The Dodge Challenger SE is a good-looking coupe that dealers say is selling very well. We liked the base Challenger SE because it carried most of the styling cues of its far more expensive and fast SRT8 sibling at a reasonable price, and we can't wait to try out the mid-level HEMI-powered R/T. Chrysler is now looking to add still more visual bark for its bite-less V6 Challenger with an SXT trim package. Chrysler of Canada is researching what the SXT Challenger should look like, and the Pentastar recently displayed a mock-up of the coupe at the Georgian College Autoshow in Barrie, Ontario, Canada to gauge interest. Chrysler surveyed Canadians regarding whether the SXT Challenger should receive a racing stripe, and also gave onlookers a choice of an 18-inch Mopar rim, or some played-out chrome rims. Chrysler also asked how much the SXT package should cost, and we're hoping our northern neighbors checked the "Less than $500" box, if only because the other choices were more expensive. The Cheers and Gears forums suggest that the SXT model may be for Canada only, but we have no information either way.
Chrysler pays the bills with big sellers like the Dodge Ram and Caravan, but when it comes to passion and excitement, the 2009 Dodge Challenger sits with the Viper atop the Pentastar throne. The new Dodge Challenger is retro done right, with the wide stance and long hood of the original mixed with the clean lines and aggressive dimensions of a modern pony car. For the 2008 model year, Chrysler introduced only the SRT version of the Challenger. The first production model sold for $400,000 at auction, and the entire stock of HEMI-packing, Mopar goodness was history faster than it takes to hit 125 mph on a barren back road. The reality of today's high gas prices combined with strict new fuel economy standards means that, unfortunately, it's unreasonable for every Challenger to pack a fire-breathing, neck snapping 425-hp, 6.1L V8. So for 2009, Chrysler added the R/T Challenger with an extremely competitive 375-hp 5.7L Hemi and a less expensive Challenger SE with a corporate 3.5L V6 engine pumping out 250 ponies.
If you want to sport a Dodge Challenger without the fire-breathing V8 or the hefty price tag, the time to act is now. The first two Dodge Challenger SE models have arrived in Ohio this week, and 500 models are en-route to dealerships in the U.S. and Canada as you read this. The SE Challenger packs Chrysler's ho-hum 3.5L V6 with 250 horsepower and a truly retro four speed automatic, but the news is far from all bad. You still get the Challenger's muscular looks, power flowing through the rear wheels, and a hard to beat entry price of only $21,995. You probably won't win many races, but at least you won't be driving an Avenger. Seriously, though, the Challenger SE charmed us at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show where it debuted with a simple proposition: cheap, rear-wheel-drive fun on four wheels.
Back in April we reported a top Chrysler executive had leaked to The Detroit Free Press that the 2009 Dodge Challenger SE would start at $23,995. Apparently this executive is not very much in the loop, as Dodge officially announced today that the base model Challenger SE would start at just $21,995, which includes $675 for destination charges. Just to refresh your noodle, the Challenger SE is the base model and comes with a 3.5L V6 producing 250 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. And for comparison's sake, a 2008 Ford Mustang V6 starts at $19,650, though that's excluding destination charges. The next best Challenger is the R/T model, which Dodge says can be had with a 370-hp 5.7L HEMI V8 starting at $29,995. Finally, the 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 that's already been on sale for a year will get a hefty $2,000 bump in its starting price from $37,995 to $39,995. The only new items on the SRT8 for 2009 are a standard limited-slip differential, High Performance Red and B5 Blue paint colors with black hood stripes, and a "pistol-grip" shifter with the Track Pak. Otherwise, the 425-hp muscle car remains largely the same. Does the $2,000 jump in price matter much, though, if you'll never be able to buy the car without a big dealer markup? Regardless, all three models will be available this fall and dealers are already taking orders.
Chrysler has formally unveiled the full 2009 Dodge Challenger range here at the New York Auto Show. Jim Press gamely handled a few technical snafus that plagued one of the skits going on behind him as he re-introduced the the Challenger SRT8, pulled the wraps off the Challenger R/T and showed us the budget-minded Challenger SE for the first time. Enthusiasts get their wish in 2009, with Chrysler offering a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission in both the SRT and R/T cars. R/T buyers who opt for the stick get an extra five horsepower -- for a total of 375 -- over the R/T auto's 370. Aside from its wheels and badging, the R/T is the spitting image of its fire-breathing SRT brother and should be just as adept at sending tires to the afterlife.
We were also interested to see the entry-level Challenger SE in person, and from the looks of things, it's a nice value package. Pricing in the low-20s puts it in the range of a a wide variety of buyers, and its 245-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 is paired with a 4-speed auto to deliver around 25 mpg highway. It may be the base car, but it's good-looking, with spoiler-free decklid, polished alloys and the same hot retro profile as the V8 cars. Inside, the big difference is the SE's fabric upholstery, otherwise, the layout is what you'll find in other Challengers. The SRT is killer, the SE's better than we expected it to be, and the R/T is the one a lot of us could see ourselves rolling in. Take your pick. The Challenger's just cool.
The Dodge Challenger SRT8 has graced the cover of just about every major automotive rag these past couple months, and muscle car-loving Baby-Boomers are emptying their 401Ks for the chance to own one. If your budget can't take the blow of a $40,000 coupe, however, the folks at Chrysler have debuted a couple more models at the 2008 New York Auto Show that will cost quite a bit less. The Challenger R/T will take the stage later today in NYC and it offers a good portion of the SRT8's power, as well as nearly every design cue seen on its more expensive big brother. Dodge is also unveiling the base SE model (right) for those who want a good looking RWD coupe on a budget.
Since the SRT model was unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show over a month ago, we already know a lot about the Challenger in general. For the R/T model, the real story lies under its hood where an upgraded 5.7L Hemi V8 engine has received a 30-hp bump to 370 ponies, while torque also increases by eight to 398 pound-feet. Opt for the new pistol grip six-speed manual tranny – a first for any LX-platform model – and power jumps to 375 hp and 404 pound-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm, but premium fuel is recommended if you want that third pedal.
