Some argue that as a rule, style is cyclical, that what was once popular, inevitably makes its way back around again. Of course, there’s an exception to every rule, as some things that make their way back around have never gone out of style. Take, for example, the 2009 Dodge Challenger, the pinnacle of pure, American muscle.
To lay eyes on the 2009 Challenger is to fall in love with it all over again. Its lines are beyond unique; they’re signature. They’re one of a kind. They’re beyond reproach. The body hasn’t been built, it has been sculpted. Walking the tightrope between retro and modern, the 2009 Challenger’s dual-round headlights, body-width taillights and hood-mounted air-inlet ducts take you back 40 years while the bigger, beefier design, body-colored folding mirrors and dual-chrome exhaust snap you back to right here, right now. It’s American muscle for the 21st century.
The high-intensity dual headlights and foglights on either side of the grille capture the spirit of the original; there is no mistaking the retro-influence found throughout the Challenger’s frame. However, Dodge engineers would have done the Challenger a disservice had they not given it a style all its own. It’s not simply Challenger 2.0; it’s a powerful image of American ingenuity that stands by itself. It’s conservative with large, simple panels and sleek, natural lines, yet showy with signature dual-striping, available 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, a T/A scoop hood and performance-enhancing Brembo aluminum calipers.
The Challenger is unquestionably defined by what lies within. Beneath the hood of the 2009 is an engine worthy of distinction – an available 6.1-liter SRT HEMI V8. With 425 hp and 420 lb/ft of torque at 4,800 rpm, there is no questioning the sheer brute-muscle contained within the nose of this vehicle (more than any Challenger preceding it). Construction is solid. From camshafts to cylinder heads to air intake systems, every component has been engineered to maximize performance. With forged steel and high-strength powdered metals, the engine and engine block are triumphs of American engineering. Hear the roar when you press the accelerator, see the orange-painted cylinder block and black valve covers and remember what owning a car is supposed to feel like (the Challenger also features an available 3.5-liter V6 or a 5.7-liter HEMI V8).
Controlled by an available six-speed manual transmission or the optional T-handle-shifting, five-speed SRT-tuned AutoStick (which allows for the seamless transition between automatic and clutchless manual gearshift), handling in the Challenger is impressive. Rear-wheel drive and Dodge’s Sure-Grip Differential limit the slip associated with so much torque and give the muscle car exceptional cornering capability. The incorporated electronic stability program, as well as track-tested suspension systems, work to prevent oversteer and understeer while maximizing responsiveness and ride-comfort. Truly, it is a vehicle as comfortable on a drag strip as it is in a hairpin.
Inside, the 2009 Challenger is ripe with technology, comfort and surprising luxury. Aggressive front buckets place you in comfortable command of a born performer and squarely in the midst of one of the most impressive cockpits ever created (on four wheels, at least). While the interior, too, is a throwback to a past generation of Challenger, there’s little question that it’s light years ahead of almost anything on the road.
The 2009 Challenger has no need for keys, instead utilizing a Keyless Go fob system that starts the engine with the push of a button. Up front, Dodge has incorporated even more technology in the form of the available uconnect system (with an LCD touchscreen featuring wireless Internet, GPS navigation, stereo controls and a 30GB hard drive in-dash). Last, the 520-watt, 13-speaker KICKER SRT-tuned premium audio system (available on the SRT8 model) ensures that the Challenger sounds incredible, inside and out. Boston Acoustics premium four, six and eight speaker audio systems are also available in the Challenger as are SIRIUS Satellite Radio and an auxiliary audio jack.
The Challenger’s most impressive piece of technology, however, just may be its Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) or as Dodge calls it, “the brains behind Challenger’s brawn.” In addition to important information like average miles per gallon, trip odometer and maintenance advisories, the EVIC is also capable of displaying “Performance Pages.” Want to know your zero-to-60 mph time, your quarter-mile time, even your current G-force measurement? The EVIC has you covered.
Take the wheel of the newest iteration of one of the vehicles that helped define a generation, a company and a country. The 2009 Dodge Challenger features a starting MSRP of just $22,545.
Source: IMN
Tags: challenger