10 Things You Need To Know About The 2015 Dodge Challenger

Shock and awe has long been a successful strategy for muscle car builders, and the 2015 Dodge Challenger has taken that lesson to heart.  There are three hardcore performance versions of the redesigned Dodge Challenger available, and that's on top of a more 'modest' V-8 mid-tier edition.  You can still get the Challenger with a healthy level of V-6 motivation too, a budget-friendly option that nets you all of the two-door's retro coupe styling without asking you to dig deep into your pocket in the process.  The tweaking of the Dodge Challenger's successful formula helps to give it one of the broadest, and most versatile line-ups in the modern muscle car pantheon.

Let's take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2015 Dodge Challenger.

1.  The 2015 Dodge Challenger Refreshes Its Retro Styling

It's always a challenge to evolve a retro-influenced design language without losing the essence of its character, but the 2015 Dodge Challenger makes a valiant, and successful effort in this department.  The basic shape of the Dodge Challenger remains the same, especially in profile, but up front there's an attention to detail - including the installation of LED halo rings around the headlights, a double grille surround, and a narrower slot from which the front lights peek out of - that make the car look fatter and flatter than before.  There's also a new hood (that maintains the car's functional air inlets) on most models.  Out back, the full-length tail light has been traded in for a distinctly separated LED two-tail lamp design, and the rear and front fascias have also been tweaked for aero purposes.

2.  The 2015 Dodge Challenger Dramatically Improves Its Interior Styling

Bigger changes can be found inside the 2015 Dodge Challenger, with significant upgrades made to the quality of the materials used to create what is now a more visually-engaging cabin.  Stand-outs include a TFT gauge cluster screen that can be configured to show a variety of vehicle data readouts, a revised dashboard (that can house Chrysler's excellent Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system), and a fresh center console with a new ball shifter in place of last year's pistol-grip design (as well as paddle shifters available for automatic-equipped versions of the Challenger).  Seats and door panels also look and feel much nicer than they did in the previous model.

3.  The 2015 Dodge Challenger Offers Realistic Seating For Four

Speaking of seating, the 2015 Dodge Challenger continues its streak of being the only modern muscle car to provide a comfortable environment for as many as four adults at a time.  Unlike the Ford Mustang or the Chevrolet Camaro, the Dodge Challenger's near-full-size platform affords it with enough rear seat space to accommodate a pair of additional riders for more than a few minutes at a time.  This is due in part to the fact that the Challenger shares a good portion of its chassis with the larger Dodge Charger four-door sedan.

4.  The 2015 Dodge Challenger Starts Out With V-6 Power

If you're looking to benefit from the 2015 Dodge Challenger's knock-out styling, but don't have any interest in drag-strip shenanigans, then you'll want to seek out the more affordable six-cylinder edition of the car.  The Dodge Challenger SXT and SXT Plus trim levels come standard with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 that's good for 305 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque, respectable numbers that are in keeping with the car's entry-level rivals.  Fuel mileage for this version of the car checks in at 19-mpg in stop and go driving and 30-mpg during highway cruising.

5.  The 2015 Dodge Challenger Provides Two Naturally-Aspirated V-8 Upgrades

The 2015 Dodge Challenger also makes available not one, but two naturally-aspirated V-8 engine upgrades for those who feel the need for speed.  The Dodge Challenger R/T steps up to the plate with a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 that generates 375 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, numbers that are backed by a fuel mileage rating of 16-mpg city and 25-mpg highway.  If that's not enough, both the Challenger R/T Scat Pack and the Challenger SRT 392 feature a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 that churns out a hefty 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of twist, allowing the car to scoot to 60-mph in just 4.5 seconds (while knocking fuel mileage down only a hair from the R/T).

6.  The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Delivers Pulse-Stopping Performance

You'll notice that we specified 'naturally-aspirated' in the previous section - that's because the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat sits at the top of the coupe's V-8 pyramid with a 6.2-liter supercharged engine.  Get ready to be shocked: this unit throws down an incredible 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, figures so gaudy that they translate into a 0-60 time of less than four seconds under perfect conditions (along with an 11.9 second quarter mile run @ 123 miles per hour).  What's the fuel mileage like on the SRT Hellcat?  If you have to ask, you'll see 16-mpg in combined driving.

7.  The 2015 Dodge Challenger Can Be Had With Two Transmission Choices

Almost every one of the 2015 Dodge Challenger's drivetrain choices can be had with one of two transmissions.  An eight-speed automatic unit designed by ZF but assembled by Chrysler makes an appearance across the board, with even the SRT Hellcat benefiting from its easy-to-use launch control system and smooth, rapid gear changes under full throttle.  If you are more of a traditionalist in your pursuit of muscle car jollies then each of the V-8 Challengers can also be had with a six-speed manual gearbox.  Unfortunately, the 3.6-liter V-6 is left out of the shift-it-yourself party, although the eight-speed auto does feature the previously-mentioned paddle shifters on the steering wheel for more driver engagement.

8.  The 2015 Dodge Challenger Also Offers Track-Ready Gear

In case you want to do more with the 2015 Dodge Challenger than go fast in a straight line, you can also configure the car with a wide range of track-ready performance equipment.  You can add the Super Track Pak to both the R/T and the SXT models, which brings a stiffer suspension system, upgraded brakes, and tighter steering to the table, while the R/T Scat Pack model includes an even more aggressive set of shocks and springs plus Brembo brakes, extra aero front and rear, an active exhaust, a stability control system with a performance setting, and Brembo brakes.  The Challenger SRT 392 comes with all of the above but adds bigger stopping power to its Brembo package and swaps in an adaptive suspension system plus selectable drive modes (which can be completely configured by the driver).  Finally, the top-tier SRT Hellcat introduces a pair of keys (one of which dials down horsepower for more reasonable street driving), a hood with a functional air scoop, and big spoilers at the front and back of the car to help improve high speed stability.

9.  The 2015 Dodge Challenger Sends You On An Easter Egg Hunt

The 2015 Dodge Challenger continues Chrysler's penchant for hiding unusual, hard-to-find 'Easter Eggs' throughout the cabin.  These Easter Eggs (a term taken from the video game designers who used to secretly code them into mass-market releases) often take the form of call-outs to the brand's heritage.  For example, if you lift up the Dodge Challenger's center console lid you'll find a stamping that commemorates the Dodge Brothers with the words 'Designed In Detroit' and the 100-year old Dodge Brothers logo.  A little easier to discover is the silhouette of a Challenger driving along the inside black-out of the coupe's windshield.

10.  The 2015 Dodge Challenger Is Affordable

One of the best things about the 2015 Dodge Challenger is that owning one is within the means of most new car buyers.  The Dodge Challenger SXT, with its 305 horsepower V-6 engine, starts at an MSRP of $26,995.  Moving up to the SXT Plus will set you back $29,995, while the V-8 R/T trim begins at a still-reasonable $31,495.  If you want to head to the track, consider the R/T Scat Pack at $38,495, which is a much better deal than the more potent, but pricier Challenger SRT 392 at $45,995.  Finally, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat's window sticker of $59,995 makes it the most expensive member of the Challenger family, but it still seems like peanuts to pay for what is the most powerful eight-cylinder production car in the world.