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2015 Dodge Challenger: Old School Fun With Up To 707 Hp

2015 Dodge Challenger: Old School Fun With Up To 707 Hp
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Meet The 2015 Dodge Challenger

When it comes to automobiles, nothing symbolizes America in vehicular form more than muscle cars. Back in the 1960s, when muscle cars were available from every American manufacturer, the formula was simple: take the smallest car in the line-up and cram in the biggest motor. Voila. A muscle car was born.

The mid-2000s saw a resurgence of muscle cars with the return of Chevy's Camaro and Dodge's Challenger to join the Ford Mustang, complete with retro styling and big V8 power. Our focus today is on the 2015 Dodge Challenger, which debuts with a substantial mid-cycle refresh. Dodge flew automotive journalists into Portland, Oregon to spend a day with the refreshed Challenger on a scenic drive followed by track time at Portland International Raceway.   

Join us as we hop in the driver’s seat of the base SXT, mid-level R/T, SRT8, and 707-hp Challenger SRT Hellcat for hot laps in pouring Pacific Northwest rain to see if the 2015 Dodge Challenger is a straight-line monster or a more refined sports car.

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  • 0 Hide
    wolverine96 , September 21, 2014 6:22 PM
    Don't listen to them! This car is awesome! It is my dream car! Thanks for the article!

    $60,000 is such a great price (for the STR Hellcat). I was expecting it to be in the $70-80,000 range.

    All hail the most powerful muscle car ever built, not to mention the least expensive 700+ horsepower car in the US.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91jRLQa5U8E
  • 0 Hide
    delaro , September 21, 2014 7:27 PM
    STR Hellcat, the only Dodge I'd ever consider owning.
  • 0 Hide
    tuanies , September 21, 2014 7:59 PM
    Quote:
    The author will likely Dodge your question :-)


    What question? ;) . It still saddens me the old Dodge the father, Ram the daughter stickers are no longer applicable to the new trucks :( 

    Quote:
    Don't listen to them! This car is awesome! It is my dream car! Thanks for the article!

    $60,000 is such a great price (for the STR Hellcat). I was expecting it to be in the $70-80,000 range.

    All hail the most powerful muscle car ever built, not to mention the least expensive 700+ horsepower car in the US.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91jRLQa5U8E


    I drove it again two weeks ago at a press event, there's something about mashing the pedal of an automatic Hellcat and watching the rear tires just light up makes me giddy like a school boy.

    Quote:
    STR Hellcat, the only Dodge I'd ever consider owning.


    I asked my wife if I could buy a Charger SRT Hellcat, she said no :( .
  • 0 Hide
    blackmagnum , September 21, 2014 8:20 PM
    Does it corner like Santa's sleigh?
  • -2 Hide
    tuanies , September 21, 2014 8:21 PM
    I didn't really try to push it at the track, it was pouring down rain. When it started drying up, I took out the SXT and didn't find it too bad. It's no Exige or Miata but it gets the job done.
  • -5 Hide
    dstarr3 , September 21, 2014 9:41 PM
    The perfect car for people that like terrible, terrible cars.
  • 0 Hide
    Amdlova , September 21, 2014 10:01 PM
    that car is amazing... where i from we got here engines with 1 liter 3 or 4 cylinder man that sucks alot! when i see some muscle car i wanna cry... and for god sake the 1 liter engines only make on road 14km/l this dodge make at last 12 km/l!
  • -1 Hide
    laststop311 , September 21, 2014 11:12 PM
    4450 pounds is pretty damn heavy. Gonna be rough taking hard turns. I would still take a Nissan skyline gtr R34 Z tune. It "only" produces 500 horsepower but weighs 3300 pounds a whole 1150 pounds less and gets that 500 hp from a turbod 2.8L 6 cylinder engine. 0-60 in 3.8 seconds with a top speed of 202 mph. But it's really known for its incredible suspension and handling and this car can cut corners like no other.
  • -1 Hide
    laststop311 , September 21, 2014 11:13 PM
    Not too mention the amount of custom tuning and upgrades you can make to make the skyline unimaginably awesome
  • 2 Hide
    wtfxxxgp , September 22, 2014 4:09 AM
    This is not a sensible decision - you buy this type of car out of sheer passion for "cool". I think it's seriously cool. Old school looks with modern day tech. Yes please, I'll have one, but not as a daily driver.
  • 1 Hide
    Drejeck , September 22, 2014 4:16 AM
    What's its time around the Nurburgring?
  • 0 Hide
    stevenrix , September 22, 2014 7:25 AM
    This car is way too heavy, I tested the Hemi version 1 year ago and I felt I was driving a truck. I ended up buying a corvette 6.3L for less money, and it's a beast.

  • 1 Hide
    tuanies , September 22, 2014 7:30 AM
    Quote:
    4450 pounds is pretty damn heavy. Gonna be rough taking hard turns. I would still take a Nissan skyline gtr R34 Z tune. It "only" produces 500 horsepower but weighs 3300 pounds a whole 1150 pounds less and gets that 500 hp from a turbod 2.8L 6 cylinder engine. 0-60 in 3.8 seconds with a top speed of 202 mph. But it's really known for its incredible suspension and handling and this car can cut corners like no other.


    I love the R34. I would love to have a Autech Stagea 260RS with the Skyline front end swap, GT-R performance in a family friendly wagon. However, the GT-R is a heavy beast but manages to defy gravity as well. You can make a good handling car that's heavy, but it doesn't feel as nimble as a much lighter car, despite being every bit as capable.

    Quote:
    This is not a sensible decision - you buy this type of car out of sheer passion for "cool". I think it's seriously cool. Old school looks with modern day tech. Yes please, I'll have one, but not as a daily driver.


    It really isn't a sensible car at all, its insane and defies all accounting logic as to why it should be made. However, I'm glad in a day and age of green-focused cars that we still have something so insane to make it into production. I think you could easily get into too much trouble with one as a daily driver.
  • 0 Hide
    siman0 , September 22, 2014 7:47 AM
    The hellcat is so heavy under full cornering you can roll the tires off the wheels. Its so heavy not even srt drivers can get the times fiat/chrysler say it can get. It is so heavy under acceleration the tires rotate on the weels aswell. If you buy this make sure you have deep pockets your going to need them for the tires gas breaks and insurance. Hellcat is another twist on the viper its so old outdated and inefficient. Not a smart buy at all...
  • 2 Hide
    rubix_1011 , September 22, 2014 8:16 AM
    Problem with US automakers is that they know that their general population sees 'Big Horsepower!' and stops there. You also have to consider curb weight and power to weight ratio as well as handling. Sure, it will do a great standing 1/4 mile, but I bet it handles like a pig in winding corners and up/down mountains.

    Nissan GTR > Dodge Challenger SRT (including w/Hellcat motor)

    I'd even prefer a Corvette Stingray or Z06 over this thing. Heck, I'd rather have a Viper/SRT10 than this.
  • 0 Hide
    tuanies , September 22, 2014 8:39 AM
    Quote:
    Problem with US automakers is that they know that their general population sees 'Big Horsepower!' and stops there. You also have to consider curb weight and power to weight ratio as well as handling. Sure, it will do a great standing 1/4 mile, but I bet it handles like a pig in winding corners and up/down mountains.

    Nissan GTR > Dodge Challenger SRT (including w/Hellcat motor)

    I'd even prefer a Corvette Stingray or Z06 over this thing. Heck, I'd rather have a Viper/SRT10 than this.


    FiatChrysler will gladly sell you an Alfa Romeo 4c that's light, nimble and a ton of fun for the same price. At $60k, its a phenomenal car if you just want to mash the pedal and grin. I enjoy both types of driving and I'm not going to deny mashing the pedal on the Hellcat doesn't make me grin like a schoolboy.
  • 0 Hide
    rubix_1011 , September 22, 2014 8:52 AM
    4C would be a better choice, but depends if US will get the 'same' 4C that Europe sees. I'd rather have quick, nimble and fun to drive rather than clunky, heavy and going everywhere with a need to haul a fuel tanker just to stay on the road.
  • 0 Hide
    tuanies , September 22, 2014 8:56 AM
    Quote:
    4C would be a better choice, but depends if US will get the 'same' 4C that Europe sees. I'd rather have quick, nimble and fun to drive rather than clunky, heavy and going everywhere with a need to haul a fuel tanker just to stay on the road.


    Yea I drove a Euro-spec preproduction and the car is amazing. It has little sexy bits of carbon fiber that's revealed when you open the doors, everything is tastefully done. The sound of the 1.7 turbo spooling up and the blow off behind you is like ear candy. Been trying to sell my wife on it as a Exige she could drive because the Exige is her perfect car, but she can't really drive stick.

    However, I'll probably end up buying another Miata in a couple years.
  • 0 Hide
    rubix_1011 , September 22, 2014 9:07 AM
    Easy solution, buy a cheap, 10 year old 5 speed Honda Civic or Accord and teach her to drive manual. I taught my wife to drive stick in a single afternoon when she was 19 years old (when we were dating, of course).
  • 0 Hide
    tuanies , September 22, 2014 9:15 AM
    I've been trying to teach her to drive the Project 5 but she's hesitant and is scared of rolling back. She'll learn eventually, but at this point I just bought her a Nissan Leaf so she's probably even less likely to learn now.
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