If there’s anyone who’s showing any respect to its roots, it’s Dodge. Quite surprisingly, the fundamentals of the brand have remained largely the same. The significance of Dodge and its contributions are often praised for how wild and unsensible they seem, and we cannot agree more. “Mopar or no car” is a mantra in the world of muscle cars.
With the automotive industry shifting towards sustainable energy, it’s companies like Dodge that really embrace what internal combustion engines are. The sheer amounts of unadulterated drama and sense of occasion will likely remain unmatched and worth cherishing in the years to come. With the Hellcat siblings literally flipping environmentalists and pushing the very limits of emissions, it’s hard to accept that the end is near. But as they say, it’s not over until it’s over.
If we’re brutally honest, the Dodge Challenger is our only recommendation for hardcore muscle car enthusiasts. Sure, it’s heavy and not as agile as its sports car rivals, but the Challenger happens to be the most characterful out of all the modern muscle cars. With the Hellcat treatment, the Challenger frankly sits in a league of its own. We’ll go as far as to call the Dodge Challenger Hellcat the last great muscle car. Since 2023 will see the Challenger SRT Hellcat bidding farewell, what better time to embrace a legend than now.
The Dodge Challenger Represents What A True Muscle Car Is
Just when the pony car frenzy was catching up, Dodge brought in the Challenger as a worthy contender to the Ford Mustang and its sibling, the Plymouth Barracuda. Because Chrysler had more of a say in Dodge’s economics, the brand decided to use the Chrysler E-body architecture. It didn’t take long for the Challenger to gain traction as it came with some of the more enticing engine choices of the time. Chief among the offerings was the rather expensive but hugely potent 426 cu.in Hemi.
Fast forward a couple of decades, and the Challenger, which started off as a contender, is now the only offering that’s staying true to its lineage. For 2022, Dodge is offering the Challenger in a variety of trims that range from standard items to tire-shredding Hellcats. Much like the four-seater Charger, the Challenger is offered in multiple trims starting from the 300-horsepower Challenger SXT to the 797-horsepower Challenger Hellcat Redeye. Not to mention the special editions Mopar’s been churning out lately. If you’re the sort of person looking for a fairly sensible sports coupe, we’d suggest going with any European makes. However, if you happen to prefer any of the native thoroughbreds, we’d suggest the Dodge Challenger, for it represents what a true muscle car really is.
Why The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Is The Last Of Its Kind
Let’s be honest, the Mustang has transitioned into a mix between a sport and a muscle car, and Ford is currently milking its glorious heritage. The Camaro is not necessarily a true muscle car either. It’s no surprise that the lines between a muscle car and a sports car are getting blurred in today’s motoring lingo. But the fact is, if there’s any car that we’d call proper muscle, it’s the Hellcat, specifically, the Challenger Hellcat.
We could go one-up and call the Redeye the best there is. But hey! 707 horsepower is still a lot for something that handles like a boat. If you’re talking Redeye V/s Demon V/s Hellcat, really, it’s pretty much numbers at this point; that is—if we set aside the engineering differences. But more importantly, will the average Joe or Joanne notice the difference between a Hellcat, a Redeye, or a Demon? Probably not. But will they notice a difference between the Challenger SRT 392 and the Hellcat? Of course, they will. Firstly, the latter has a 200+ horsepower advantage. Secondly, they will not miss the intoxicating supercharger whine in the Hellcat. Very iconic and very Mopar.
The experience is further heightened with driver involvement. As you can probably tell, the combination of a screaming 6.2L supercharged V8 with three-pedals is a dying breed. You could’ve ordered a Hellcat with a 6-speed manual, but 2022 Hellcats are strictly an 8-speed torque converter only. Apparently, this is a temporary measure, and the six-speed manual should return at some point with a revised calibration.
With emissions burdening every other automaker, performance cars are taking a big hit with increasingly tight regulations. The amount of fumes coming out of a supercharged 6.2L V8 pumping 700+ horsepower is far from acceptable. The reality is since we may not see another Dodge V8 in the coming years, it’s important to embrace the idea of such iconic machines. Fortunately, enthusiasts are onboard, reflected in the Challenger’s sales figures, surpassing the Mustang as America’s best-selling muscle car for the very first time.
Sources: Dodge