dodge challenger

     With a design that looks, in part, like a Hot Wheels-influenced retake of a classic Mopar muscle car, today's Dodge Challenger is not only a faithful interpretation of an icon, with Hemi V-8 power under the hood; it's also a modern, comfortable touring coupe inside, with an independent suspension and modern tech features.
     The 2013 Dodge Challenger definitely tries harder to be a loyal interpretation of the original muscle-car designs that inspired it--and appeal to aging Baby Boomers--and its retro-modern look somehow manages to span classy and cartoonish, without seriously alienating any age groups. The flat sheetmetal, classic long nose, and vivid color palette all channel the muscle cars of the Sixties and Seventies. SRT8 Challenger models cherry-pick some of the best, most aggressive details from muscle-car history and pack them all in, with deeper air dams, functional brake ducts, and options for a Ram air hood and various striping packages. Inside, the design isn't what you might expect; it's spare and modern (some with a LCD touch screen), and nearly an about-face to the exterior--to the degree that the available pistol-grip shifter can feel a little out of place.
     At the most affordable end of the lineup, the Challenger SE has a 305-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 with 305 horsepower, available with a five-speed automatic. Challenger Rallye Redline models get a Sport Mode and steering-wheel paddle-shifters. These models are competitive with the base Mustang and Comaro, but true muscle-car enthusiasts should leap for the R/T models, which pack a 375-horsepower Hemi V-8, along with a throaty, gorgeous rumble. But for the full monty of muscle-car goodness you'll need to get the SRT8, with a "392" engine (6.4-liter) that makes 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, with either a manual or an automatic transmission.