It appears Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles will be hopping aboard the bandwagon of reviving the inline-six as the folks at MoparInsiders stumbled upon a batch of new patent filings. Rumors have been suggesting the Auburn Hills automaker could be eyeing a turbocharged inline-six in its near future, a claim that's supported by these findings. Even more so, this could be a big deal for fans as it might usher in the revival of the “Slant-Six” ethos.The patent—issued by FCA engineers on Nov. 1, 2017 and numbered 10,247,142—indicates the use of a new exhaust-gas recirculation system for FCA’s future range of gasoline engines. The part we're interested in, though, is the technical diagram that clearly shows six-cylinders arranged in a straight line

We've been quite familiar with these rumors in the past, but now the “GME-T6” engine, which reportedly stands for “Global Medium Turbo-6," has been surfacing in FCA’s future product outlines. The new six-cylinder began gaining attention after additional rumors suggested that FCA was also working on an enormous 426 cubic-inch Hemi V-8 performance engine. That idea was apparently canned, though, with focus on the new turbo-six allegedly taking its place.

This new turbo-six is supposedly destined to be the base engine option in future Dodge and Jeep applications as a replacement for the current Pentastar V-6, which means it harks back to the days of the original “Slant-Six,” as Muscle Cars and Truckspoints out. Once one of the company’s most ubiquitous motors between 1959 all the way up to the year 2000, the Slant-Six earned a legendary reputation for being incredibly reliable and durable while outperforming many of its crosstown competitors in terms of drivability and performance. It earned the nickname for being diagonally oriented with the cylinders running straight, but on a 30-degree slant.

The supposed plan is to offer the new six in a variety of tunes, ranging from 360 horsepower to 525 hp. The new turbo-six is also alleged to introduce the use of an electronically assisted turbocharger setup, named “eBooster,” that’ll help eliminate turbo lag. With FCA also keeping electrification on its immediate radar for future product plans, this could even point to a hybridized turbo-six Dodge Challenger.

Patent filings, of course, must always be taken with a grain of salt since they don't necessarily confirm future products. In most cases, they do allude to serious consideration by the manufacturer, though.

Dodge//SRT is flexing its muscle and doubling down on its commitment to drag racing, introducing the new 2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock, the world's quickest and most powerful muscle car.

"I swore that we'd never build another Demon and we won't," said Tim Kuniskis, Global Head of Alfa Romeo and Head of Passenger Cars - Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA - North America. "But I also said that every Challenger Hellcat and Redeye comes with an unspoken commitment to uphold the brand and the new Challenger SRT Super Stock is engineered to do just that."

The drag-racing, quarter-mile-crushing spirit of the limited-production 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon lives on through the 2020 Challenger SRT Super Stock, which is powered by the same supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® high-output V-8 engine that also currently powers the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye, paired with the TorqueFlite 8HP90 eight-speed automatic transmission.

Featuring a revised powertrain calibration that increases the shift point from 6,300 rpm to 6,400 rpm, the Challenger SRT Super Stock delivers a power output of 807 horsepower on pump gas, a 10-horsepower boost over the standard SRT Hellcat Redeye, and 707 lb.-ft. of torque.

In addition to the new powertrain calibration, the Challenger SRT Super Stock is built on a standard Widebody and features a new suspension, standard Brembo brakes, and a wheel and drag radial combination designed to give customers better hook off the line.

Dodge is finally saying enough is enough when it comes to Charger and Challenger thefts, as these two muscle cars have long been two of America’s most stolen automobiles. The solution? A software update aimed at models equipped with 392 HEMI V8 and supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 engines.
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This update is meant to limit the car’s engine speed to idle (675 rpm) and the total output to just 2.8 hp and 22 lb-ft (30 Nm) of torque, using the Dodge owner's four-digit security code. The goal is to help prevent both thefts as well as joyrides.

“Today, Dodge is launching a new owner-customized ‘double verification’ security system,” said Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis. “When flashed into the computer of affected 2015 or newer Dodge muscle cars, the protective software will limit the engine output to less than 3 horsepower, foiling fast getaways and joyrides.”

Owners can get the update installed free of charge at any Dodge dealer in 2015 through 2021 model-year cars. The system works by applying a second-level vehicle security encryption using the carmaker’s Uconnect 4C infotainment system.

Once the engine’s power output is reduced to idle levels, evading the police or leading them on a high-speed chance will become impossible. Furthermore, the four-digit encryption code should also discourage relay attacks, which work by capturing the keyless remote signal when the keys are nearby.

“More than 150 cars are stolen every day in the United States,” added Kuniskis. “For any car owner, it’s terrible, it’s a hassle and it’s a personal violation. Though statistically rare, car thieves have targeted the high-horsepower Dodge muscle cars, and we want the Dodge ‘Brotherhood’ to know we’re taking quick action and covering their backs.”

The new security feature is expected to be available late in the second quarter of 2021. If you own a 2015 through 2021 Challenger SRT or Charger SRT equipped with 392 HEMI V8 or supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 engines, as well as 2019-2021 Scat Pack models featuring the 392 HEMI V8, you should contact your local Dodge dealer and make an appointment.

Dodge is giving owners of high-horsepower Challengers or Chargers an extra line of protection against vehicle theft.

It announced Monday that it will offer a new pin-activated security feature to owners of Challengers or Chargers equipped with either the Hellcat 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 or the 392 6.4-liter V-8. The feature, when activated, limits the engine to 675 rpm.

At such low revs, the engine will only make about 3 hp, which would make it virtually impossible for the driver of a stolen vehicle to evade police.

With the invention of keyless entry and start, thieves have come up with myriad ways to spoof the data. This new security feature is designed to stop them from stealing a vehicle by creating a double verification system, similar to what many website logins now require.

The security feature is a software-based feature that requires a unique four-digit pin chosen by the owner to be keyed in via the infotainment system.

The dealer-installed feature is being offered free of charge to owners and can be installed on models dating back to the 2015 model year. It will be available late in the second quarter of 2021.

The Mustang sold better than the Challenger in the first quarter of 2021, but the tables have turned in Dodge’s favor in the past three months. Stellantis reports 15,052 units compared to 9,880 for the second quarter of 2020 while the Ford Motor Company trails behind with 14,676 ponies.
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What’s curious about Ford’s results is the Mustang Mach-E, which outsold the pony car in June 2021 with 2,465 units compared to 2,240 units. That says a lot about where the U.S. automotive industry is heading, but looking at the bigger picture, crossovers are far more popular than sports cars these days. In terms of year-to-date sales, the Mustang has a pretty comfortable lead over the all-electric SUV with 31,950 units to its name vs.12,795 units.

And finally, the biggest elephant in the room is Chevrolet’s ailing Camaro. Even though it’s been praised as the better-handling pony car in comparison to the Mustang, the Camaro finished the second quarter with 2,792 examples and a year-to-date tally of 9,881 units. By comparison, the Q2 2020 and half-year 2020 volumes are 9,881 and 13,860 examples, respectively.

The reason for the Camaro’s downfall is - of course - General Motors. The biggest of the Big Three in Detroit never invested as much attention into its pony car as FoMoCo and the Dodge brand did in the Mustang and Challenger, and there’s nothing exciting on the horizon for 2022 either.

GM stopped at the ZL1 in terms of horsepower and ZL1 1LE in terms of handling while the Shelby GT500 and Challenger SRT Super Stock are riding a wave of high-octane hype. Adding insult to injury, General Motors reportedly canceled the Z/28 project that would have received the flat-plane crankshaft V8 engine from the 2023 model year Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

Given these circumstances, I wouldn’t be surprised if the gas-powered Camaro will be discontinued in a few years’ time for an electric coupe.

The thing with muscle cars is that, because they are so exciting and so difficult to make, they have the tendency to remain unchanged for long periods of time. Take the Dodge Challenger, for instance. Born all the way back in 1969, it is presently just in its fourth generation, with the latest one born no less than 13 years ago, all the way back in 2008.

World’s Most Powerful Muscle Car Stays the Same for 2022, With One Exception

That makes this particular muscle car rather old as well, at least theoretically, as from time to time updates have been made in order to keep the car relevant in a fast- and ever-changing market. Last year, for instance, we got the SRT Super Stock, and a 50th Anniversary Package to go with a bunch of Challenger models.

Those who were expecting something at least as exciting to be in the works for the 2022 model year are probably in for a big disappointment. But let’s take things slowly.

First up, the Challenger will continue to be the “world’s quickest, fastest and most powerful muscle car” in 2022 as well. And that’s owed to the top of the range SRT Super Stock version, which will be kept for 2022 packing the same 6.2-liter HEMI V8 deployed on the SRT Hellcat Redeye, only developing 807 hp (797 for the Redeye). The HEMI V8 is also used under the hood of the SRT Hellcat, where it develops 717 horsepower.

The engine range is greater than this potent powerplant, tough, and comprises three more choices. As an entry-level we get for the new model year the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 (fitted on the SXT, SXT AWD, GT and GT AWD models), followed by the 5.7-liter HEMI V8 that is to be found on the R/T.


In between these a-bit-tamer powerplants and the SRT monstrosities we have the naturally aspirated 392 HEMI V8 (6.4-liter), rated at 485 horsepower and “offering the most muscle per dollar on Scat Pack models” according to its maker.

Dodge will continue to offer the Challenger in 2022 with a choice of nine models, not including their respective widebody variants. 13 exterior colors are on the table, ranging from Frostbite and F8 Green to Triple Nickel and White Knuckle. For the interior, just five color combinations are offered, ranging from the plain and simple black to the more pretentious sepia.

All of the above might seem eerily familiar, and that’s because there nothing really new in there. As said, Dodge sticks to the successful recipe for the new model year for this vehicle, just as it did with its four-door sibling.

And just as it did with the Charger, the carmaker did think something entirely new should be added to the mix, as to keep people on their toes. Sadly, that something is nothing more than the Deluxe security alarm.


The system will be offered as standard for the R/T Scat Pack, SRT Hellcat, SRT Hellcat Redeye and SRT Super Stock models, while the SXT, SXT AWD, GT, GT AWD and R/T models will get it only with the Driver Convenience Group.

As for price changes, Dodge said nothing, and hopefully there will be none. At the time of writing, the Dodge configurator still lists the 2021 model year as available, and the 2022 is nowhere in sight.

For reference, the current lineup opens up with the STX, which can be had from $29,065, and closes with the mighty SRT Hellcat Redeye, which sells for a hell of a lot more, starting at $73,065.

The Dodge Challenger continues to light up the sales charts this year and is on course to overtake the Ford Mustang for the annual sales crown. Besides offering brawny power plants, a comfortable ride, and a surprising amount of space, Dodge has managed to maintain interest in the Challenger with numerous special edition models and lots of customization options. The same can be said of the Dodge Charger. Recently, the company revealed a few ghoulish, Halloween-themed packages for both the Challenger and Charger. But for the true individual, Dodge has just revealed Jailbreak versions of these two models that unlock many typical ordering restrictions. Think of BMW Individual or Rolls-Royce Black Badge and you'll get an idea of what the Jailbreak Package is all about.

The Jailbreak treatment applies to both the Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody and the 2022 Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody. Where customers would previously be prevented from choosing certain colors or mixing specific options, the Jailbreak variants provide far more choice.

"Roughly half of all Dodge customers modify their vehicles," said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge CEO. "We're taking most of the parts and pieces we've used over the years, adding a few new ones and letting customers build their own 'One of One.' So, if you're dreaming about owning a Stinger Yellow Challenger with Brass Monkey wheels, Hammerhead Grey seats, blue Brembos and red badges, I'm not sure we should, but we'll build it for you."

For the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak model, this means over 20 categories where customers can mix and match options as they please. Available are seven seat options, six brake caliper colors, four steering wheels, and a lot more. There are also a variety of options reserved specifically for this Jailbreak model. Examples are a Hammerhead Grey color for the Laguna leather, floor mat accents, and seatbelts. The seatbelts can also be finished in Sepia or Demonic Red. Blue brake calipers, 20x11-inch Warp Speed Satin Carbon wheels, and Brass Monkey exterior badges are other options on a long list.

The Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Jailbreak comes with a similar array of options. Exclusive content available on this model includes vinyl stripes for the hood, roof, and decklid, along with a Black Nickel exhaust tip finish, an Alcantara steering wheel, and the same Hammerhead Grey upholstery color.

If the amount of choice is a bit too overwhelming, Dodge has a solution for that too, with options pre-created by the Dodge Product Design Office. These include the Old School Challenger Jailbreak and the Brass Funky Charger Jailbreak. The Old School Challenger Jailbreak has an F8 Green exterior, Gunmetal Grey brake calipers, 20x11-inch Warp Speed Satin Carbon wheels, a twill headliner, and more. The Brass Funky Charger Jailbreak, meanwhile, gets a Hellraisin exterior and Sepia Laguna leather seats, along with carbon fiber bezels and a Brass Monkey Hellcat grille.

Perhaps the best part of the Jailbreak models? A revised powertrain calibration for the SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody increases its output to 807 horsepower, the same as that of the Challenger SRT Super Stock.

Jailbreak models will be available to order later this year and the option package carries a retail price of $995.

If you go to the online configurator for the 2022 Dodge Challenger, you can spec all kinds of crazy combinations for paint color, stripe packages, interior trims, wheels, spoilers, hood scoops, the works. You can pick an engine ranging from a 303-hp 3.6-liter V-6 to an 807-hp SRT Super Stock. But if you want a 2022 model year with the 6.2-liter Hellcat supercharged V-8, you can't choose a six-speed manual.

While I only noticed this issue today, Challenger enthusiast forums have been talking about it since 2021. I asked Dodge what's up with the stick-shift Hellcat, and a spokesperson explained that the six-speed manual was removed from the configurator late in the 2021 model year. The spokesperson described it as a temporary situation and said that a revised calibration for this powertrain combo will be coming that will allow the stick-shift Hellcat to go on sale again. The spokesperson was not able to say when ordering will re-open for the manual Challenger Hellcat, but specified that production of stick-shift models was suspended in November 2021.

It's a disappointment, for sure, because the manual Hellcat was a charming mix of modern performance and retro engagement. But fear not: Challenger R/T models with the 5.7-liter V-8 and Scat Packs with the 6.2-liter V-8 are both still available with a six-speed manual.

Road & Track has asked Dodge for clarification on why the manual-transmission Challenger Hellcat was discontinued, and when it is expected to return. We will update this article with any information provided by Dodge.

Earlier this month, Mopar Insiders said it got wind of a special edition Dodge Challenger that would help celebrate the end of the muscle car's extraordinary production run. Said to have flex-fuel capability that could quaff E85, all MI could glean at the time was that the new Challenger would make more than the Dodge Demon. The Demon, remember, rolled out with 808 horsepower on pump gas but could set fire to a drag strip when filled with 100 octane race gas, which boosted output to 840 hp. When MI rang up "a reliable source" for Stellantis matters on the horn, the outlet asked how much power an eager audience might expect. Given one guess, MI offered "909?" and was apparently right on the first try.

The rationale for guess of 909 horsepower was that the original Hellcats hit the market with 707 hp in 2015, followed by 808 hp in the Demon in 2018.

The output is likely a matter of protecting other Dodge property. The automaker released its Challenger Jailbreak with 807 hp, a conspicuous one horse below the Demon's stock output on pump gas. A 909-hp figure for the coming special, if that does end up being the number, provides a healthy cushion between it and the 1,000-hp Hellephant crate engine.

Assuming the moonshine jug on Dodge's Never Lift calendar refers to the ethanol-powered Hellbeast, we're in for three surprises over the next month. And that doesn't include the Dodge Hornet PHEV compact hatchback that execs are trying to line up for an August reveal, or the battery-electric muscle car concept that brand chief Tim Kuniskis said he wants to show before the Hornet.

It's been over fifty years since a factory droptop Dodge Challenger graced America's roads, and I think we can all agree things have gone downhill since then. Perhaps this will smooth our country's troubled waters: a 2023 Dodge Challenger convertible is coming to dealerships starting this fall. But with a twist this time—instead of making the car itself, Dodge is partnering with coachbuilders Drop Top Customs to set up a streamlined ordering and shipping process when purchasing a new Challenger that effectively makes the convertible top a dealer option. The '70s are back!

Here's how it'll work: starting August 16, Dodge dealers will begin offering to arrange convertible conversions on new 2022 Dodge Challenger R/T, Challenger R/T Scat Pack, and Challenger SRT Hellcat orders, as well as for 2023 model year cars when those books open later in the fall. For $25,999, the cars will be sent directly from the factory to Drop Top Customs, where the work will be performed before the car is sent back to the dealer for final delivery.

The top itself will be power-operated, with full interior padding and a heated glass rear window. Dodge is promising "expedited ordering" and a "new, integrated transportation ordering process" to get it all done. A bit ominously, the press release notes that "final pricing [is] negotiated and confirmed with the dealer."

It looks excellent with the top down, a bit less so with it up, but show me a convertible where that isn't true. You can see in the images that trunk space is definitely compromised by the folding top mechanism, but it looks like you could still stuff a fair amount in there.

Despite being older than time, the current-gen Dodge Challenger has managed to hang with the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro in sales and carve out its own space as a throwback muscle car determined to win the horsepower war at all costs. Where it hasn't measured up is its lack of a factory convertible offering, which always seemed like a natural fit for the car's straight-lined design and comfortable cruising behavior. But given that we're late in the fourth quarter with the Challenger and Dodge's R&D money is all but committed to the model's electric successor, it's logical that the cost of developing a convertible in-house was too great. Enter: Drop Top Customs.

The Florida based company has also been around since the 1970s, and more recently it's gained attention as one of the few aftermarket shops putting out Challenger convertibles that don't look hacky. Beyond the finishing work, lopping the roof off a unibody car is usually a disaster for structural rigidity and overall handling (and, you know, safety), doubly so for a V8, rear-wheel-drive bruiser with 700+ horsepower. Drop Top Customs adds extra bracing in the front and back to compensate for that, though specifics are a bit light at the moment. We'll try to find out more about how exactly these are built tomorrow.

By now, you've probably heard that Dodge will say goodbye to the current-generation Challenger and Charger after the 2023 model year. The automaker also announced that it will say sayonara to its beloved muscle cars with a series of seven "Last Call" special editions, the first of which will be the 2023 Dodge Challenger Shakedown.

The new Challenger Shakedown is inspired by the concept car of the same name that appeared at the 2016 SEMA show. While the concept was a 1971 Challenger retrofitted with parts from a then-new 2017 model, the 2023 Shakedown mainly cribs its exterior and interior styling bits. The latter includes a set of stripes that run the entire length of the car, with three black lines of different widths and a single red line. All examples also have red "392" fender badges, red Brembo brake calipers, and a unique spoiler graphic.

Inside, the Shakedown edition features black Nappa leather seats with microsuede accents and red contrast stitching. The red stitching also extends to the steering wheel and dashboard, where there's also a "Shakedown" badge. The interior comes dressed with Demonic Red seatbelts, too.

Likewise, all Shakedown models include options such as carbon-fiber and microsuede interior trim, the Technology package (adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers), the Plus package (heated steering wheel and power-adjustable steering column), and more.

Not only does the 2023 Challenger Shakedown have a distinct appearance, but Dodge says it only plans to build 1000 examples total. That will include 500 copies based on the Challenger R/T Scat Pack and 500 of the R/T Scat Pack Widebody . Both variants are only sold with the 485-hp 6.4-liter V-8 and either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission.

Dodge hasn't released pricing for the 2023 Challenger Shakedown, but the company said that information along with specific dealership allotments will be announced when orders open later this fall. With all the options that are included with the Shakedown edition, the 2022 Challenger R/T Scat Pack starts around $52,000 and a similarly equipped Widebody variant adds roughly another $10k. We'd wager the 2023 Shakedowns start a few thousand dollars higher than both, so in the $55k–$65k range.

First Shakedown, then Super Bee, now Swinger. The third and fourth “Last Call” special editions rolled out by Dodge for the 2023 model year are paying tribute to the Dart Swinger from the 1960s and 1970s. Based on the Challenger Scat Pack and Charger Scat Pack, the modern-day Swinger is available in three colors: F8 Green, Sublime Green, and White Knuckle.
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The interior features green accents, and Gold School badging is also present for maximum visual impact. The Shaker intake of the Challenger adds to the retro-infused style of the fixed-head coupe, which is limited to 1,000 units. The Charger Scat Pack Swinger will also number 1,000 examples.

Both of them are offered exclusively in widebody specification, which is only right given that the wide-bodied option features better handling than the standard specification. To be frank, the wider body also looks a bit more aggressive, which is exactly how HEMI-engined muscle cars should be.

“The name says it all – the originals had a unique, fun character, and that’s the same reaction we’re hoping for with our Challenger and Charger R/T Scat Pack Swinger models,” said chief executive officer Tim Kuniskis. “Swinger models have always held a unique spot in the Dodge muscle-car pantheon, and these modern-day Swingers bring that fun back to life.”

Both are equipped with black-painted Brembo brakes, 20- by 11-inch Gold School wheels, retro graphics on the rear fenders, Mod Grain wood-like aluminum bezel textures, Nappa and Alcantara seats with green stitching, and Dodge’s Rhombi logo in green as well. Dodge says the fifth of seven “Last Call” special editions will be revealed on September 14th, which coincides with the world debut of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang.

On a final note, it’s important to remind ourselves what R/T Scat Pack means for the Challenger and Charger. As opposed to the 5.7-liter HEMI of the R/T, the R/T Scat Pack levels up to the 6.4-liter HEMI that enthusiasts refer to as the Apache. From nearly 392 cubic inches, Dodge squeezes out 485 horsepower and 475 pound-foot (644 Nm) of torque. Only the Challenger R/T Scat Pack can be had with a six-speed manual transmission.

Dodge is nearly finished unveiling its Last Call special edition Challengers and Chargers, with the latest, the 2023 Challenger Black Ghost, representing the sixth out of seven sendoff variants for the V-8–powered muscle cars. The Black Ghost is based on the widebody SRT Hellcat Redeye model, but it boosts the supercharged 6.2-liter V-8's output by 10 ponies to a total of 807 horsepower.

The Black Ghost name comes from a 1970 Challenger R/T SE that prowled the streets of Detroit five decades ago. Owned by a man named Godfrey Qualls, who was a Detroit motorcycle police officer at the time, the black '70 Challenger earned legendary status for showing up to stoplight drag races on Woodward Avenue and other local strips, winning, and then disappearing into the night like a 426 Hemi–powered apparition. The original Black Ghost was inducted into the National Historic Vehicle Register in 2020 after Qualls's son, Gregory, helped return it to road-worthy status when his father bestowed the car upon him before his death in 2015. The car is still owned by the Qualls family.

For the 2023 homage, Dodge will paint 300 Challenger Hellcat Redeyes in Pitch Black with a black faux-gator-skin roof vinyl that mimics the look of the original. The Black Ghost edition also features a chrome "Dodge" front badge, a white stripe on the rear fender, and chrome script "Challenger" badges on the grille, front fender, and rear spoiler. The Black Ghost rides on 20-inch Satin Carbon wheels, and stopping power comes via black six-piston Brembo brakes.

The interior is also black, with seats and doors wrapped in Alcantara and Laguna leather and a red SRT logo adorning the Alcantara steering wheel. The instrument panel receives a special Black Ghost badge that includes the iconic Dodge Fratzog logo and a gator-scale pattern, as well as carbon-fiber bezels. Orders open this fall, and you can expect the Black Ghost to cost significantly more than the standard $87,340 Challenger Hellcat Redeye.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Texas Department of Public Safety has a new addition to its fleet of Texas Highway Patrol vehicles after a dangerous Houston-area high-speed chase led to an arrest last year.

The 2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye was seized in April 2021 when the driver was arrested after a chase -- reaching speeds of 160 mph and driving erratically, according to Texas DPS.

The same car driven in the chase has since been converted to a black and white Texas Highway Patrol Vehicle, outfitted with emergency lights and a police radio.

On April 25, 2021, a DPS aircraft saw two vehicles engaging in dangerous street racing on I-10 westbound near Gessner Road, officials said.

A DPS trooper attempted to stop the Dodge, but the driver fled, sparking a dangerous, lengthy pursuit.

The chase became too dangerous to continue with a marked patrol vehicle, DPS officials said. Instead, the aircraft crew updated officers on the location of the Dodge.

The 1,080-horsepower car eventually ran out of fuel near I-10 and the West Sam Houston Parkway.

Officials said the driver fled on foot, attempting to get inside locked structures in the area as he tried to avoid arrest.

The driver was later taken into custody and charged with felony evading and unlawful carrying of a weapon.

The Dodge was awarded to Texas DPS in January of this year and will be used for traffic enforcement and community events around the state.

Once again, the Dodge Challenger sold better than its rivals from the Ford Motor Company and Chevrolet. No fewer than 16,412 units were sold in the United States in Q3 2022, up nearly 17.3 percent from Q3 2021.
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There is, however, bad news. The Challenger moved 42,094 units year to date compared to 44,142 examples from January through September 2021. The Mustang ranked second on the leaderboard with 10,354 examples in Q3 2022 and 36,598 versus 41,065 units in terms of year-to-date volume.

The biggest loser, unfortunately, but perfectly understandable, is the Camaro. The biggest of the Big Three in Detroit couldn’t do better than 7,922 units in the past quarter and 19,177 versus 15,084 units year to date.

More worryingly, the segment contracted from 100,291 units in the first three quarters of 2021 to 97,869 year to date. Be that as it may, these fellows outsold the likes of the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Nissan Z, and Toyota Supra. Given these circumstances, you shouldn’t be surprised that increasingly more brands are losing interest in sporty cars.

The future of the Camaro still hasn’t been decided, at least not publicly. There are rumors of a four-door electric sedan that would indirectly replace the Camaro, but General Motors hasn’t confirmed or denied the hearsay.

The Challenger, together with its four-door sibling and the Chrysler 300, are on their way out as well. Dodge is pivoting towards electrified muscle in the guise of the Charger Daytona SRT, which is due to launch in 2024.

This is the last year for the Dodge Charger and Challenger as we know them. Dodge is discontinuing the two long-running models as the automaker prepares for an electrified future. But before that arrives, the final models have to find homes, and Dodge is making it easier than ever to find the one you want with its new Horsepower Locator tool that does more than inform you of your nearest dealer. Oh, and the order books are open now.

You can find the locator online at DodgeGarage.com. Prospective buyers can search for their desired Dodge down to the model and trim level, even including the special-edition cars, and this is possible because Dodge has already allocated nearly all 2023 Charger and Challenger models to dealers. Dodge will update the locator daily, Monday through Friday, for the next few months of ordering. The locator will update with the available vehicle allocation as orders are processed.

Dodge Challenger Price (incl. $1,595 destination)

SXT $32,140
SXT AWD $35,140
GT $35,440
GT AWD $38,
440 R/T $40,980
R/T Scat Pack (Widebody avail.) $47,440
Shakedown Special Edition $65,185
Swinger Widebody Special Edition $67,785
Shakedown Widebody Special Edition $69,085
SRT Hellcat Jailbreak (Widebody avail.) $71,630
SRT Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak (Widebody avail.) $80,235
SRT Super Stock (Widebody only) $88,240
Black Ghost Special Edition $100,910

Alongside announcing its Horsepower Locator, Dodge also released pricing for the 2023 Charger and Challenger. The two-door will start at $32,140 (all prices include the $1,595 destination charge), while the sedan costs $34,240 to start.

After a development delay and a long Last Call teaser campaign, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 is finally here, and it boasts some jaw-dropping specs. When running on E85 fuel, the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 makes 1,025 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 945 pound-feet of torque at 4,200 rpm. Even on E10 gasoline, the output is still 900 hp and 810 lb-ft.

When making the full 1,025 hp, the Demon 170 can hit 60 miles per hour in 1.66 seconds. It completes the quarter-mile in an NHRA-certified 8.91 seconds at 151.17 mph. You would probably need to be on a prepped drag strip to achieve these figures, according to Dodge boss Tim Kuniskis.

The 170 name refers to two things. It primarily comes from E85 ethanol being 170 proof. The other allusion is to the Dodge Direct Connection Hellephant C170 crate engine, which this model shares a little DNA with.


This is not just a modded Demon. To achieve these impressive performance figures, Dodge had to replace nearly the entire driveline. The camshaft is the only major component that carries over from the engine. The supercharger displacement grows to 3.0 liters, versus 2.7 liters in the Demon, and the throttle body is 105 millimeters, instead of 92 mm on the previous model. This boost is now 21.3 psi, in comparison to 15.3 psi in the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody.

The Demon 170 has smart engine management that can tell what percentage of ethanol is in the gasoline. The system adjusts the fueling and spark timing to optimize the powertrain's output. There's even a display on the instrument panel that shows the ethanol proportion. The full 1,025 hp is available when the figure is over 65 percent.

The transmission continues to be an eight-speed automatic, and the Demon 170 gets an improved TransBrake 2.0. It allows the driver to mash the throttle and then pull a shift paddle to launch at the strip. Plus, a person can tune the torque output in tenth-of-a-second increments to adapt the system for putting the power down in precisely the quickest way.

Dodge Direct Connection accessories will let drag-racing-focused customers order parts like a harness bar, carbon-fiber rear seat delete panel, and even a parachute.



A set of 315/50R17 Mickey Thompson ET Street R drag radials at the rear puts the power down. In front, there's skinnier 245/55R18 rubber. However, these tires don't work well if the weather is wet or cold, so Dodge is offering an optional wheel-and-tire package for times when drag radials aren't appropriate.

Buyers can shed significant weight by getting another optional set of wheels that mix forged aluminum and carbon fiber. With them, the Demon 170 sheds 20.12 pounds at the front and 11.98 pounds at the back over a Challenger Redeye Widebody.

The suspension consists of adaptive Bilstein shocks that raise the rear by 0.39 inches. The Drag Mode setting tweaks the setup to make the front firmer while softening the rear. Compared to a Challenger Hellcat Redeye Widebody, the 170 also has softer springs and sway bars that improve the weight transfer during a launch.

Devilish Looks

The design at the front largely comes from the previous Demon, but the 170 doesn't have fender flares – a change that saves 16 pounds. A new badge features a 170 neck tattoo and yellow eyes, which alludes to the E85 fuel.

The Demon 170 is available in 14 exterior colors, including the heritage shades B5 Blue, Plum Crazy purple, and Sublime green. All of them are available with Satin Black just on the hood or on the hood, roof, and trunk.

Inside, buyers can get the Demon 170 with just a cloth-upholstered driver's seat and no rear bench. To limit weight, it's possible to specify to get a car without trunk carpet, sound insulation, and a two-speaker stereo.

For folks who want luxury with their muscle, a mix of black Alcantara and Laguna leather is available. This setup also has heated and ventilated chairs, a heated steering wheel, and an 18-speaker stereo. A sunroof is an option.

Summoning The Demon

The Demon 170 retails for $96,666 before the destination fee. Dodge plans to make 3,300 of them – 3,000 for the United States and 300 for Canada. However, the final number will depend on production capacity because the company will only make them from July to December 31, 2023.

Dodge will begin taking orders on March 27, 2023. The company will prioritize orders that dealers make at MSRP in an effort to deter markups. Interested buyers can view the available dealer allocations now at DodgeGarage.com.

Owners of an original 2018 Challenger SRT Demon will be able to request a Demon 170 VIN number that will match the earlier model. For example, if someone has the 47th Demon, that person can get the 47th 170.

Buyers get a package that includes a Demon-styled decanter with the owner’s name and vehicle VIN engraved, Demon-badged coasters and whiskey cubes, rocks glasses, Demon 170 supercharger badge cover, and an illustration on the inside top of the pack's cover.

Dodge owners have been in an uproar in recent days over a dealership's treatment of a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 customer. In short, it looks like the dealer sold the car out from under an active-duty servicemember while they were deployed, defamed him, and then lied to Dodge about what it had done. Don't worry, things end well, but the path to this happy ending is a shining example of why car dealers are so widely distrusted.

The story begins at Mac Haik Dodge in Flowood, Mississippi. Previously, we have covered the Mac Haik dealer network for its price-gouging on limited-run performance cars like the Chevy Corvette Z06. With the Dodge Challenger exiting production, and the 1,025-horsepower SRT Demon 170 sending it off, Mac Haik evidently expected a payday from the strictly limited-edition Challenger.

As outlined in videos from drama YouTuber "Butter Da Insider" and a story from StellPower, Mac Haik in Flowood took an order for a Demon 170 in F8 Green from an unnamed servicemember at a $50,000 markup. One video includes a photo of a Monroney sticker with a blurred-out name, alleged to belong to the servicemember who ordered the car. Their Challenger was scheduled to be delivered while they were overseas, so they reportedly arranged to have it picked up by family members this month.

At some point though, this same Mac Haik franchise allegedly promised another Demon 170 customer a car in Triple Nickel. But that car had allegedly been sold to someone else already, so when this customer showed up after driving eight hours to see the car, the dealer offered them the pending-delivery F8 Green car for more than what the servicemember agreed to pay. A deal was struck, and the happy new owner went to Facebook to share their excitement for their new purchase. However, the servicemember who originally ordered the car was in the group where this boast was shared, and the two quickly figured out what had happened.

When this story spread, it appears Mac Haik employees tried to do some damage control—poorly. Screenshots allegedly taken in the private Facebook group where much of this unfolded show William LaGrange, the general manager of a Mac Haik Chrysler franchise in Texas, denying many of these allegations. He claimed no such car was ever ordered in the servicemember's name (even though a Monroney suggesting such has been shared online), and accused the F8 Green's intended original recipient of lying about being in the military. The YouTuber who shared images of LaGrange's comments says Mac Haik employees told them that they've been instructed to let this all blow over.

But at some point, the news made its way to Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis, whom StellPower reports reached out to both parties for their versions of the story. The dealer reportedly claimed to have smoothed everything over, but the servicemember contested this, reportedly saying they were not offered an acceptable resolution.

Unfortunately, this all went down after the Challenger had exited production; it wasn't possible to build a new car to replace the one that had been ordered. No cars across the nation's inventory matched the ordered spec, either. The customer who unknowingly bought the F8 Green car arranged to return it to Mac Haik, but with some miles now on it, it wasn't the car the servicemember paid for.

Still, this story has a happy ending. Dodge held on to 40 Demon 170s to reward its top dealers with, but it plucked one Pitch Black example from the batch. It'll be sent through Dodge's Jailbreak program, repainted F8 Green in factory quality, and built to match the original spec the servicemember ordered. This will all be done at no charge, and the car will be sold at MSRP. On top of that, Jay Leno will handle the delivery ceremony at his garage. All's well that ends well in the "brotherhood of muscle."

"Many other owners and the guy who purchased my original vehicle have reached out and offered their own solutions," the servicemember told StellPower. "I've had many people offer up their own cars to me for purchase. The guy who purchased mine even offered to spend more money to buy another one if I wanted to buy mine from him. The brotherhood is real."

"All those options were well received, and I was grateful for everyone’s willingness to help but it wasn't on them to fix. It should have been on the dealership to fix."

The Challenger nameplate has been in the Dodge lineup since the early 1970s. The most recent third-generation model went on sale in 2008 and introduced powerful iterations like Scat Pack, Hellcat, Redeye, and many more to the lineup. Now, after 16 years, the Challenger is no more—at least the name isn't.

With the arrival of the new Charger Daytona, Dodge is discontinuing the Challenger nameplate for the foreseeable future. A Dodge spokesperson told us in an interview that there are "no future Challenger plans at this time." While that may be disappointing for fans longing for a new Challenger, the Charger EV will technically take the place of the outgoing muscle car.

The Charger comes in two- and four-door configurations with classic trim options like R/T and Scat Pack carrying over. An optional Track Pack is available on the latter. In terms of size, the new Charger Daytona coupe is bigger than the Challenger it replaces with a 121.0-inch wheelbase and a total length of 206.5 inches, compared to the Challenger's 116.0-inch wheelbase and 197.9-inch total length. It's also wider than the Challenger by 8.6 inches; 84.3 inches compared to 75.7.

That extra size means more passenger and cargo space for the EV; up to 22.8 cubic feet of cargo behind the rear seats and 37.4 cubes with the rear seats folded flat. The Challenger had just 16.2 cubic feet of space by comparison. And this new Charger is a liftback instead of a traditional coupe.

While it may not have a V-8, the Charger Daytona will offer a Hurricane inline-six engine alongside the electric powertrain. The 3.0-liter engine comes with a standard 420 horsepower and a more-powerful 550-hp version. That's more power than the outgoing Challenger's base V-8—but this engine will only be available with an eight-speed automatic. No manual.

Regardless, while the Challenger name may be gone from the Dodge lineup, it lives on in spirit in the new Charger Daytona.