Fuel Infection

You gotta feel a bit sorry for the Dodge Challenger.  Like a bar patron who always manages to arrive ten minutes before last call, the Challenger always seems to show up at the party finely dressed and ready to cut loose…right before the party ends.

Seriously, things in the auto industry aren’t looking good.  Just as the original Challenger had to face the end of the muscle car era just when it was hitting its stride, this faithful reincarnation is driving out of the garage and into a thoroughly dismal economic climate.  Dodge’s resurrected Challenger looks great and drives even better, but falling auto sales, rising fuel costs and a parent company whose future is looking questionable may put some significant dampers on the party.
That is what it is, though; best to just enjoy the Challenger while it’s here, and be glad that this dream car made it to production in the first place.  After emerging in the 1970 as a larger, more luxurious pony car, the name was resurrected on a concept car in 2006, and that car continued without many changes into production in 2008.
The Challenger’s design pays striking and apt homage to its own history.  In fact, it’s practically a giant-sized Hot Wheels version of the 1971 Challenger.  The wide, flat hood and distinctive beltline have been smoothed out for a more modern look, but the silhouette and proportions are eerily similar.  The Challenger’s streamlined design belies the fact that it’s larger than the original.  Quad headlamps flank a flush-mounted grille.  At the rear, wall-to-wall taillights and a bold chrome fuel filler cap would be in danger of bringing the disco era back to life, if the modern execution weren’t so flawless.  Twenty-inch Alcoa wheels fill the wheel wells, an option unheard-of in the original Challenger’s heyday.  The SRT8 is the top dog of the family, and adds functional hood scoops and aggressive, 1970s-style stripes.  Subtle changes to the design are also intended to improve performance, such as a lower chin spoiler, wheel spats and underbelly panels that improve aerodynamics and reduce lift.   The rear spoiler shares the style of the original Challenger T/A as well as effectively improving downforce.  The car is a mix of modern function and classic form.
The retro look continues on the interior, but Dodge has stopped short of letting it take over completely.  The cabin is short on exterior visibility but generous with space for passengers. All in all, it’s a very comfortable place to be, with plenty of shoulder room provided by the wide body and space for four.  The Challenger feels modern on the inside; the interior may be somewhat dark and purposeful like that of the classic car, but well-bolstered modern seats, the available hands-free navigation system with its XXX-inch screen and SRT Reconfigurable Display that allows drivers to look up 0-60 times, quarter-mile times, braking and g forces are persuasive reminders that you’re in the twenty-first century.  The SRT8 features a significant throwback in the form of a pistol-grip shifter, which is long on style but somewhat short on ergonomic comfort.  Special two-tone seat fabric and a 180-mph speedometer also help to set the SRT8 apart.  The Challenger’s trunk is huge, as well, inviting luggage into its 16.2 cubic feet of space.
The Challenger is available with V6 and V8 power, but the big story is the SRT8’s 6.1 liter, 425 horsepower V8.  Unlike the muscle cars of yore, the HEMI under the hood doesn’t provide shattering power–or, at least, the Challenger’s heavy enough that you don’t quite notice it.  It’s a surprisingly high-revving engine and there’s less torque available from a standstill than you’d think.  That’s not to say that 4.9-second 0-60 runs aren’t impressive, but the car doesn’t feel as extreme as the numbers suggest it is.  That said, the Challenger excels at high-speed cruising.  This particular pony car has graduated to grand-tourer status, with a distinctly American flavor.  The six-speed manual transmission is new, and allows drivers to take maximum advantage of the 425 horses on tap. A limited-slip rear differential is standard.  The Challenger has been dinged for excessive weight by performance car fans expecting a svelte drag racer, but if you treat this vehicle like what it is–an American-style long-distance cruiser–it’s an excellent companion.  And it’s not without performance credentials, either; Dodge has taken the Challenger racing, with success.  Transmission choices are a five-speed automatic, or a surprisingly tractable six-speed Tremec TR-6060 manual with a dual-disc clutch that’s shared with Dodge’s ultra-powerful Viper SRT-10.  Guess which gearbox we prefer?  The manual’s dual overdrive gears boost fuel economy and ensure that the Challenger is calm on the freeway.
The secret of the car’s handling success is its suspension, which shares the basics of its short-long arm front, multi-link rear construction with Dodge’s Magnum sedan.  The Challenger SRT-8 rides about half an inch lower than lesser models because of uniquely tuned shocks and springs.  Swaybars are stiffer, and the standard Electronic Stability Program has been retuned to allow more entertaining performance while keeping things safe.  Brembo four-piston calipers at all four corners can bring the Challenger SRT-8 to a halt from 60mph in about 110 feet.  The Challenger is a big, mean car, but it’s surprisingly docile to drive around town, especially in comparison to vehicles like the high-strung Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.
Though it’s a youthful vehicle (in a 1970s kind of way) it seems unlikely that many Challengers will find their way into young drivers’ hands.  While a standard V6 Challenger’s MSRP starts around $23,000, the SRT8 stickers for $40,945.  Gearhead buyers are likely to balk at the sticker because, in total performance terms, that price point will buy much better cars.  In social terms, though, very few vehicles will have the curbside impact of a Challenger.   Forget about the drag strip; load some suitcases into that healthy trunk, point the nose toward the sunset, and let this car take you to whatever adventure awaits.  Not many cars are willing to do that these days, and the Challenger deserves the chance.

Specifications:  All specs are for the 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8.
Length:  197.7 in.
Width:  75.7 in.
Height:      57.1 in.
Wheelbase:  116.0 in.
Cargo space:   16.2 cu.ft.
Base price:  $40,945
Price as tested:  $44,575
Engine:   6.1 liter OHV V8
Drivetrain:  six-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive
Horsepower:  425 @ 6200
Torque:  420 @ 4800
Fuel capacity:  19.0 gal.
Est. mileage:   14/22