The Dodge Charger Life: A Practical Vehicle for Enthusiasts and Families
Style. Nostalgia. Practicality. Performance. It is all available … if you hurry.
Today, you can purchase a bit of America’s muscle car lineage, as the Dodge Charger is still available at dealerships. However, time is running out.
Recently, HendrickCars.com visited Hendrick Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Concord to learn more about the modern-day Dodge Charger, the ultimate family car for the enthusiast.
Racing Is In the Charger DNA
The Dodge Charger is iconic. First introduced in 1966 as a four-seated coupe, a modified teardrop look and 426 HEMI engine that came with limited production. The factory had built a car to compete in NASCAR.
While success was limited early on, that changed dramatically in 1969. Built to spec in the wind tunnel, the manufacturer introduced a high-winged, aerodynamically superior stock car built for some of NASCAR’s most popular, high-banked racetracks. It was a stunner.
The car made an immediate impact, winning its first outright race in 1969, and later tackling Talladega Superspeedway at over 200 mph. The first car to eclipse that mark. It went on to win six races through its two-year lifespan, including four during the 1970 NASCAR campaign, the same year corporate cousin, Plymouth, introduced a similar looking, Superbird.
Dominating superspeedway racing throughout 1970, the dynamic “Winged Warrior” duo won 14 top-level NASCAR races along the way. Powered by the aforementioned 426 Hemi, both racers were horsepower monsters that held insurmountable aero advantages over the rest of the field.
Eventually, NASCAR officials banned racecars with high wings and high horsepower for the 1971 season, effectively ending the sport’s “Aero Wars” of the day.
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Today’s Muscle Sedan
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Fast forward to current day. Comparable in technology and performance to its modern two-door Challenger brethren, the Charger sedan also adds daily practicality to the mix.
With four-door accessibility, roomy interior and amenities throughout, the 2023 Dodge Charger is an enticing combination. It fulfills the requirements of a convenient daily school commuter, while still hitting it big with friends at the local Cars & Coffee.
“This car is great for the enthusiast who has a family,” said Robert Vaughn, sales representative for Hendrick Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM Fiat of Concord, North Carolina. “Having a four-door vehicle with a nice amount of (interior) size and a larger trunk, it’s a very nice vehicle for those with a family. It is great for someone to go to work, (or take on) family outings. You can also haul two car seats in the back.”
It is also quite the looker, bringing 14 different color combinations to the table, highlighted by the manufacturer’s original heritage hues such as Sublime Green and Go Mango. The car stands out in any environment.
“Chargers have great curb appeal,” Vaughn said. “From the front hood, which has the forced air induction scoop, to the vents on the grill, it is just a really aggressive looking vehicle. What complements that style is the color, this particular one is Plum Crazy, which is one of the original Mopar colors they brought back specifically for this vehicle.
“The Brembo Brakes, which can be painted red, yellow, black, silver. It’s a unique car all the way to the decals,” Vaughn continued.
Power Play
As an enthusiast vehicle, the 2023 is a true performer. For beginners, an entry level, 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 Charger carries with it 292 horsepower and 30 miles per gallon capability on the highway. If you want a little more, one can obtain 300 horsepower with the SXT AWD and GT models. The latter two output at 264-pound feet of torque.
The next step is the HEMI V8, starting with the Charger R/T that boasts up to 370 horsepower and 395 foot pounds of torque. Even with the power, the MDS Fuel Saver tech allows this car to have 25 miles per gallon on the highway.
More power? Of course you do. Standard on the Dodge Charger Scat Pack, the 392 naturally aspirated Hemi V8 flexes its muscles with 485 horsepower and 475 foot pounds of torque. Zero to 60 mph in under 4.5(!) seconds. Not a bad way to pick up groceries or head to the zoo.
“In my opinion, the Dodge Charger Daytona is the best ‘bang for your buck’ sedan you can get in the market,” Vaughn said. “For the power and torque that it makes – 485 horsepower and 475 pound feet of torque – you have to get a (high-performance luxury car) which costs (a lot more money to match it).
“The Dodge comes in at a fraction of the price of its competitors,” Vaughn continued. “What’s really nice about the vehicle – and the Charger specifically – it has all of this in a large sedan. It weighs nearly 4,300 pounds, so if you’re going on a vacation and cruising the highway, it really helps stay planted to the road.”
Oh yeah. There’s another one. The Hellcat, a demon of a car that produces 807 horsepower, has a 6.3-liter Hemi under the hood. Whoa.
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New School Technology & Interior
The car’s UConnect System includes entertainment options such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and SiriusXM, technologies that were not around in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Items now considered standard, which were inconceivable in most vehicles back in the day such as navigation, touchscreens and real-time data are all a part of the modern-day Charger experience.
“If you have your everyday smart phone you are used too, you are able to screen mirror right onto the car with the navigation (from your phone),” Vaughn said. ”You can also control your climate in this dual, climate control vehicle. You and your partners beside you can have the air temperature controls you would like. This one has heated and ventilated seats, which both come from the screen, are easy to touch and use. The system is super easy to understand. Dodge has done a really nice job.”
Tailored to taste, the information cluster offers drivers and enthusiasts alike a library of critical information. If you are doing a track day routine, such as 0-60 and elapsed time data, give drivers a sense of what is happening on course. It’s a similar story for the interior, which includes performance-oriented, buckets seats.
“They hug you and are wrapped around your back area,” Vaughn said. “If you are going around turns, you aren’t sliding all over the vehicle. At the very same time, they are heated and ventilated. (Its) really comfortable. It just makes it such a practical vehicle.
“Also, the performance factor is always present,” Vaughn continued. “You have this big, 8.4-inch screen, which is pretty large for a performance vehicle. The screen includes oil pressure, transmission temperature and water temperature. You name it, anything a race car would have gauge-wise, this vehicle has it."
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A Safer Ride
Another area of strength on the modern-day muscle car is safety. Along with the car’s security alarm and available intrusion control module, it has driver assist features such as forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane keep assist and blindspot monitoring.
The rear-park assist feature warns drivers of any pedestrian, object or oncoming traffic that may be when too close to the vehicle. Advanced brake assist, ready alert braking and rain brake support also enhance the vehicles stability when unforeseen or less than ideal conditions exist.
Also in the Charger’s favor is its impressive adaptive cruise control system, which keeps your vehicle at safe distances, even coming to a complete stop if traffic conditions warrant. We have certainly come a longs ways with our technology.
The list of driver, safety and performance enhancements on the Dodge Charger are almost limitless.
Last Call
As we have hinted at throughout this piece, the current V8-powered Dodge Chargers still on our dealership lots won’t last forever. With the new EV Charger arriving, this will be the last opportunity to treat yourself to a truly special piece of old school Americana.
“This vehicle is a pop culture icon,” Vaughn concluded. “Everyone knows the Charger and it’s a car seen frequently. Its very nice on the inside and it looks amazing on the outside. If you are one of those performance enthusiasts and you have a family - I can’t stress how much this is a perfect vehicle for you.”
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