Dodge Challenger R / T Scat Pack 2019 test: Brash and better than ever



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The Challenger is not exactly the last car on sale today; this version goes back a decade. However, Dodge has managed to give a boost to his muscle cut by regularly deploying new versions. From more powerful models to special edition models, from extended color palettes to fast options, there is apparently a new Challenger every year.

Despite all the changes, the basic nature of the Dodge Challenger remains the same. He has a great personality with the pleasure of driving to save him. And no version is as true as this R / T Scat Pack Widebody – a car with almost as many syllables in its name as power under the hood.

Decreased muscle mass

Decoding the myriad of changes to the 2019 Dodge Challenger is as simple as determining the tax code, but in a fundamental sense, this R / T Scat Pack model benefits from components developed for higher performance versions. The Widebody treatment, for example: the flared fenders, which widen the car by 3.5 inches, were designed for the Demon roasted a quarter of a mile before reaching the Hellcat and, now, Challengers with the 6.4 liter V8 Hemi of this test car. The same goes for the "air catcher" headlights, which were introduced on the Hellcat. Recessed, they allow more air cooling in the engine compartment.

The biggest update of this model is that the Widebody treatment gives the Challenger a lot more grip. The R / T Scat Pack has for some time been offering a 6.4-liter engine, developing 485 horsepower and 475 pounds of torque. But the wing wideners can mount tires with a width of 305 sections at each angle, whereas before the largest tires proposed were 275 tires (click here for a reminder of what all these tire codes mean). It means more grip and therefore more performance.

In figures, this results in an improvement in travel time and stopping: the quarter-mile time of the R / T Scat Pack has dropped by 0.2 seconds to 12.1 seconds, while in addition to Added Brembo six-piston front brakes, 60 Mid-range braking reduced by 3 feet.

Pack Dodge Challenger R / T Scat 2019

The enlarged body is as much for the performance as for the appearance.

Nate Reed / Roadshow

Fortunately, all this excess rubber has hardly helped to tame the exuberant attitude of this car. With just a side step of the clutch or throttle, it will fog the Pirelli P-Zeros, roar like something quite out of the 1960s and detach itself from any other traffic. The 6.4 liter engine has a phenomenal sound and delivers absolutely gigantic amounts of power. Yet it is not so overwhelming or overwhelming that I can not exploit it or enjoy it on a public road. The Hellcat Challenger, which endangers licenses, is not the case.

The long, six-speed Tremec manual gearbox is long, heavy and mechanical. No, this is not the type of smooth transmission that you can move with two fingers. Instead, each shift requires a little muscle and a little weight, and the mechanical feel is satisfactory when the transmission goes into gear. Gears one to four are very close together for an incredible pace. five and six are so high (for fuel economy) that you'll be amazed at how often you have to downshift on the road.

If only the throttle were not so nervous and the pedals were better placed for the heel-toe action, this transmission would be perfect. The optional eight-speed automatic is probably a little better suited to the casual nature and power of the Challenger – but it's just not as fun.

Pack Dodge Challenger R / T Scat 2019

The naturally aspirated 6.4-liter V8 engine may be thirsty, but it makes great noise and power.

Nate Reed / Roadshow

He turns too

It goes without saying that the 12-inch wide tires allow this Challenger to generate a lot of cornering grip. Even more impressive is the car's quiet cornering, thanks to improved anti-roll bars, stiffer springs and adaptive three-mode dampers in this Widebody version. The Dodge is serious and accurate when it is headed on winding roads. The new Widebody package is also bearing fruit here: Dodge claims that over a 2.1-mile run, the new model would run twice as fast in laps as last year's Scat Pack.

This does not diminish the portability of this car. Claimed at 4,308 pounds, this Challenger is 565 pounds heavier than a Ford Mustang GT stick-shift, and 9 inches more than one. This makes it all the more impressive as the Challenger, although far from being delicate or agile, handles both turns and stops. As for the latter part, the six-piston Brembo front brakes grip very hard, with a pleasantly firm pedal feel that allows you to reign in the unleashed V8.

Modern interior technique

To keep you entertained when you do not exercise the car's performance, the Dodge Challenger is equipped with the well-known Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system. With fast answers, large, easy-to-read buttons and a simple menu structure, it remains one of our favorite embedded systems. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both supported. A group of reconfigurable color instruments also places a lot of information directly in the driver's field of vision.

The active security list is random. Blind spot monitoring is included in the Driver Confidence package, which also includes HID headlights. Adaptive Cruise Warnings and Forward Collision Warnings are only available on autoparts, which does not exist on my test car.

As a performance model, the Challenger's touch screen also offers quick options. The electronic locking of the line, which keeps the front brakes for you to run out, as well as the launch control with an adjustable speed limit, are now optional this year. Various indicators of the instrument cluster and the infotainment screen allow to monitor details such as engine power and fluid temperature, while various timers can measure the values ​​of the instrument. acceleration, braking and force G.

The Challenger also wins big to be good, internally. The cabin is spacious in both rows of seats. Unlike a Camaro or a Mustang, there are three seatbelts at the back and enough space for adult passengers to adjust comfortably for more than a brief getaway . In addition, the 16.2 cubic foot Dodge capacity deceives the Ford and Chevrolet. You may be wondering if it matters a lot to a performance coupe, but it may be what makes the Challenger a livable everyday car for some buyers.

Pack Dodge Challenger R / T Scat 2019

The cabin of the Challenger is significantly more spacious than its two main rivals, the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro.

Nate Reed / Roadshow

On the other hand, this engine is not the one to choose if you want a daily fuel efficiency of the driver. Although rated for 14 miles per gallon of city and 23 mpg highway, the Challenger has made the economy a lot worse under my care because I could not resist fooling around on the loud pedal. Of course, thrifty drivers will note that V6-equipped Challengers display EPA figures as high as 19/30 mi / gal … they do not accelerate as fast and do not look so exhilarating.

How do I spec

Just like that. OK, the price of $ 55,550 as tested is a bit hard to swallow, but it's the ideal Challenger setup if you really want to enjoy your muscle car on the street. The 2019 Scat R / T pack starts at $ 38,995, but you'll need to add an extra $ 1,395 to the destination and, on models with a shifter system, a $ 1,000 fee for energy-hungry people. Then, the Widebody option itself costs an additional $ 6,000, and that's what precedes a handful of other small options (a sunroof worth $ 1,195, for example) that have inflated the price of the car. Still, my test car costs less than the Entrance price of the SRT Hellcat. Given the power and fun offered, it's a good deal.

Of course, what makes the Dodge Challenger so endearing is that there is one for everyone. It starts at only $ 27,295 (before the destination), offers from 305 to 797 horses and comes in all the bright colors. Car enthusiasts with a penchant for noisy, gaudy performance cars that will give a big smile will love the Scat Pack Widebody. But whatever version is chosen, almost everyone will be able to understand the appeal of the bold retro looks and the extremely fun nature of the Challenger.

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