The New Dodge Challenger: When Less Power Makes More Sense

In motorsports, except for straight line drag racing, the advantage of raw power is usually not as important as nimble handling, a hot transmission and a cool-head with a light grip on the wheel.

The Dodge division of FCA has made a lot of noise and posted astounding sales and sheer profit with their screaming line-up of 707 horsepower Hellcat and 840 horsepower Demon Chargers and Challengers costing between $65,000 and $86,000, including a well-earned gas guzzler tax!

Taking delivery of the 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody 485-hp, 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 with an eight-speed automatic … the born in the 50s old coot inside  me asked … “Where’s the manual shift !?!?” No worries! It is available with a 6 speed manual trans.

The Dodge Challenger already takes the honors as the most convincing modern retro vehicle on the streets and even down to its low-end V6 GT models displays amazing roadworthy skills.

The new $47,000 Challenger Scat Pack, with the wide-body muscle treatment, is incredibly assertive curbside and even more so at the wheel, with a plenty hefty 485 horsepower V8 under the hood.