The clock is ticking on the current Dodge Challenger, but the model has had a remarkable run.
When it comes to sports cars, muscle cars, coupes and convertibles, sales are typically great for the first year or two, before slowly trickling off as buyers flock to the latest and greatest model.
However, the Challenger turned that convention on its head as U.S. sales increased for seven consecutive years after its launch in 2008. The model continues going strong as Dodge sold 54,314 Challengers last year, which bested the Ford Mustang by 1,900 units and trounced the Chevrolet Camaro by a margin of more than 2:1.
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2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8
That’s a remarkable accomplishment for a model that’s more than a decade old and especially for a coupe. It’s a tribute to the Challenger’s staying power and that brings us to our question of the day: what makes the Challenger so special?
While there’s no easy answer, there’s no denying that designers hit it out of the park with their retro-inspired creation that can be best described as timeless. The lineage to the original Challenger is unmistakable without being too old school or over the top.
Power obviously plays a big role as well as the original Challenger SRT8 cost $37,995 and featured a 6.1-liter HEMI V8 pumping out 425 hp (317 kW / 431 PS) and 420 lb-ft (569 Nm) of torque. It was eventually replaced by a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 with 470 hp (350 kW / 477 PS) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque.
2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
As the years passed, Dodge introduced the Hellcat, Demon, and Hellcat Redeye. The latter boasts a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 pumping out 797 hp (594 kW / 808 PS) and 707 lb-ft (957 Nm) of torque, which is a ridiculous 372 hp (277 kW / 377 PS) and 287 lb-ft (389 Nm) more than the original SRT8.
While the high-performance models grabbed plenty of headlines, Dodge didn’t neglect the more mainstream variants. Quite the opposite, as the company added an all-wheel drive system for 2017, which meant the Challenger could offer year-round appeal to those living in colder climates.
With all that being said, why do you think the Challenger has remained so successful over all these years?
