It’s been quite a few years since the Charger became available with all-wheel-drive, yet the Challenger never had this option. Until now. Inadvertently leaked by fueleconomy.gov, now we know that the Dodge Challenger GT is due for the 2017 model year.
In a nutshell, that’s a yes, the all-wheel-drive Challenger has the makings of a pony car that isn’t afraid of snow. Despite the added traction, don’t expect the Challenger GT to climb every mountain or ford every stream. Expected to be pretty much the same system like the one in the Charger SE AWD and Charger SXT AWD, the Challenger GT is supposed to boast an active transfer case and front-axle disconnect system. When needed, the AWD system will seamlessly direct 38 percent of the engine torque to the front axle.
Speaking of the engine, the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 is expected to churn out the same 292 horsepower and 260 lb-ft (353 Nm) of torque as does in the 2016 Dodge Charger. As per the EPA’s website, the 2017 Dodge Challenger GT will be matched with an 8-speed auto from the get-go. In this setup, the upcoming pony will be able to return up to 18 mpg city, 27 mpg highway or 21 mpg combined, the same figures as the Dodge Charger SXT AWD.
To put those numbers into a broader perspective, the rear-wheel-drive version of the V6-powered Challenger is rated 19 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. That said, isn’t Dodge supposed to work on an all-wheel-drive, widebody Challenger Hellcat? It is, but as things stand now, the soon-to-debut 2017 Dodge Challenger ADR is still a work in progress.
Photo: SB-Medien
Snapped time and time again by the shutterbugs roaming in pre-production form on public roads, the Challenger ADR has the makings of an overwhelming monster. Albeit the ADR stands for American Drag Racer, the 707 horsepower behemoth also has the right goodies for canyon carving. Be that as it may, bear in mind that it will be a heavy car, like really heavy.
For comparison’s sake, the Charger SE RWD tips the scales at 4,209 pounds, while the Charger SE RWD weighs 3,958 pounds. Considering that the Challenger Hellcat auto overshadows them both with its 4,476 pounds, it’s safe to brace ourselves for a 251-pound surplus from the AWD system alone.
Add the wider fender flares and all the other bits and bobs that will go into the Challenger ADR, and chances are we’re in for a 4,800-pound vehicle with obscene amounts of power. Incidentally, the base Range Rover with its 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and 8-speed automatic weighs 4,839 pounds.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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