2024 Dodge Challenger: The Final Roar of an American Muscle Legend
2024 Dodge Challenger: The Final Roar of an American Muscle Legend
Blog Article
1. Introduction: End of an Era, Celebration of Legacy
Since its modern revival in 2008, the Dodge Challenger has stood as a bastion of brute American power, retro styling, and straight-line glory. But rising regulations, evolving tastes, and Stellantis’s pivot to electrification precipitated a farewell to the gas-powered icon. The 2024 challenger marks the final chapter on the legendary LX platform, ushering in an electrified successor in 2025.
Dubbed the "Last Call Series," the 2024 lineup features seven ultra-limited special editions—a nostalgic, limited swan song to glory days of warhorse performance.
2. The Last Call Series: Special Editions That Matter
Among the final runs you'll find:
Black Ghost Special Edition
Swinger Special Edition
BlackTop Special Edition
The crown jewel: SRT Demon 170
These editions layer exclusive paint hues, badges, and heritage cues atop the already formidable Challenger foundation.
SRT Demon 170: The Apogee of ICE Power
The Demon 170 is no mere badge—it’s a record-breaking muscle car. Its 6.2 L supercharged V8 makes a jaw-dropping 1,025 hp on E85 and still hits ~900 hp on standard E10 fuel. That insane output propels it zero to 60 mph in well under 1.7 seconds—the fastest street-legal production car ever measured. Deliveries began in 2023, strictly limited: 3,000 units for the US and 300 for Canada.
With its final Pitch-Black Demon 170 rolling off the Brampton line on December 22, 2023, it not only caps the Challenger line—it seals one of automotive history’s greatest muscle-car stories.
3. Trim Breakdown: From SXT to Super Stock
The final Challenger offerings span a wide spectrum—from daily-drivable V6 units to drag-strip beasts:
SXT & GT (V6)
Engine: 3.6 L Pentastar V6; 303 hp
Efficiency: ~19 mpg city / 30 mpg highway
Features: 18" wheels, LED lighting, cloth seats
These trims maintain the classic muscle coupe silhouette and retain Challenger’s charm without the fuel guilt.
R/T & R/T Scat Pack (V8)
R/T: 5.7 L HEMI V8, 375 hp; traditional muscle delivered with comfort and sound
R/T Scat Pack: 6.4 L HEMI V8, 485 hp, Brembo brakes, launch control, widebody option
Offer a performance spike that blends daily usability with weekend track prowess.
SRT Hellcat / Hellcat Redeye (Supercharged V8)
Hellcat: 6.2 L supercharged V8, 717 hp, widebody, 20" forged wheels
Redeye: 797 hp version, upgraded cooling, adaptive suspension, track-ready kit
SRT Super Stock
A near-race-ready Challenger with 807 hp, drag setup/tires, launched for peak performance
.
With nearly 5,000 lb of steel and a relatively long wheelbase, the Challenger isn’t a corner carver—but its magnetic straight-line thrill is what it’s built for, and built to dominate.
4. Design: Classic Horsepower Meets Modern Sophistication
Exterior
The 2024 Challenger retains its retro-futuristic design, with strong fender shoulders, split grille, proper LED lighting, and available widebody that enhances its visual and handling aggression. The shakes include:
Shaker/dual-snorkel hoods on high-end models, functional cold-air induction.
Bold color palette and heritage stripes across trims.
Widebody adds flared arches, 20" wheels, improved stance.
Interior
Step inside and find plush seats for the front, surprisingly usable rear seats (adult-legroom friendly), and generous trunk space—~16 cu ft, bigger than Mustang or Camaro. Interiors balance retro cues with modern tech.
Materials: cloth, leather, optional Alcantara trim packs.
Uconnect infotainment on 7"–8.4" displays with full Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
Available premium audio: Alpine or 19‑speaker Harman/Kardon with Dolby Atmos.
Digital cluster, SRT Performance Pages on higher trims.
5. Performance & Powertrain Details
Engines
V6 3.6 L Pentastar – 303 hp, smooth and efficient.
5.7 L HEMI V8 – 375 hp, traditional muscle sound.
6.4 L HEMI V8 – 485 hp, as found in Scat Pack.
Supercharged 6.2 L V8 – Hellcat (717 hp) and Redeye (797 hp).
Demon 170 – 1,025 hp on E85—final and fastest descent.
Transmissions & Drivetrain
V6 and lower V8s: 8‑speed automatic standard; 6-speed manual optional on R/T and Scat Pack.
Hellcat and above: choice of manual or auto; adaptive launch control, torque reserve.
Challenger SXT offers available all‑wheel drive, unique among pony cars.
Suspension & Handling
Sport/performance suspension across the range.
SRT models include adaptive Bilstein dampers with selectable drive modes (Auto, Sport, Track).
Electronic stability/abs integrated; electronic LSD on high trims; Brembo brakes prominent on Scat Pack+ .
Straight-Line Beasts
The Demon 170 covers 0–60 mph in ~1.66 s, quarter-mile in 8.9 s—fastest ever without roll cage.
Hellcat: sub‑3.5 s 0–60; Redeye faster still; Super Stock caught special drag tires.
These Katharsis were built for wheel-standing, rev-melting mayhem.
6. Efficiency & Usability
Muscle doesn’t come cheap at the pump.
V6: ~19 mpg city / 30 mpg highway.
5.7 L V8: ~16/25 mpg.
6.4 L V8: ~15/24 mpg.
Hellcat models: around 13 mpg city / 22 mpg highway.
Super Stock likely worst but fastest.
Though thirsty, the Challenger is surprisingly compliant for daily driving, with plush seats and quiet cabins at low revs. Available all-wheel drive on V6 trims adds practicality in wet or snowy climates.
7. Tech & Safety
Uconnect system (7"‑8.4") with full smartphone mirroring.
Premium audio: Alpine, 19‑speaker Harman/Kardon with Dolby Atmos.
Safety assist features: adaptive cruise control, blind‑spot monitor, rear cross‑traffic alert, automatic high beams.
Performance Pages + head‑up display on SRT trims provide track telematics.
8. Pricing & Availability
US MSRP estimates (2024):
SXT: ~$35,000
R/T Scat Pack: ~$55–65k
Hellcat: ~$70k
Redeye: ~$80k
Super Stock: ~$85–90k
Demon 170: Starting ~$96,666; limited run.
In India, the Hellcat SRT versions would likely command ₹90 lakh–₹1.3 cr conditions, imported CBU-duties inflated price to ₹1.2 cr+.
9. How It Compares
vs. Camaro/Mustang: Challenger lags in sharp handling but dominates in roominess, straight line muscle, and engine variety.
Internal Stellantis shift: The upcoming 2025 electric Charger Daytona shares the new STLA architecture; ICE “Six Pack” with twin‑turbo inline‑6 is planned alongside EV variants
They promise to carry Challenger’s DNA into electric form: intuitive drive modes, retro design cues, high power-to-weight, and savage acceleration.
11. Should You Buy One?
For buyers considering 2024 Challenger:
✅ Heritage & exclusivity: Last production run with limited Last Call editions.
✅ Beastly power: Even base trims are potent; Hellcat family pushes boundaries.
✅ Classic experience: Comfy, spacious, nostalgic, smartphone‑loaded.
❌ Not agile: Heavy and long—corner prowess limited compared to modern sports coupes.
❌ Fuel costs: Insurance, taxes, and fuel will add up.
Final Take:
If you crave American V8 romance and plan to stretch the odometer in straight-line fun, the Challenger family is hard to beat. Want precision handling or daily commute thrift? A more practical or electric route may suit.
12. Conclusion
The 2024 Dodge Challenger is more than a car—it’s a cultural symbol and a sonic badge of defiance. It stands for raw power, unapologetic style, and the détournement of modern efficiency standards. In its final year, Dodge doubled down with extreme versions that flame out with maximum decibels before the electrified dawn.
From the SXT V6 to the hellfire Demon 170, the lineup serves both nostalgia and adrenaline. And though Stellantis closes this chapter, the upcoming EV Charger/Liftback signals that the spirit of Mopar muscle isn't dead—it's merely evolving.
Report this page