I require a steak. Bloody rare. While I usually feast on grilled chicken, salads, and diet soda; tonight, bring on the beef and bourbon. My friends and family will stand in horror as I rip apart the slab of meat with my teeth while splattering debris afar. Then, they’ll look in the driveway…and realize it’s all explainable.
I’m driving a Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack with a shaker hood that conjures a special brand of evil first distilled in 1971. But, it’s so much better than that over-hyped heap from four and a half decades ago. The current Challenger is a fully modern car riding on Mercedes-based architecture. Take a little German engineering, layer on fortified American muscle, and gift it with contemporary tech to birth a car like no other.
Beyond the darling wheeled “super bee” cartoons on the fenders, the design is as serious as racing for pinks. Scat Pack trim proclaims intent with a shaker hood scoop (way cool), deep chin splitter, 20” alloys, black decklid spoiler, and black stripes across its rump. Projector beam headlamps with LED halos and LED taillamps light the night. Cursive Challenger script in the grille is a classic touch. Consider design Challenger’s steak sauce.
And, the interior is its seasoning. Echoing the exterior, the high-sill center console and driver-focused instrument panel are inspired by the 1971 Challenger. However, the heated/cooled front seats, heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and 506-watt Alpine audio system are modern delights. The drilled aluminum effect on the dash and console look period – as does the red-themed interior with suede seats. The little super bees embroidered into the seatbacks are too cute.
Chrysler’s infotainment controls with touchscreen above, redundant buttons and knobs below, and voice command is among the best – all the easier for plotting navigation or viewing the back-up camera (you’ll need that camera; the blind spot could hide an obese bull). It’s also the access point for the Track Pack screen that lets drivers configure the throttle, steering, and traction control for different drive modes. For 2015, Challenger is available with forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross path detection systems.
Driving the Challenger is a visceral experience, only paralleled by bare-hand wrestling a calf, during which the vibrations of the motor and mechanical action of the shifter combine with acceleration to make grown men giggle little girl giggles. It’s no Hellcat, but the 485 horsepower 6.4-liter HEMI V8 is potent enough – especially when routed through a six-speed manual transmission that delights both arm and ankle. Tame your toes to see 14/23-MPG city/hwy – respectably frugal for such a beast.
Still, the car’s not as raw as you might think. A new electric power steering system feels more precise and can be tuned for Normal, Comfort, or Sport. Integrating more aluminum to the chassis helps the four-wheel-independent suspension system feel lighter on its wheels. Brembo brakes keep it all under control. The suspension is stiff, but it is not harsh on the streets and is surprisingly comfortable on long trips. It’s a supercar you can use every day.
What Dodge does so well with the Challenger is that it re-created the muscle car, then continued to tweak it into what is the furthest development of the species. Each competitor has its points. Mustang reflects its mid-60s origins while Camaro goes for a smoother modern feel. While there’s nothing old-fashioned about the Challenger, its unabashed muscle car snorting and stomping is spot on.
The Challenger Scat Pack Shaker with the 6.4-liter HEMI starts at just $37,895, but came to $46,880 as-tested. Good luck finding more performance and attitude for the money. Now, I must feed!
Storm Forward!
2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack
Four-passenger, RWD Coupe
Powertrain: 485hp 6.4-liter V8, 6-spd manual trans
Suspension f/r: Ind/Ind
Wheels: 20”/20” alloy f/r
Brakes: Brembo disc/disc fr/rr
Must-have features: Style, chassis
Fuel economy: 14/23 mpg city/hwy
Assembly: Brampton, ON
Base/as-tested price: $37,895/46,880