The AWD Dodge Challenger Is Now A Thing, But Where's The V8?

An all-wheel drive 'Dodge Challenger GT' has finally happened, but the powertrain choice isn't inspiring

07 Dec 2016

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

Kills the character in my opnion

Agreed.

But….. but…… keeping it in the family? XD

It’s challenging to have so much power…

At Dodge HQ: Damnit guys, you made the wrong AWD car!

Error 707: No AWD found

charger V6 is AWD. police departments don’t order them because they want the Hemi

Buy a v8 challenger…buy awd parts…convert over. Laugh in FCA face..

Honestly I’m surprised no one did this sooner.

wtf is dodge doing, first the ugly ass 2017 cuda and now a 4wd because the v8 had traction issues and they put in a darn v6

FCA logic

I’ve read somewhere that it has something to do with rental cars, to make them safer due to a new upcomming U.S. law.
Correct me if I’m wrong.

You could RB26 swap it…

Uh……….. what 2017 Cuda? They haven’t made it yet. Also you can still get a V8 in the Challenger, it’s not that serious dude.

Its because the V8s would break their AWD system. Guess they didn’t see fitting to develop a heavier duty version.

Really hurts.

This is quite a shame! But to be fair I doubt that the majority of buyers would want one anyway.

I can only see this viable in an automatic format, who would by an AWD muscle car with a manual transmission that bends you over in hazardous conditions, not practical. On that note, RWD is undoubtedly amazing and is part of the musclecar legend. Look back the the FWD montecarlo SS, sad year in the musclecar world