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…
BMW 6 Series XDrive. Enough said.
US intelligence in car design? Ever hear of Tesla?
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
It’s not like you can’t get it with a V8 anymore. It’s not that serious…
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
Agreed!
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.