Dodge Challenger 2010
Dodge are a true American car company who have been in the game for many decades. Whilst in recent years they have fallen behind their rivals somewhat, they still have a few gems in their line-up that allow them to compete. Dodge owners, Chrysler, have fallen into difficult times of late and recently sold a controlling interest in their company to Fiat, who are looking to revitalise the Dodge line-up.2010 is a big year for muscle car enthusiasts. The Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro have both returned to their former glory and can now be joined by their old rival, the Dodge Challenger. Back from the dead, it seems, the Dodge Challenger is ready to compete once more. However, it has a lot of ground to cover and plenty to do to compete with the Mustang and Camaro.Styled much like its 1970s predecessor, the Dodge Challenger returns with a classic design. The car of choice for the mobsters and villains in 70s movies looks just as good now as it did back then. The decision to stick with traditional styling was a good one and Dodge have pulled it off well. They have made just enough tweaks to modernize it in places, but overall, it looks just like its daddy.The interior has had a much needed update but still looks fantastically retro. There are a bunch of modern amenities inside and the leather seats provide great comfort for the driver. With the addition of rear-wheel drive, this is certainly a modern day car, in all respects, hidden under a retro 70s skin.The engine is going to be a large factor in how this car stacks up against its Mustang and Camaro rivals. Under the hood the Challenger packs a 3.5 litre V-6 that can produce around 250bhp. More powerful options are available with a 5.7 litre V-8 capable of around 370bhp being the first of them. The final engine is a beastly one; a 6.1 litre V-8 that can power out around 425bhp. These engines are very decent indeed and certainly help the Challenger get to the speeds it needs to, to compete.The safety features are great, with Dodge adding ABS, front, side and side curtain airbags and both traction and stability control as standard. Transmissions come in the form of both five and six speed automatics, which is expected. A manual would have been nice, but unnecessary. The suspension has been tightened and there have been enough tweaks inside that make this car much more responsive and give it a sportier drive, which are all huge positives.The price for the unsung American pony-car? Very, very reasonable. Starting at around $23,000 you can get the base model, however, if you are willing to splash out a bit more, for around $45,000 you can have that massive 6.1 litre V-8 in the SRT8 model.The Dodge Challenger may have been back since 2008, but only now does it feel like it has actually returned. Just like its rivals, it has improved drastically and is surely ready to compete with them once more. Dodge may be a small way behind Ford and Chevrolet, but they are catching up and making enough noise for people to stand up and notice. The Challenger is a good muscle car and a worthy choice once more.
