2020 Challenger also comfortable cruiser
Entry price: $38,995
Price as tested: $59,545
Likes: Best retro looks, decent fuel mileage, serious get up and go.
Dislikes: Pillar blind spot, rear seat access cumbersome, heavy curb weight.
This week, we’re driving the 2020 Dodge Challenger R/T, a Scat Pack 392 Hemi powered version with 485 horses under the hood. Unlike the muscle cars of the 1960s, these modern day muscle cars arrive off the assembly line fitted with traction hungry tires big enough to handle the power, high-tech suspensions that result in good handling and the best in braking technology when the slow pedal is depressed.
The original Challengers, meanwhile, roamed only for five years from 1970 to 1974 during the final years of the muscle car phenomenon.
Back then, you were either a Ford, GM, AMC or MOPAR fan, the latter “MOPAR” nomenclature standing for “Motor Parts” before evolving into slang for anything produced by Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge.
In addition to the big three of Mustang, Camaro and Challenger, other notable Pony Cars of the past include Pontiac Firebird, Plymouth Barracuda and AMCJavelin/AMX.
However, when it comes to exterior looks, the current day Challenger more so than the two other American “pony
car” brands Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, is closer in style to those that cruised the nation’s boulevards in the early 1970s. And to better define pony car, it is an American-built automobile inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964 as a smaller, sporty two-door coupe with a long hood and short rear deck. Following its 2008 re-introduction, the Dodge Challenger has been a popular choice with both those looking for an AWD, V6 powered motif or a Challenger Hellcat that puts out over 700 horsepower.
Challengers for 2020 come in eight
models and 13 distinct forms of livery, from the V6 powered rear and AWD SXT and GT models (starting at $28,095) to a screaming, 797-horsepower 392 supercharged Hemi Hellcat Redeye Widebody at $78,695.
In between are R/T 5.7 Hemis and a host of Scat Pack R/Ts that usher in the 392 Hemi in either naturally aspirated fuel injection or those Hellcat models that are supercharged.
Pricing is very good, as our 392 Scat Pack R/T carried a base price of just $38,995 for a 485 horse machine. Two supercharged Hellcat 392s are available, including the high output 797 horse version or a “tamer” 717 horse design.
Muscle car enthusiasts will quickly note the use of many of the paint designs, striping, colors and nomenclature Dodge and Plymouth utilized with its performance cars from 1967 through 1974.
Included are shaker hood intakes, Super Bee style Scat Pack logos, Hemi badges and more.
Your dealer will explain all models when you visit, including up to a $7,900 price incentive if you buy a Hellcat Redeye right now. Models, prices and trims will be similar for 2021.
So how fast are these 392 Scat Packs? For starters, our 392 fuel injected model will travel the quarter-mile in about 11.7 seconds at 115 mph thanks to its 485 ponies and 475 lb. ft. of torque.
Assisting along the way are features drag racers know well as standard equipment from a front line lock to allow for heating up the rear tires, an impressive launch control assist that the driver can adjust as to RPM. There’s also a shift light available when you utilize the manual mode/paddle shifter selection of the superb eight-speed TorqueFlite (automatic is $1,595 more), or, if wanted, a standard Tremec six-speed manual transmission. If you choose the recommended automatic, you’ll do better in MPG estimates by one in the city at 15 and two on the highway at 25.