After a long hiatus, Dodge felt like it was time to unleash the Challenger onto North American roads once again. This resulted in the third generation’s debut in 2006, eventually hitting the roads in early 2008.
Hitting the market as a 2-door coupe, this model was initially released as the SRT-8, this came powered with a 6.1L Hemi V8 that could produce 425 horsepower. When 2009 came around, so did some new trims. These trims were the SE and R/T. The SE came with a 3.5L V6 that could produce 250 horsepower. For those wanting a bit more power, the R/T came with a 5.7L Hemi that can make 372 horsepower.
If you were wanting a bit of a throwback feel, you can look for a Challenger R/T Classic. This came with some retro aspects that were on previous iterations of the Challenger. This is a great option for retro car enthusiasts who want a bit more of a modern feel.
When 2010 models debuted, the Mopar ‘10 Challenger R/T saw the light of day. This was a limited edition model, and came with some unique colors. That’s not all that the model brought, thanks to some new components, this edition could make 10 more horsepower, sitting at 382. With only 500 made for the US, only 180 were equipped with manual transmissions.
For those who like taking their vehicle to the track, you can look for one that is equipped with the Drag Race Package. This SRT-8 is 1,000-pounds lighter than other models, has better weight distribution, and a slightly shorter wheelbase. This is a great option for those who want a muscle car with a good starting canvas. With only 50 being made, if you find one, you’ll have a piece of American history.
When the 2011 model came out, two new engines were offered. The first engine is the 3.6L Pentastar V8. This can produce 305 horsepower, and was equipped to the SE trim. The SRT-8 saw the new 6.4L Hemi V8, this could produce 470 horsepower. With this new engine, Dodge had claimed that this setup can do a quarter mile in 12.4-seconds, and in tests done by independent car reviewers, they found that their tests weren’t far off at 12.6-seconds.
For the next few years, the Challenger remained mostly the same, seeing a few cosmetic, and less mechanical changes over the years. This changed in 2014 when the 100th anniversary of Dodge came around. This edition was a 2014 Dodge Challenger SXT (formerly known as the SE, changed in 2012). This equipped the vehicle with 1 of 8 unique colors, 20-inch wheels, a “100” logo on the center caps, sport seats with new leather upholstery colors, 2 unique key fobs, and other changes to commemorate the accomplishment.
For the 2015 model, Dodge felt like it was time to give the model a facelift. Retiring the SRT-8, and replacing it with the SRT 392 and the SRT Hellcat. Thanks to some retuning, the 6.4L V8 now sees more horsepower, sitting at 485. This year also equipped the vehicle with a 7-inch display, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen radio.
The Hellcat name doesn’t need introduction, as most car enthusiasts know exactly what it is. Looking at the sheer power of it, this model uses a 6.2L Hemi engine that can make 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. If you find yourself looking at one, the red key fob is what you want as it unlocks the full potential of the Hellcat. This model can do a quarter mile in 11.2 seconds.
In 2017, the GT was introduced. This was an AWD variant of the SXT. This made it the only muscle car with AWD. It was only available with the 3.6L V6 engine. 2018 had something special in store, this was the SRT Demon. The Demon is equipped with a 6.2L V8 engine, with a 2.7L Supercharger. This gave you 808 horsepower when using 91 octane, and 840 horsepower when using 100 octane. Despite this new engine, it weighs 215-pounds less than the Hellcat.
Thanks to this configuration, you can go 0-60 in 2.3 seconds, and can do a quarter mile in just 9.65 seconds, hitting speeds of 140 mph. Only 3,300 Demons were made at this time, giving you something to hunt for if you want those speeds. Being that the Demon is lighter, it had to reduce weight somewhere, and they did this by cutting out seats that aren’t for the driver. Some models will be equipped with seats for the rest of the car, as it was an optional feature.
When the 2019 models came out, the lineup had 6 trims. These trims were the SXT, GT, R/T, R/T Scat Pack, SRT Hellcat, and SRT Hellcat Redeye. This year sees a power increase for the Hellcat, now producing 717 horsepower. The Hellcat Redeye was made to fill what was left from the Demon, using a similar engine, just not as powerful, only producing 797 horsepower.
This year also saw the introduction of the Scat Pack Package. Coming equipped on the 6.4L Hemi that produces 485 horsepower. This package added 20-inch drag wheels, adaptive damping suspension, as well as dragged tuned suspension. With some other features removing the extra seats.
In 2020, the SRT Super Stick came out, sitting about the Redeye, but below the Demon. This came with the same engine as the ones before, but producing 807 horsepower. With only 70 made, this one is one of the rarest Challengers ever made.
For the final year, Dodge returned the manual transmission to the Hellcat as the standard option. Giving you the most control in this monstrous vehicle. For their “Last Call” campaign, the SRT Demon was unveiled. Producing a breathtaking 1025 horsepower, and 945 lb-ft of torque. This model has the highest launch force of any production vehicle, with 2.004 g-forces, with only 3000 produced for the US, and even fewer for Canada.
The speeds of this vehicle were also out of this world, hitting 0-60 in just 1.66 seconds, covering a quarter mile in 8.91-seconds. When it came to retire the line, Dodge produced one last Demon 170 in a pitch-black paint. This was the last page in the history of the Challenger lineup, ending on a high note, and leaving behind a record, and a legacy that will be hard to beat.