ‘60s or ‘70s, it will definitely take you back before the days when views pretty-much end at the windshield. Large analog gauges are easy to read and the Mercedes-style gated gear selector falls right at hand in the angled center console. I would not normally love the black vinyl dash and door coverings, but in the Challenger they feel authentic. The doors are enhanced with suede inserts and carbon-fibre-look leather weave pulls. Illuminated cupholders and shadow-lit door handles add ambience.

New age technophiles are not left out. There’s a big navigation touch screen in the dash that also controls the audio functions, including Sirius Satellite Radio and a thumpin’ subwoofer. Eight Boston Acoustics speakers sound wonderful. UConnect links your phone to the car and enables voice commands. Sirius Traffic keeps the navigation system informed of potential slow spots in real time, allowing it to route you around issues on the fly. That function came in handy on a trip to see my parents. A full array of airbags keeps everybody safe.

You can buy the Challenger with a 3.5-litre V6 engine that gets 25-MPG or a 5.7-litre 376-HP “demi-Hemi”, but if you have the means, go full-bore and select the SRT8 package with its 6.1-litre monster. The big V8 generates 425-HP and 420 lb.-ft. of torque – plenty to romp from 0-Silly in 5-flat. Turn off the stability control, and you can steer with your right foot. Step down hard at 80 mph and the car lifts its hood, growls through the exhaust, and plops back down when you lift off. It can get to 100 mph without effort (not that I would do such a thing on public roads). As you might expect, fuel economy was not a concern as the car achieves 13/19-MPG city/highway.

The car is fast, but its chassis is best of the bunch. Derived from a previous-generation Mercedes E-Class while Daimler controlled Chrysler, the Challenger feels very German in behavior. Despite its incredible ability on the track, as I experienced in New Jersey a couple of years ago, it is no sports car. Where this car revels is on the open Interstate where it can loaf along Autobahn-like at ridiculous speeds, safe and steady, feeling like a nuclear blast wouldn’t bother it. Manhattan city streets were absorbed by the four-wheel independent suspension like it was in-fact a Mercedes. Big Brembo brakes with red calipers, four-wheel ABS, and electronic stability control bring it down from speed yesterday while providing sure-footed poor weather traction.

I was never a MOPAR fan, preferring Camaros and Mustangs to the Challenger. To me, it was ugly and unrefined. That all changed with the latest model. Perhaps it’s the German car nut in me, but more likely it is the way Dodge took those Mercedes bits, married them with HEMI muscle, and stayed absolutely true to its heritage without feeling outdated. If you want an authentic muscle car experience, updated thoroughly for the current century, you’ll do no better than the Dodge Challenger. Our loaded SRT8 came to a grand total of $45,260. Besides traditional foes, competitors include the BMW M3, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, and Audi A5.
By Casey Williams - MyCarData