2009 Dodge Challenger
The Dodge Challenger generated more buzz than any other new car in 2008. But it was mostly a promise unfulfilled -- Dodge only made 6,400 of the cars, in only one trim level, only for nearly $40,000, and only with an automatic transmission. That last point in particular disappointed many who had been excited by the revival of the classic muscle car. For some, it's hard to consider the new Challenger a true revival of the legendary Challengers of the late '60's and early '70's without the famous pistol-grip short-throw manual of the original.
For 2009, Dodge seeks to make right all of the '08 Challenger's sins. The new Challenger will be available in three trim levels -- a more affordable base SE trim with a V6 and a four-speed automatic, a more upscale R/T with a big V8, and an enthusiast's SRT8 with a giant Hemi. And yes, it will be available with a manual at last. A serious 6-speed transmission borrowed from the Viper, in fact, with that classic pistol-grip brought back to life.
Little else has changed. The retro-muscle exterior hasn't changed a bit, and, unfortunately, an interior that disappointed many reviewers hasn't changed much, either.
What The Auto Press Says
The 2008 Dodge Challenger was, by many measures, the most anticipated car of its year. But the automotive press saw the '08 model as a half-effort, an attempt by Chrysler to cash in on the buzz as quickly as possible, before the assembly lines were ready to produce the car in earnest. For 2009, the Challenger has finally arrived. With a full lineup of three trim levels and a considerable set of customizations available, this year marks the real debut of the car on American roads. It's a car some people will lust after, for its unabashed appeal to muscle car nostalgia, and the power of its huge V8 engines. But most of the criticism leveled at the 2008 applies to the 2009 -- for all the gutsy beauty of its exterior, its interior is disappointing. Beyond that, it may be a car whose time passed before it even arrived. With gas prices surging, will anyone really buy a 6.1-liter Hemi V8?
Here is what the press has to say about the coming 2009 Challenger:
* "With correspondingly lower prices, the less-powerful Challengers will make this pony car more accessible to the masses." - Automobile Magazine
* "Following closely on the launch of the 2008 Challenger SRT8 come the rest of the Challenger family, bowing this fall as 2009 models." - Road and Track
* "The Challenger's Achilles heel, of course, is weight. Derived from the Chrysler 300C/Dodge Charger platform, all Challengers are heavy. ... Until Ford refreshes the Mustang and Chevy gets Camaros in dealerships, though, the Challenger has the power advantage over its competition." - Motor Trend
* "Those considering the V-6 for a fuel-economy advantage will find one, albeit not a big one: 18 mpg city and 25 highway versus 15/23 for the R/T automatic and 16/23 for the R/T stick." - Car and Driver
* "The SRT is killer, the SE's better than we expected it to be, and the R/T is the one a lot of us could see ourselves rolling in. Take your pick. The Challenger's just cool." -- Autoblog
Key Details
2009 Dodge Challenger SE models will be powered by a 2.5-liter V6 making 250 horsepower, available only with a four-speed automatic transmission. R/T models will feature a more powerful, 5.7-liter V8 rated for 370 horsepower. It will be offered with an automatic or a six-speed manual gearbox. The top-of-the-line SRT8 will feature a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 rated for 425 horsepower, and the same set of transmissions as the R/T.
Fuel economy varies from 15/23 (for that big Hemi) to 18/25 (for the low-end SE model).
All Challengers are rear-wheel drive. Safety equipment includes ABS, brake assist, tire pressure monitoring and six airbags. A new hill-start assist program promises to keep manual-equipped Challengers from rolling backward when starting on an incline.
Worth noting, also, is the extensive array of customizations Chrysler's parts division, Mopar, has to offer Challenger buyers. Automobile Magazine says, "Upgrades range from basic air intake systems all the way up to revised camshafts, cylinder heads, and forged crankshafts, as well as a suspension kit that lowers the ride height, and "interior and exterior upgrades that can be fitted to any Challenger model." It will be important for Challenger shoppers not to upgrade their purchase right out of their price range.
The Dodge Challenger generated more buzz than any other new car in 2008. But it was mostly a promise unfulfilled -- Dodge only made 6,400 of the cars, in only one trim level, only for nearly $40,000, and only with an automatic transmission. That last point in particular disappointed many who had been excited by the revival of the classic muscle car. For some, it's hard to consider the new Challenger a true revival of the legendary Challengers of the late '60's and early '70's without the famous pistol-grip short-throw manual of the original.
For 2009, Dodge seeks to make right all of the '08 Challenger's sins. The new Challenger will be available in three trim levels -- a more affordable base SE trim with a V6 and a four-speed automatic, a more upscale R/T with a big V8, and an enthusiast's SRT8 with a giant Hemi. And yes, it will be available with a manual at last. A serious 6-speed transmission borrowed from the Viper, in fact, with that classic pistol-grip brought back to life.
Little else has changed. The retro-muscle exterior hasn't changed a bit, and, unfortunately, an interior that disappointed many reviewers hasn't changed much, either.
What The Auto Press Says
The 2008 Dodge Challenger was, by many measures, the most anticipated car of its year. But the automotive press saw the '08 model as a half-effort, an attempt by Chrysler to cash in on the buzz as quickly as possible, before the assembly lines were ready to produce the car in earnest. For 2009, the Challenger has finally arrived. With a full lineup of three trim levels and a considerable set of customizations available, this year marks the real debut of the car on American roads. It's a car some people will lust after, for its unabashed appeal to muscle car nostalgia, and the power of its huge V8 engines. But most of the criticism leveled at the 2008 applies to the 2009 -- for all the gutsy beauty of its exterior, its interior is disappointing. Beyond that, it may be a car whose time passed before it even arrived. With gas prices surging, will anyone really buy a 6.1-liter Hemi V8?
Here is what the press has to say about the coming 2009 Challenger:
* "With correspondingly lower prices, the less-powerful Challengers will make this pony car more accessible to the masses." - Automobile Magazine
* "Following closely on the launch of the 2008 Challenger SRT8 come the rest of the Challenger family, bowing this fall as 2009 models." - Road and Track
* "The Challenger's Achilles heel, of course, is weight. Derived from the Chrysler 300C/Dodge Charger platform, all Challengers are heavy. ... Until Ford refreshes the Mustang and Chevy gets Camaros in dealerships, though, the Challenger has the power advantage over its competition." - Motor Trend
* "Those considering the V-6 for a fuel-economy advantage will find one, albeit not a big one: 18 mpg city and 25 highway versus 15/23 for the R/T automatic and 16/23 for the R/T stick." - Car and Driver
* "The SRT is killer, the SE's better than we expected it to be, and the R/T is the one a lot of us could see ourselves rolling in. Take your pick. The Challenger's just cool." -- Autoblog
Key Details
2009 Dodge Challenger SE models will be powered by a 2.5-liter V6 making 250 horsepower, available only with a four-speed automatic transmission. R/T models will feature a more powerful, 5.7-liter V8 rated for 370 horsepower. It will be offered with an automatic or a six-speed manual gearbox. The top-of-the-line SRT8 will feature a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 rated for 425 horsepower, and the same set of transmissions as the R/T.
Fuel economy varies from 15/23 (for that big Hemi) to 18/25 (for the low-end SE model).
All Challengers are rear-wheel drive. Safety equipment includes ABS, brake assist, tire pressure monitoring and six airbags. A new hill-start assist program promises to keep manual-equipped Challengers from rolling backward when starting on an incline.
Worth noting, also, is the extensive array of customizations Chrysler's parts division, Mopar, has to offer Challenger buyers. Automobile Magazine says, "Upgrades range from basic air intake systems all the way up to revised camshafts, cylinder heads, and forged crankshafts, as well as a suspension kit that lowers the ride height, and "interior and exterior upgrades that can be fitted to any Challenger model." It will be important for Challenger shoppers not to upgrade their purchase right out of their price range.
