As electric cars continue to conquer the automotive market, muscle cars are slowly on the way out. Legendary cars like the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger and Chevrolet Camaro have announced their plans to leave the industry to make way for a new breed of electric vehicles. Only the Ford Mustang will survive, but for how long?
Stellantis confirms that 2023 Dodge Challenger will be the last of its iconic line, it will be sad to see the iconic muscle car sing its last hurrah in a decade-spanning production run. Although the manufacturer has promised a battery-powered concept that will eventually replace its internal combustion engine muscle car models, we’re still not sure how gearheads will react to it when it arrives. So this could very well be the last chance to catch the Challenger in its glory before it’s too late.
Using official manufacturer data and trusted sources like Edmunds, we’ve compiled some of the most compelling reasons gearheads should buy the 2023 Dodge Challenger before it’s gone for good.
10 The latest generation Challenger has an iconic Muscle Car heritage
Although the Dodge Challenger has undergone significant changes in its third generation, it still holds a special place in the hearts of gearheads, having taken several key design elements from its predecessors. This design philosophy, which has remained unchanged since the very first Dodge Challenger in 1970, may be put to rest with a new line of electric vehicles from Stellantis.
We keep hearing that “they don’t build them like that anymore,” especially in the context of cars, and while that may be debatable, it’s almost certain that people will continue to say it every time we talk about the Challenger for years to come. Obviously, the future of Stellantis is battery powered cars, so they literally won’t be making any more cars like this.
9 The third-generation Challenger is one of the fastest mass-produced cars
Top speed: 203 MPH
There’s a reason why the launch of the Challenger was a pivotal moment in American automotive history. The legendary muscle car in its final form became one of the fastest production cars. The 2023 Challenger is no different as it is capable of a top speed of over 203 mph thanks in part to the SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody trim.
2023 Challenger specifications
from 0 to 60 mph |
3.4 seconds |
The highest speed |
203 miles per hour |
A quarter of a mile |
10.5 seconds |
According to some, it may not have the best handling, but it still has enough power to be an impossible rival on the drag strip. The Challenger SRT Hellcat is capable of sprinting to 60 mph from a standstill in just 3.4 seconds with an equally impressive quarter-mile run.
8 The 2023 Challenger SRT Demon 170 is limited in production
Total number of planned units: 3300
There is no denying that the awesome 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is huge when it comes to performance. It’s even more aggressive than the SRT Hellcat, but all that excitement comes at a price: production of the 2023 SRT Demon 170 is limited to just 3,300 units, of which 3,000 are destined for the US market, while 300 are destined for the US market. Canadian market. We would really like to see more of this limited edition kit made.
The total may seem low, but it’s at least more than the 50th anniversary Dodge Challenger, with only 1,960 produced in 2020. However, production numbers of the SRT Demon 170 may be even lower depending on production capacity. Either way, it’s all the more reason to get your hands on a Challenger that’s leaving its way.
7 The legendary supercharged HEMI V8 is finally being phased out
Maximum output power: 807 hp
The legendary HEMI V8 engine has been around for more than seven decades, but the 2023 Dodge Challenger will be the swan song for this engineering marvel. The supercharged 6.2-liter powerplant has been constantly refined over the years, and in its current iteration, it’s capable of producing a whopping 807 horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque.
The last major update to the HEMI V8 was back in 2018, when the Hellcat Redeye package boosted total output to 797 horsepower. For the 2023 Challenger, the HEMI V8 is capable of unlocking a monstrous 807 horsepower thanks to the SRT Hellcat Jailbreak package.
Engine characteristics
Engine |
Supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 |
power |
717 – 807 hp |
A turning point |
650 – 707 lb-ft |
production |
2015 – 2023 years |
Programs worth paying attention to |
Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger |
(The characteristics of the engine are taken from Dodge)
6 The 2023 Dodge Challenger still has a manual transmission
Cars with a manual transmission are constantly decreasing. Only 2% of all new cars sold in the US market have a stick shift. It’s clear that the current generation of buyers is less interested in driving with a manual transmission, but the efficiency and ease of use of an automatic transmission is also a major reason for this decline.
There are still some gears that appreciate the experience of driving with a manual gearbox. For them, the 2023 Challenger is the perfect manual transmission car with an available six-speed manual transmission. However, it will not be for long.
5 The 2023 Challenger offers supercar power at a bargain price
As soon as European high-powered vehicles enter the conversation, you realize that even a 600-horsepower car starts with a six-figure price tag. It shows how truly impressive the 2023 Challenger SRT Hellcat is, starting at $73,885, while offering the ultimate in supercar performance that simply cannot be achieved in this price segment.
As for the base model 2023 Challenger SXT, it still offers decent performance for less than half the price of the SRT Hellcat. The SXT starts at $32,695 and goes up to $54,990 with the R/T Scat Pack Widebody. It’s important to note that the 2023 Challenger comes in more than a dozen trim levels, with the base Challenger offering up to 5 options and the SRT Hellcat package offering up to 10 options. Let’s not forget the Demon Dodge, which starts in the six figures, and there are also the limited edition Last Call models. Simply put, the 2023 Challenger is suitable for any budget.
2023 Dodge Challenger Prices
Complete set of Dodge Challenger 2023 |
MSRP |
---|---|
SXT |
$32,695 |
GT |
41,535 USD |
R/T Scat Pack Widebody |
$54,990 |
SRT Hellcat Jailbreak |
$73,885 |
SRT Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak |
81,935 USD |
SRT Super Stock |
90,340 USD |
SRT Demon 170 |
100,361 USD |
(The price comes from Edmunds)
4 Challenger 2023 offers many possibilities for personalization
While the Dodge Charger Electric and Dodge Challenger Electric are still a long way off, the current Charger and Challenger models are among the best to date, especially given the endless customization they offer.
OEM customization options range from exterior styling choices such as aggressive colors, hood spoilers and wide body kits to various technical features, interior trim and performance wheels. Most impressive of all has to be the Dodge Jailbreak lineup, which adds the most important factory upgrades to the Hellcat, giving buyers plenty of room to customize the entire car to their liking, and even giving the engine a 10-horsepower boost. process.
3 The 2023 Challenger is a future collector’s item
The 2023 Challenger represents a dying breed of car. While you can still buy a Dodge Challenger in 2023, they won’t be around for long as parent company Stellantis has made clear its intention to transition to an all-electric future, which will see all of its combustion engine vehicles discontinued .
So, as the 2023 Challenger is the last of this legacy, there’s no denying that the 2023 Challenger will eventually become a collector car in the future. According to the Hagerty Valuation tool, prices for used third-generation Hellcat models have risen steadily, up 7% this year alone. It won’t take long to catch up with the 2023 model.
Third-generation Dodge Challenger Hellcat cost increase in 2023
Dodge Challenger model year |
Price increase (%) |
---|---|
2018 SRT Hellcat |
+7.3% |
2017 SRT Hellcat |
+7.2% |
2016 SRT Hellcat |
+7.2% |
2015 SRT Hellcat |
+7.2% |
(The above values are from Hagerty)
2 The 2023 Challenger Hospital Fund features like no other Challenger
Dodge has left no stone unturned with the latest Challenger, and it’s very evident in the package of the SRT Demon 170. It’s the first car in the company’s lineup to feature a stepped profile with wide arches straight from the factory, allowing room for radial tires to attach to the rear.
For transmission enthusiasts who want to go the extra mile, the SRT Demon 170 also offers two-piece carbon fiber wheels for an additional $12,000. This hospital inpatient upgrade can also be paired with other factory-direct accouterments, such as a $295 trunk clothing set and red seat belts available for $395.
1 The special edition “Last Call” Challenger models are insane
Stellantis is well aware of how important the Challenger and Charger lines have been throughout the company’s history, so they are giving these models a fitting send-off. Up to seven Last Call special edition models are available in 2023.
2023 Dodge Challenger & Charger “Last Call” Special Editions
-
Challenger R/T Scat Pack Shakedown
-
Challenger R/T Scat Pack Swinger
-
Challenger Black Ghost
-
Demon Challenger 170
-
Super Bee charger
-
R/T Scat Pack Swinger Charger
-
King Daytona charger
For example, the company previously announced a special 2023 Dodge Challenger “Black Ghost” package that will be limited to 300 units, paying homage to Godfrey Quall’s 1970 Challenger R/T Black Ghost. Similarly, up to six other trims were introduced for both the Charger and Challenger in the final year of production.