2009 Dodge Challenger Review

Specifications

I remember it like it was yesterday. There it was, a bright orange, 1960s style wedge, complete with two fat carbon fiber hood stripes sitting there just inches from where I stood, its Hemi engine rumbling away as it sat, circulating on the turntable. It was a little more than two years ago that Chrysler showed off two different spin-offs on the rear wheel drive LX cars, cars that looked as if they’d carry the Chrysler name into the number one spot during a time of great difficulty for the big three.

Both the Imperial and the Challenger concepts would seriously be considered for production, but it turns out that only one would make the final step from concept to true production vehicle. Without knowledge of the events leading up to the final decision, I’m sure that the thousands around the stage had already agreed that if there was only one to be produced, it had to be the Challenger.

North Americans are addicted to muscle cars. The idea of cars from the glory days of motoring, a time four decades back when fuel economy and safety regulations didn’t rule supreme, hasn’t left the minds of car lovers, despite the latest generation of hyper performance supercars. And it isn’t just a matter of nostalgia either – this is a passion that’s evident in young enthusiasts; it makes you wonder whether or not a love for big-block, high-horsepower machines is imprinted from birth. Ford’s Mustang has not only tapped into this latest muscle car movement but is driving it, rejuvenating a passion for retro performance, and since the launch of the current generation car, both Dodge and Chevrolet have been doing all they can to get their “pony cars” to market.

A quick look at this year’s Barrett-Jackson auctions will show that muscle cars aren’t just cars; they’re icons worth lots of cold, hard cash. Arguably, Challengers, due to the fact that they were launched late in the muscle car era, are relatively rare, and are commanding a small fortune when put on the block. At this year’s auctions, the rights for the first Challenger SRT8 went for a whopping $400,000 dollars …

There is something to be said about preservation. The new Challenger is a modernized interpretation of the original, a car with the looks or the original but brought up to date with the latest engineering technology. At the same time, preservation is important in the process of turning a concept into a production car, and it must be said that the Challenger that can be purchased is a dead ringer to the show vehicle. Sure the interior’s different, it’s got B-pillars, the hood stripes aren’t real carbon fiber, it lacks the awesome gun-barrel headlamps of the concept, and the taillights aren’t neon bulbs, but it’s otherwise a fantastic facsimile.

Details. Chrysler products aren’t exactly known for them, but for a change the Challenger is loaded with ‘em. Take for instance the grille. All Dodge cars, from the lowly Caliber to the awesome Viper have the trademark crosshair grille, but not the Challenger. That just wouldn’t be authentic. ’70s cars had plenty of matte black plastic about them, and so does the Challenger, used for downforce-generation up front and in back. Singled out alone, the thin rectangular tailpipes and chromed fuel filler cap could very well be items off the original Challenger …

Just like the concept, the Challenger is based off a shortened version of the rear wheel drive Chrysler LX platform, with a four inch segment taken out of its wheelbase, and a fully independent suspension up front and in back delivering Grade-A grip and comfort levels. Being the only two-door LX car, Dodge has specifically tuned the Challenger for different ride and handling characteristics with unique damping, spring rates and thicker anti-roll bars, but the net effect should still be something like the Charger SRT8 to drive, which is not a bad thing. Unlike Challengers of the past, which were best known for strutting their stuff on the quarter mile and cruising on the highway, the new generation is hoping to make a name for itself on circuits across the land.

One of the unwritten rules for muscle cars is to fit the biggest and baddest engine available. Short of shoehorning in the Viper’s V10 (unlikely to have ever happened… although an original Challenger stuffed to the gills with a Viper V10 was displayed on Mopar’s stand during one year’s show circuit), the Challenger gets the 6.1-liter Hemi V8 featured in common with other SRT8 products. That’s 425 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of head-spinning power and torque to liquefy the 255-width Goodyear Eagle rear tires. For the time being, all Challengers feature a five-speed automatic with AutoStick manual mode.

Dodge has set some pretty tough performance standards: 0-60 mph in less than 5 seconds, the quarter mile in less than 14, 0.88 Gs on the skidpad and 60-0 in 110 feet. With the kind of firepower and braking power that other SRT8 cars have delivered, the Challenger will have no problem meeting these goals.

Less glamorous, but still unique, and still functional is the Challenger’s interior. Its treatment is akin to other SRT8 cars, with comfortable but heavily bolstered front buckets, a beefed up steering wheel and some sporty gauges with the reconfigurable Performance Pages data that shows info about G-forces, 0-60 times and more. Dodge emulated several key items from the concept for production – the layout of the gauges, dark headliner, the angled shifter and the door trims. Other than that, it’s a mix of items from the parts bin. The only real option for the Challenger is the MyGig navigation system. As a coupe, the Challenger is actually fairly roomy and offers acceptable legroom and headroom for two passengers in the rear. All cars come standard with front, side and curtain airbags, plus stability control.

From the beginning, the Challenger will only be sold as an SRT8 model and only in three colors - Hemi Orange, silver and black. In bringing this legend back to life, it’s only fit to show it for the first time in its ultimate form. Later down the road, other models will appear, R/T, SXT and probably more. The Challenger will reflect, to a great degree what’s happened to the Charger, although it’s unlikely to feature the lesser V6s or all wheel drive. And, with prices starting at just under $41k, this is an affordable dream machine that’s a direct link to the past.

At the time of writing, there’s plenty of activity surrounding Chrysler, from the Plastech debacle, which now seems to be resolved, to the introduction of the Ram, the launch of the new Journey, even to rumors of a re-skinning of the Sebring and Avenger at the cost of the Viper. It’s nice to see that despite the ups and downs, everything’s right on track as far as the Challenger goes.