Dodge Challenger (2008)

The Dodge Challenger is a retro-futuristic Pony/Muscle car manufactured by American carmaker Dodge since 2008 as a response to the popularity of the equally retro-futuristic 2005-2009 Ford Mustang. The Challenger competes with the resurrected 2010 Chevrolet Camaro and usher in a new age of muscle cars in America.

See Wikicars' comprehensive  Review.

Recent Changes

 * On December 21, 2010, Chrysler releases a Dodge Challenger Sox and Martin Collector Series Hemi Cuda
 * For 2011, Dodge launched the 1492 unit limited edition Challenger SRT8 392. Employing a new 6.4 litre V8 with variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation, power has increased to 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque while fuel efficiency has improved 15-20 percent. But the 392 is more than just a muscle car and Chrysler has taken the effort to improve the car's handling with reworked suspension (ie. firmer shocks), quicker steering ratio, more negative camber than before and unique a chin spoiler up front that helps channel air to the vehicle's radiator and provide additional downforce at higher speeds.

Styles and Major Options
The Challenger is currently available in one trim: SRT8. Future trims will be available with a 5-speed automatic transmission and a 6-speed manual. Three different engines will offered, dependent upon trim, and many options are different from level to level. Some of the standout standard features are listed below:

Challenger R/T

 * 5.7L 370hp V8 HEMI Engine
 * 18" Aluminum Wheels
 * SIRIUS Satellite Radio
 * Leather Trimmed Bucket Seats, Steering Wheel, and Shift Knob
 * 8-Way Power Driver's Seat

Challenger SRT8

 * 6.1L 425hp V8 HEMI Engine
 * 20" Aluminum SRT Design Wheels
 * Leather Trimmed Seats w/Preferred Suede
 * Body Color Mirrors, Fascias, and Rear Spoiler
 * High Performance Suspension and Steering
 * Mini Trip Computer and Vehichle Info Center

Pricing
Add more fields as necessary.

Gas Mileage
Add more fields as necessary.

As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Engine and Transmission
Specifications, details, graphs, pictures and other information regarding the powertrain is placed in this section.

Peformance
Add more fields as necessary.

Reliability
All Dodge Challengers purchased new from a licensed Dodge dealership include the Dodge Lifetime Limited Powertrain Warranty. The warranty covers engine and transmission parts for the life of the vehicle for the first registered owner. It is not transferable.

Safety
The Challenger received 5-star crash ratings for both front and side impact testing by the NHTSA. 

Photos
On December 2007, official teaser shots of the production Challenger SRT8 have surfaced on the internet.

Colors
A complete list of colors for the Challenger can be found on Dodge.com. Some of the available colors are:

Exterior
 * Bright Black Crystal Pearl
 * Inferno Red Crystal Pearl
 * Bright Silver Metallic
 * High-Performance Red
 * Deep Water Blue Pearl
 * Stone White
 * HEMI Orange Pearl (2008-2009)
 * B5 Blue (2009-present)
 * Detonator Yellow (2010)
 * Plum Crazy Purple (2010)

Interior
 * Dark Slate Gray Cloth
 * Dark Slate Gray Leather
 * Dark Slate Gray two-tone Leather
 * Dark Slate Gray leather-trimmed SRT style

Main Competitors

 * Ford Mustang
 * Chevrolet Camaro
 * Hyundai Genesis

Hybrid Models
There are no hybrid models of the Challenger.

Unique Attributes
Thanks to its LX-platform basis, the Dodge Challenger is physically a much larger car than the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang or Hyundai Genesis. In the top-of-the-line SRT8 trim, the Challenger is 600 pounds heavier than the comparable Mustang GT and 300 pounds heavier than the 2010 Camaro SS. At 4,140 pounds the Challenger is only 50 pounds lighter than its Charger sibling despite six inches removed from the chassis. Even so, the SRT8 is capable of a 4.8-second 0-60 sprint and quarter mile time of 13.3 seconds at 109 miles per hour, making it a very quick car.

Its chassis is actually borrowed from Chrysler's previous envolvement with Daimler-Benz. It shares many suspension components and geometry from the E-Class Mercedes as well as its Chrysler siblings 300 and 300C, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Magnum.

Interior
This section should include information on the interior's design, build quality, ergonomics, space (head and legroom, front and rear), features, stowage compartments and overall comfortability and livability. Add pictures wherever applicable and keep information in a third-person point of view.

Resale Values
Add more fields as necessary.

Criticisms
Please make sure to keep critiques in a third-person point of view. If using criticisms from a reputable automotive source, then please make sure to cite the quote.

Generations
Please make sure NOT to use copyrighted pictures.

2008
After a huge response to the 2006 Challenger concept, the production model debuted in 2008. For the first year, all of the Challengers were released in the top-of-the-line SRT trim with the 6.1-liter Hemi with 425 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. With just 6,400 units released in the U.S. for the 2008 model year, nearly all of that lot was presold after the overwhelming popularity of the 2006 concept. The only colors available for the 2008 model year were Hemi Orange, Brilliant Black, TorRed, and Bright Silver Mettalic. While all LX-platform Challengers, Chargers, 300s, and discontinued Magnums were built in Canada, the country was only alotted a run of 500 cars for the 2008 model year to bring the production total to 6,900.

2009
For 2009, Chrysler filled out the Challenger lineup despite a failing economy. In addition to the existing SRT8, buyers could also have two other flavors of the Challenger, including the mid-range R/T and the SE while Canadians could buy an SXT derivative of the SE package. The R/T featured a 5.7-liter version of the Hemi that was rated at 375 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, budget-minded SE and SXT buyers were given a 3.5-liter High Output V6 rated at 250 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque mated to a four-speed automatic transmissions. Also, SRT8 and R/T owners could also buy a 6-speed manual transmission made by Tremec. Surprisingly, this was the first time a modern Hemi production car was mated to a manual transmission since their debut more than five years earlier.

For 2009, buyers could partake in special edition models, such as the R/T Classic and Spring Special SRT8. The R/T Classic was given 'heritage stripes' package in addition to 20-inch chrome-clad wheels that mimicked classic five-spoke rims from the previous musclecar era. Most R/T Classics were painted in the returning B5 Blue color, a color that was a popular color from Chrysler's heyday in the late 60s and early 1970s. The Spring Special package was a derivative of the R/T Classic in that it was essentially a SRT8 painted in the same B5 Blue color along with blue striping on the seats. Thanks to Chrysler's financial troubles and impending rolling plant shutdowns, the production of 2009 R/T Classics and Spring Specials was extremely limited, with less than 240 examples of Spring Special SRT8s ever made.

2010
Despite pervasive rumors of the contrary, Chrysler returned the mighty Challenger to production after emerging from bankruptcy. For the 2010 model year, the SE got a five-speed transmission in place of an aging four-speed tranny. For the more powerful trim levels, changes to the car were few as colors were the only real differences from the 2009 SRT8 and R/T models. The biggest change was the removal of the iconic Hemi Orange from the Challenger lineup. In its place, B5 Blue was added as a normal production color. Taking B5 Blue's place on the special edition color lineup were two heritage colors: Detonator Yellow and Plum Crazy Purple. Detonator Yellow was limited to the first few months of production while Plum Crazy Purple will be used as the Spring Special option.

First Generation/Origins (1970-1974)

 * see also Dodge Challenger for more details.

Worldwide
If the vehicle is sold in other markets worldwide, then this is the section to mention that information. Also, mention if the  goes by another name in these other markets.

Design quirks and oddities
One Challenger was featured in the Second episode of series 12 of the british motoring show, Top Gear. At first, Chrysler (who own Dodge) refused to lend one to presenter, Richard Hammond, claiming that Top Gear always finds Chryslers as bad cars. In retaliation, Richard had to go out and buy one. During the road trip of San Francisco to Bonneville, while Richard was eating, co-presenter Jeremy Clarkson was able to move the Challenger thanks to the its push-button start from its original parking space to the middle of the road where it held up traffic until a very confused Richard came out and moved it again. On windy mountian roads outside Bonneville, the Challenger did not handle well due to it's sedan-based suspension. On the Bonneville salt flats, Richard Hammond managed to acheive over 140mph in the Challenger at the one-mile mark.

Awards
List out notable awards that the model has recieved while in production. Boldface the company or organization that gives out the award, and Italicize the name of the award.