The new Dodge Challenger meets one of its grandfathers

More than forty years apart, there’s still some family resemblance for a new Dodge Challenger and a 1970 edition.

Just recently some of the cast from “Fast and Furious 6,” including its lead star Vin Diesel, visited Manila for its world premiere at the SM Mall of Asia. On display was a shiny Dodge Challenger on loan by CATS Motors Inc., the distributors of Dodge vehicles in the country.

This was the second appearance by the vehicle since appearing in last part of the “Fast and Furious 5” movie in 2011. Since the beginning, Dodge has been in the Fast and Furious movies and this partnership has worked quite well with the movie producers and the American carmaker.  The first Fast and Furious movie had a black 1970s Dodge Charger with a menacing over-the-hood blower that saw its demise in a chariot race between Diesel with Paul Walker at the end of the movie. Since then, Dodge cars have appeared in all the movie sequels and prequels, in either classic or in current model forms and models.

The Fast and Furious 6 movie hero car comes in form of a current model Dodge Challenger SRT-8 as well as a 1969 red Dodge Charger Daytona. With the Challenger now on its third generation, the current model, introduced in 2008, is positioned to rival other American muscle cars like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. Its sculpted, boxy and athletic styling is a close reiteration of the original and classic Dodge Challenger sans the more elaborate chrome trimmings and loud exhaust. This writer took this Challenger on a double date with a first-generation grandfather owned by a private muscle car collector based in San Fernando, Pampanga.

According to the classic 1970 Dodge Challenger owner Yanyan Bautista, there are only eight classic Dodge Challengers in the country. In “2 Fast 2Furious,” a classic 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T with a Go Mango Orange paint was driven by Roman Pearce (portrayed by Tyrese Gibson), who crashed it at the end of the movie.

Timeless elegance

The white Challenger now comes with a greener engine.

Looking at the previous model, one can see the similarities and why this design is so timelessly elegant. Its chrome-tipped dual exhaust and a bright fuel filler door is reminiscent of its 1970s first-generation model as well as its front end styling, albeit with HID headlamps and bigger 20-inch aluminum wheels. Inside, its Nappa leather seats heated front seats, automatic temperature control, and offers spacious seating for five with a generous rear headroom and legroom that adds refinement to a very classic-looking interior. The front seats feature a six-way control for its powered driver’s seat and four-way control for a powered passenger seat with lumbar adjustments.

Its sculpted, boxy and athletic styling is a close reiteration of the original and classic Dodge Challenger. PHOTOS BY ALVIN UY

Its tunnel-style instrument cluster offers easy-to-read gauges and is complemented by a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio and speed controls that snuggly fits the optional paddle shifters. From the basic 305-hp (227 kW) 3.6L Pentastar V6 with 5-speed automatic, other engine options include the 372-hp (277 kW) 5.7L HEMI V8 and the top-of-the-line SRT 392-cubic inch, 6.4L HEMI 470-hp (350 kW) V8 engine. Both V8 engines feature the Fuel Saver Technology that automatically switches from eight cylinders to four cylinders for greater fuel efficiency while cruising. For better stopping power for the V8 engine variants, high-performance brakes with vented rotors were fitted that can stop the car from 60 to 0 mph in just 110 feet (100-0 kph in 35.66 meters (for the SRT model). Its adaptive damping suspension offers good road handling and ride, eating up minor bumps on the road.

While the new Challenger offers better creature comforts with more muscular performance and superior road manners, it also comes with a greener engine. What’s interesting about the new Challenger is that one can still see the family resemblance with its persona and old-school charm through its body styling and other details, retaining its appeal to the current set of car owners, who are most likely sons and grandsons of muscle car owners from the baby boom generation.