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Dodge Challenger R/T

Published 3:36 pm Friday, December 26, 2008

It’s a bad thing or a good thing, depending on how your head works and the company you keep, but muscle cars have long symbolized the mastery of American automakers.

In 2008, nearly 40 years after the Challenger first scorched the pavement, laying the groundwork for many a youthful memory, Dodge recreated its famous pony car.

Designers sculpted a new Challenger that has all the visceral appeal of the original, along with the considerable benefits of modern technology and engineering.

There is only one version of the ’08 Challenger, the SRT8, but for 2009 Dodge adds the SE and R/T models.

The SE, starting at $21,995, has a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 250 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a four-speed automatic transmission.

The R/T sports a 372-horsepower, 5.7-liter Hemi V8 and a five-speed automatic transmission. It is also available with a six-speed manual gearbox. R/T pricing starts at $29,995.

The ultra-performance SRT8 ($39,995) is powered by a model-exclusive 6.1-liter Hemi V8 generating 425 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic with Auto Stick.

All prices mentioned here include the $675 destination charge.

EPA ratings for the SE are 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway. The R/T’s numbers are 16/25 with automatic or manual transmission, and the SRT8 gets 13/19 with an automatic and 14/22 with a manual.

My tester was an R/T with manual transmission. Items on the standard equipment list included air conditioning, power windows, remote keyless entry, cruise control, variable intermittent windshield wipers, tilt and telescoping steering wheel column, a four-speaker audio system with CD player and MP3 capability, and a host of safety features such as anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic stability program, and side curtain front and rear airbags.

The new Challenger is a big two-door coupe with rear-wheel drive, roomy seating for five passengers, and a large trunk. Interior design tends toward minimalism, in keeping with the car’s retro roots. A pistol-grip shifter for the manual transmission is a definite nod to early Challenger styling.

There’s a nice rumble from the Hemi engine, to say nothing of its exhilarating performance. The car never feels smaller than it is, but its spry handling is remarkable for as large as it is. The manual transmission is easy on the driver, as long as the driver remembers the skip shift feature that blocks second and third gears (going from first directly into fourth) during moderate launches to improve fuel economy. The manual comes with hill start assist, a more welcome feature, which holds the car in place briefly during launches on steep hills, to prevent downhill rolling.

Option packages on the tester added Sirius satellite radio, audio system upgrades, heated front seats, HID headlamps, a desirable Electronics Convenience Group, upgraded wheels and tires, heavy duty brakes and more.

As you can imagine, my Challenger attracted much attention. Especially from members of the law enforcement community. I noticed something interesting about the cops’ reactions to the Challenger, however. As Larry Lark never fails to remind us, I drive a lot of super-hot cars. The usual reaction of police officers when they see me coming toward them in one of these super-hot cars is to turn their head toward the middle of their dashboard, glancing at the radar display, I presume.

But the Challenger? They just stared at the car. They stared gapingly, almost longingly — not suspiciously or authoritatively.

Detroit has made mistakes, but they sure got muscle cars right.