It’s time to bid farewell to the iconic Dodge Challenger as its modern iteration has reached its conclusion. Welcoming a new era for the Charger, Dodge, along with other Stellantis brands like Ram and Chrysler, has announced the retirement of the Hemi V8 engines.
Last year marked the end of the line for the L-bodied Charger sedan and Challenger coupe, commemorated with seven ‘Last Call’ special editions. The automotive landscape is shifting towards electric vehicles (EVs), signaling significant changes for Dodge.
Dodge’s approach to the American muscle car segment now includes both traditional internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered and EV Chargers, available in two-door fastback coupe and four-door sedan variants. Interestingly, the gasoline models now occupy the ‘lower’ tier, with EVs representing the flagship variants.
However, the Challenger still holds a place in enthusiasts’ hearts, with remaining inventory at dealerships and continued enthusiasm, especially at local quarter-mile dragstrips. While the 1,025-hp Last Call 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 remains the pinnacle, even stock Challenger R/T models participate in thrilling dragstrip battles.
Take, for example, a recent encounter at a quarter-mile dragstrip between a blue Dodge Challenger R/T and a larger, all-wheel-drive Dodge Durango SRT 392. Despite their differences in appearance, the race was close, with the Challenger narrowly clinching victory despite a botched launch.
