2016 Dodge Challenger

BEIRUT: Congratulations, it’s 2016. We made it despite everything this country threw at us last year. And since I’m assuming most of you are still riding on the high from last night, I figure the last thing you want is an article on Lebanese politics to spoil your euphoria.

So grab your coffee and Panadol, sit back and fasten your seatbelts for some car-related adrenalin, because today you don’t just get a car review, but a legend reborn.

I give you the new Dodge Challenger, one of the most memorable muscle cars whose current incarnation is manufactured in … Canada. What, you think Canada only produced polite people, oil, snow and moose … mooses? … meese? I’m stumped on that one, but I do know they also make an amazing muscle car that makes people stop and stare as you drive by. How do I know? Mostly because people stopped and stared as I drove by. It’s like riding a Harley Davidson through a sea of mopeds.

But let me tell you why this is a big deal for me. It was 1987, I had just turned 18 and I had saved as much money as I could to buy my first car. And when a friend mentioned that he knew someone who wanted to sell a 1971 Dodge Challenger, that was all I needed to hear and asked that his friend bring the car so I could take a look.

And so the Challenger was brought over. It was gloss black with red decals and trim, black leather seats, massive chrome rims, and the V-8 under the hood rumbled like a hell hound. And I was all ready to buy it! I stood there staring at the car and thinking about all the girls I was going to pick up in college once I owned this beast.

“Don’t even think about it!” That was my Dad, who suddenly materialized out of nowhere and made me jump out of my skin. “But Dad, she’s beautiful,” I argued, my voice going up an octave. He had to understand that my social life was at stake! But he wasn’t having any of it. “Do you know how much fuel this car consumes?” Fuel? I hadn’t thought of that. “And where are you going to find spare parts for a 16-year-old car?” Spare parts? Why would I need spare parts? What were all these crazy questions? I just wanted a car that made me seem cool and rebellious. And I wanted to get laid!

But he was right. The Civil War hadn’t ended yet, no one was importing anything so specialized, and I was a kid with no stable income (No income, as a matter of fact!) In the end, I ended up buying a crappy used BMW 7-Series, which ironically had fuel consumption that bordered on the ludicrous, a wiper blade that kept flying off and an automatic transmission that always insisted on staying in first gear until just before I got to wherever I was going. But the Challenger stayed in the back of my mind as my “someday” car.

And so came December of 2015 and the Challenger seemed a fitting choice for a New Year’s review that would let me briefly relive that day 28 years ago when I was “almost” cool, and maybe elicit a chuckle from my readers at how obtuse I was as a teen. Yes, I said “was,” I’m wiser now, I promise. I pay taxes and everything! In any case, as is their custom, the folks at Gargour Automotive generously accommodated my request and invited me to pick up a 2016 Challenger at the dealership.

Here’s the thing, even though I knew better, I was fantasizing that they were going to hand me the keys to a Hellcat. Can you blame me? That beast produces 707 horsepower and I was salivating at the thought of that many ponies at my disposal. It turned out that was one fantasy that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon, but the car I did get, the SXT with the Rallye package, was no disappointment.

Here’s something you have to know about Challengers: Whether you’re talking about the SXT with the 3.6-liter V-6, the R/T with the 5.7-liter V-8, the Scat Pack with the 6.4-liter V-8 or the Hellcat with the 6.2-liter supercharged V-8, visually they all look like they’re on steroids. Anyone of these cars can paint a stupid grin on your face, like you just landed a date with Scarlett Johansson.

Smooth lines? Check. Powerful muscle-car stance? Check. Bulging rear fenders and tall rear end? Check and check. Seriously, this car represents everything Detroit muscle (I mean Canada) is famous for even while pony cars like the Mustang are assuming a decidedly more European look. What’s even more impressive is the nods to its heritage.

Like the 1971 model, you get a pair of round double headlights, but with modern LED halos. Similarly, the new split grille for 2016 harkens back to the classic, as do the more prominent center bulge and hood vents on the SXT, which mirror the grille ovals. In profile, the 2016 car matches up nicely with its ancestor, the uncluttered sheet metal arching from just behind the door to a very tall rear deck, complete with an even taller spoiler.  

The new rear end also pays tribute to its namesake, with two separate LED tail lights with a gloss black surround and slick chrome lettering. Best of all, it respects the original without going overboard – just enough to elicit a sense of nostalgia and nail down the retro appeal. Particularly startling is just how big the car is, a fact that is de-emphasized by the massive 20-inch rims it rides on.

Inside, the new car features a more modern driver-centric dash. There’s a retro feel to the gauges in the instrument cluster, but that didn’t stop Dodge from packing the car with technology. The 7-inch Thin-Film Transistor helper screen between the gauges has dozens of different settings for every conceivable type of driver information, while the 8.4-inch infotainment display above the center stack is arguably one of the best I’ve seen and handles everything from audio to navigation and apps.

The multifunction steering wheel is sporty and stylish, controls numerous features including the sound system, communications and cruise control, and nicely matches the rest of the cabin’s premium allure. The front seats are very supportive and nicely bolstered, and look fantastic in leather available on some models, with top-notch stitching that underscores that this is a very special car. Soft touch materials are present everywhere that matters and, amazingly, even in the back, an area where many manufacturers often overlook.

Now when it comes to cars of this category, you generally lose the argument with your spouse when it comes to practicality, but that shouldn’t be the case with the Challenger. Despite its sporty nature, the car can actually comfortably seat human beings in the back who are not necessarily contortionists, and it’s got a cavern of a trunk that’s actually larger than that of many sedans. Furthermore, the rear seats split 40/60, so you can slide larger objects in the back with little trouble.

Even the starting model comes loaded. You get keyless entry and start/stop, Bluetooth connectivity with voice command as well as SD, USB and auxiliary ports. Also included are dual-zone climate control, heated power exterior mirrors, driver and passenger heated power seats, leather-wrapped shifter and steering wheel and superb Harman sound system with six premium speakers, to name just a few.

Best of all, even the most civilized Challenger, the SXT, which comes with a Rallye package in Lebanon, has the punch to shred tires on the road. The 305-horsepower mill is more than enough to propel that 1,739 curb weight to 100 kph in just over 6 seconds, thanks partly to the ZF-designed eight speed automatic with the now familiar T-shaped shifter with manual mode. It also earns fuel economy of around 19 mpg city and 30 highway.

You also get the Super Track Pak option, which adds 20-inch rims, summer tires, improved steering and firmer suspension, in addition to excellent Brembo brakes. Yet, despite all this sportiness, the SXT is a much more civilized drive than past Challengers. But if you want something more feral Dodge has you covered on that front as well with no fewer than three other models that get progressively more potent and outrageous.

And did I mention that this is a safe car? You get stability control, traction control, hill start assist, brake assist, four-wheel performance anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, parking sensors, rear view camera and advanced multistage front air bags. And you get all this for a starting price for the SXT Rallye of $59,000 including VAT. Obviously the other models get pricier, culminating at $135,000 for the Hellcat. Yes, that’s a lot of money for a Dodge, but with 707 horsepower and 881 Newton-meter of torque, that’s the most powerful American muscle car – ever.

A version of this article appeared in the December 31, 2015 edition of The Daily Star.