The AWD Dodge Challenger Is Now A Thing, But Where's The V8?
A few weeks ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made a bit of a boo boo by accidentally confirming the existence of an all-wheel drive Challenger. Now, the car has been revealed in full.
The bad bit? As anticipated, there’s no bit shouty V8 options. The newly christened Challenger GT comes only with a 3.6-litre V6, putting out a modest (well, in muscle car terms) 301bhp and 268lb ft of torque. Only comes as an automatic, too.
The GT gets the same all-wheel drive system as the AWD Charger (also only available as a V6 auto), meaning it’s rear-wheel drive most of the time, with the front driven wheels re-engaging when required.
It’ll set you back $34,490, and will do 18mpg city and 27mpg highway - with those curiously smaller American gallons, obviously.
While it’s just a V6 for now, who knows - if it does well perhaps FCA will be moved to make some V8 versions. Imagine a Hellcat with a slightly less ferocious appetite for rear tyres…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Wait, let me get this straight. Dodge make a Challenger HEAVIER than it already was but give it less power? An excellent example of US intelligence in car design…
WTF IS DODGE DOING, THE DEFINITION OF AMERICAN MUSCLE IS, REAR WHEEL DRIVE WITH TOO MUCH POWER, I find it really funny that a year ago they make the most powerful production muscle car ever, and now this a v6 awd muscle car someone should smack the engineers at dodge in the face for this
they discontinued V8 AWD in that platform starting in the 2015 model year when the 8-speed automatic was introduced
Too bad an AWD Dart isn’t happening
So, basically it is a old, 1990sh Merc taxi awd with 3.6 v6? #ModernMuricanCar
Bleghh. Challengers were always meant to be big, powerful, uncontrollable beasts. Making it AWD cuts out a big piece of its character.
Perfect… More weight
you know what? turns out i’m wrong. i just read that. maybe they’re still using the old 5-speed automatic transmission. as far as i know the 8-speed, for whatever reason, isn’t able to handle AWD
Someone will put a hellcat engine in it
I don’t really know why everyone is complaining about it not having a V8. I’ve ridden in a 300 with the same V6 and it was more than peppy enough. Besides, just upgrade it to make it faster.