Photo: Dodge
Pony and muscle cars are notoriously hard to drive in cold weather. In this regard, Dodge upped the ante with the all-wheel-drive Challenger. Baptized Challenger GT, the AWD bruiser has the makings of a sales hit in North America’s Snowbelt.
What do we have here, then? Well, it’s best to think of the Challenger GT as a Challenger SXT with double the traction prowess and more standard features. Compared to the entry-level model ($27,190), the suggested retail price for the 2017 Dodge Challenger GT is $33,395 plus $1,095 for the destination fee.
More expensive than the HEMI V8-powered Challenger R/T, the GT features the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 from the SXT, which is capable of producing 305 horsepower at 6,350 rpm and 268 lb-ft of torque from 4,800 rpm. 90 percent of the get-up-and-go is available from merely 1,800 rpm until the needle shows 6,400 rpm. Unfortunately, Dodge hasn’t offered any 0 to 60 mph information whatsoever. Only the 8-speed auto is available for the GT.
In this configuration, the Challenger is capable of returning 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. Of course, that’s worse than the rear-wheel-drive Challenger SXT (19 mpg, 30 mpg), but it’s only natural for fuel economy to take a dive due to the added traction. Lifted from the Charger SXT AWD, the system consists of a transfer case with front-axle disconnect. Thus, normal driving conditions ensure power is sent exclusively to the rear axle.
From the get-go, the 2017 Dodge Challenger GT comes with heated and ventilated seats wrapped in Nappa leather, heated steering wheel, 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment, 19-inch Hyper Black wheels enhanced by Michelin all-season performance tires, fog lights, and a deck-lid spoiler. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are on the menu too. The GT Interior Package ($995) adds Alcantara suede, sportier steering wheel, and a better audio system.
Slated to go into production in January and scheduled to arrive at dealers soon after, the 2017 Dodge Challenger GT is a teaser of things to come. Even if the American manufacturer is keeping its mouth shut on the subject, we hear there’s an all-wheel-drive Challenger Hellcat in the pipeline.
More expensive than the HEMI V8-powered Challenger R/T, the GT features the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 from the SXT, which is capable of producing 305 horsepower at 6,350 rpm and 268 lb-ft of torque from 4,800 rpm. 90 percent of the get-up-and-go is available from merely 1,800 rpm until the needle shows 6,400 rpm. Unfortunately, Dodge hasn’t offered any 0 to 60 mph information whatsoever. Only the 8-speed auto is available for the GT.
In this configuration, the Challenger is capable of returning 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. Of course, that’s worse than the rear-wheel-drive Challenger SXT (19 mpg, 30 mpg), but it’s only natural for fuel economy to take a dive due to the added traction. Lifted from the Charger SXT AWD, the system consists of a transfer case with front-axle disconnect. Thus, normal driving conditions ensure power is sent exclusively to the rear axle.
From the get-go, the 2017 Dodge Challenger GT comes with heated and ventilated seats wrapped in Nappa leather, heated steering wheel, 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment, 19-inch Hyper Black wheels enhanced by Michelin all-season performance tires, fog lights, and a deck-lid spoiler. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are on the menu too. The GT Interior Package ($995) adds Alcantara suede, sportier steering wheel, and a better audio system.
Slated to go into production in January and scheduled to arrive at dealers soon after, the 2017 Dodge Challenger GT is a teaser of things to come. Even if the American manufacturer is keeping its mouth shut on the subject, we hear there’s an all-wheel-drive Challenger Hellcat in the pipeline.
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