Lets start with the business end of the car. Customers will receive a choice between three new engines. The base model receives extra horsepower, thanks to the 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar that has been tuned to produce 305 hp, 55 more that before. The Pentastar is also lighter than the engine it replaces, thus improving weight distribution (52.4 / 47.6 compared to 53.5/46.5 previously).
The second engine option is a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with 376 hp, which is not new for the 2011 Challenger. The top of the range model has changed though, the Challenger SRT8 coming with a new 6.4-liter HEMI V8 with 470-horsepower and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque, or 45HP and 70 lb-ft (94 Nm) more than the previous SRT8's 6.1-liter V8 engine.
The exterior and interior changes are not revolutionary though. The front of the car sports a restyled trapezoidal front air dam with larger opening, while the Dodge logo has been removed. The addition of a "duck bill" front spoiler in black gives the car a more menacing look. The 18-inch alloy wheels that are now standard, Challenger logos on the front fenders complete the list of exterior changes.
On the inside you start to realize the whole car was created on a tight budget. While the three spoke steering wheel is new, it actually comes from the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan.
Detroit engineers have fitted the car with better suspension parts, both on the front and in the rear, in order to make it handle a bit better.
If you look at the car from a purely technical standpoint you won’t be impressed, but buying a Challenger should be an emotional choice and the 2011 model looks better than ever.
Google News