Thanks to its vibe and fundamentally old-school character, the new 2022 Dodge Challenger is reminiscent of the golden age of muscle cars. And, as with most Dodge muscle car offerings, some models in the Challenger lineup are very entertaining to drive.
With ten trim options to choose from, there is a Dodge Challenger tailored for everyone. Those seeking an affordable enter the Challenger brotherhood can dip their feet in the waters with the entry-level 303hp V6 model. More experienced drivers looking for more thrill can grab one of the 375hp 5.7-liter or 485hp 6.4-liter Hemi V8-powered Challenger cars. However, the Supercharged Hellcat engine-powered trims are at the top of the food chain, generating over 700hp of greatness.
The Dodge Challenger has a rich history stretching all the way back to 1969. But how much do you know about the car? We have curated some interesting facts about the Dodge Challenger you can read before heading out to a Chrysler dealership to buy one.
10 Most Powerful Production Muscle Car
The 2021 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock is the most intense American muscle car ever produced, and the most powerful car made in America. For starters, the car packs the same 6.2-liter Supercharged HEMI V8 engine found in the 2018 Challenger SRT Demon. Mated to an eight-speed transmission, the HEMI can churn out 807 hp and 708 lb-ft of torque.
That is 10hp more than the standard SRT Hellcat Redeye 47hp more than the Mustang Shelby GT500. The Challenger SRT Super Stock launches to 60mph in 3.25 seconds and eats up a quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds at a top speed of 131mph.
9 All Challenger Hellcats Have Diamonds Inside
It turns out Chrysler hid real diamonds in the Hellcat, but before you go on a treasure hunt, note that without them, it would be next to impossible to tame the Hellcat. First, the massive supercharger needs up to 80hp to spin. Therefore, the crankshaft pulley had to be secured tightly. Regular steel washers lack the friction to hold on tight.
Chrysler engineers turned to industrial diamond embedded steel washers with three times steel's friction coefficient to prevent the Hellcat engine from bursting under the intense strain.
8 Whole Division Created By Dodge To Build The Challenger Hellcat
There is a running myth that muscle cars are cheaply made. That might have been true in the early days where they were notorious for using poor quality materials and rushed the assembly, but today manufacturers refine their muscle cars to the tee. And for Dodge to build a car as powerful as the Hellcat, they had to come up with a whole new vehicle-development process for designing, building, and testing.
The Hellcat went through 2 million customer-equivalent hours of testing in new dedicated facilities, stocked and staffed labs, and equipment capable of testing the car's massive power.
7 Official Hellcat Ringtone
Millions of keyboard drivers around the globe wake up every day with dreams of driving the best of muscle cars. Some are impatiently counting the days until their new Hellcat will be delivered, while others will likely never lay their hands on one. Whether waiting or lacking $60,000 to spare, Dodge has your back; they offer a downloadable ringtone of the Hellcat's menacing roar.
We all love the sound of our cars, and now Dodge has made sure that you can figuratively drop the 707hp Hellcat V8 into your smartphone and give it the easiest power-add you'll ever install.
6 Dodge Challenger Acceleration And Top Speed
Classic muscle cars were notoriously fast down the straights but struggled around corners. Advancements have improved the overall cornering, but that did not end their ability to eat straight lines for fun. All Dodge Challenger versions come with impressive acceleration. The 797hp Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye launches to 60mph in 3.4 seconds. While the highest trim, 807hp SRT Super Stock, is a tad quicker at 3.25 seconds.
Even the lowest trim V6 powered Challenger SXT is very fast, reaching a 156-mph top speed. The big boys in the lineup record up to 203mph. However, Dodge limits the top speed electronically at 168mph to protect the car's 315/40 drag radial tires.
5 Challenger Hellcat Redeye Has Demon DNA
The 2019 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye was an animal with Dodge Demon features, making it a more possessed beast. The Redeye legend is that the Dodge Demon possessed the Hellcat as it took its last breath in 2018. The car inherited the 797hp engine and other tech features like line lock, torque reserve, adaptive suspension, launch control, and the intercooler chiller system.
While the Dodge Demon was limited to 168mph because of tires, the Hellcat Redeye can reach an impressive 203 mph. This didn't prevent Dodge from making the Redeye power attainable for the masses, as it costs less than the Demon.
4 A Very Thirsty Beast
It is no surprise that 800 hp of power comes with abysmal gas mileage. The 2021 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye is estimated to manage a meager 13 city and 22 highway mpg, with a combined rating of 15mpg. On top of that, you will have to pay a one-time $2,100 gas guzzler tax.
Dodge made 0.5-inch diameter fuel lines to help quench the gasoline thirst of the Dodge Challenger Hellcat's 6.2-liter Hemi V8 engine. Eight fuel injectors placed strategically in the intake runners deliver about 630cc of fuel every minute in a nearly continuous delivery to ensure enough gasoline supports the 797hp output.
3 Factory Break-in Treatment For Hellcat Engines
While modern engines are much tougher than previous iterations, manufacturers still advise customers to drive the cars gently for the first 1,000 miles to guarantee the long-term health of the machine. Breaking-in gives the engine time to adjust to daily operation and reduces early engine wear as the oil reaches all moving parts evenly. The piston-cylinder connector gets time to sit appropriately, ready to run for the next decades.
Dodge helps with this process as all V8 Hellcats undergo a 42-minute dyno run at the manufacturer's Saltillo plant in Mexico. The engine is broken in at a maximum engine speed of 5200rpm and 90% load. Just in case a customer gets too excited and pushes the beast from the go.
2 Two Air Inlets And Two Cooling Systems
A gasoline-thirsty engine like the Challenger's Hemi V8 requires an equally high amount of air for the fuel to burn properly. Dodge developed a two-air-inlet system for the Challenger SRT Hellcat. One inlet is placed next to the driver's side headlight. A second inlet responsible for an extra 15hp sucks air from beneath the car.
As the Dodge Challenger Hellcat comes with two cooling systems, the primary system keeps the engine cool while the secondary system helps cool the intake charge. The second computer-regulated system operates completely independently with a sealed flow loop and electric water pump.
1 Supercharger Noise Is By Design
The whine coming out of the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat's supercharger is not by accident, but by design. Compare it to the whine on the Camaro ZL1 supercharger, and you'll realize they are different. Dodge specially engineered this sound to please Hellcat customers who are hell-bent on getting maximum performance per liter.
When on idle or easy on the throttle, the bearing, gear, rotor, and airflow noise remains largely inaudible. Once you step on the gas with intent, everything comes to life, and you hear a fine whine mixed with the louder intake and exhaust hums. This noise is 100% legit since no artificial sound is added through the sound system.
sources: caranddriver.com, motortrend.com, dodge.com, hotcars.com