Curiously, although the L-bodied Dodge Challenger and Charger are now officially defunct as production ended in December 2023, they just rolled out a package that teaches owners how to drive like pros. Erm, it's a bit late, don't you think?
The US automaker has announced the new Complete Performance Vehicle Protection Package – and those who pony up the costs will learn how to drive like pros in addition to receiving extra protection for various components in addition to the factory powertrain warranty. The lessons, meanwhile, take place at Radford Racing School, the official high-performance driving school of Dodge/SRT, nestled in Chandler, Arizona.
Alas, you could say that many drivers of Mopar cars have already mastered the techniques through trial and error at the local racetrack. That includes, of course, the classic quarter-mile dragstrip. But here is an example to support our discussion. So, the good folks over at the racing-focused ImportRace channel on YouTube are back to their usual venue - Island Dragway - for some feisty Mopar action. This time around, the focus is on a gray Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody.
It has black racing stripes to announce its intentions, but connoisseurs will be even more impressed by the massive tires around the back rather than anything else – as well as the big cloud of smoke coming from them during the pre-race burnout. With the nice and toasty rubber, it's clear this Dodge means business – even against the appetizer, a little Honda Civic sedan from yesteryear.
This is to put things into the proper perspective, for sure, as the mighty Challenger soundly beats its old-school opponent with a 10.42s versus 11.89s pass. Onto the next item on the racetrack's menu, the Dodge fights another sedan and posts an even better 10.37s versus 15.14s elapsed time. No worries, something extra feisty finally comes after that – a fellow Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat (no Widebody this time), and this time around, this is a fight to remember.
The Challenger driver has a much better reaction time, and in the end, that's what saves him – the mighty Charger ends the run with a 10.29s time against its opponent's 10.44s pass, but the racetrack's electronics only care about who crossed the finish line first. Last but not least comes a derelict-looking Ford Mustang Fox Body, and this time around, the unexpected doesn't happen, given the 10.34s versus 14.29s loss!
By the way, if you feel sad because there was nothing from GM this time around, only Mopars and a single FoMoCo, the second video embedded below is also from Island Dragway and presents a pack of Chevrolets – Monte Carlo, S10, Camaro, Corvette – facing off with anything that tries to stand in their way to quarter-mile dragstrip glory. Enjoy!
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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