The current Challenger has been around for a long time but it still remains a true muscle car to its core thanks to its design, engines and even suspension system. However, despite the fact it still provides the quarter mile performance, the car is already dated in terms of actual driving characteristics or interior comfort and its much newer competitors such as the Mustang or Camaro are selling a lot better than it.
In order to counter these new cars, the FCA group announced that the all new 2018 Dodge Challenger is going to be out in the first half of July 2018 and it should go on sale later the same year.
News: Dodge Challenger Demon Edition SPIED.
Changes & Improvements
Dodge already said that this platform is not the same as the rear wheel drive Alfa Romeo platform but chances are it does share some parts with it or at least with the Maserati-rear wheel drive platform.
In any case, it should provide independent suspension at all four corners, a much lighter chassis and body as well as a smaller car all around. These should make from the new Challenger a faster and more fuel efficient car than before, all without keeping the same level of performance as before.
Design – Exterior & Interior
Design wise, the future 2018 Dodge Challenger is expected to change tremendously from the current model and some rumors even suggested that it will share very little with the current car. However, we do hope that the boxy design of the current generation as well as some of its defining traits such as the aggressive front end or even the car’s stance are going to be carried over to the new model.
If the name will be changed to the Barracuda then chances are nothing will be similar. However, if Dodge decides to keep the Challenger name then we can expect an evolutionary design.
Refined Interior
Inside the cabin, the new Challenger will offer room for up to four people and despite the fact it will be a smaller car, thanks to its new platform and lower floor-pan it should now offer more space inside the cabin. The materials as well as the design will most definitely be improved in order to offer a more luxurious experience despite the fact it will start just a shy under $30,000.
Under the Hood
So far we still don’t know for sure what engines are going to power the 2018 Dodge Challenger but considering the fact it will use a new and smaller platform, chances are that it will feature mostly turbocharged as well as smaller engines. These should still provide an adequate amount of power, all while being a lot more efficient and also better to drive than before.
The base model is expected to feature a 272 horsepower 2 liter inline 4 while further up the range, instead of the old 3.6 liter V6 or 5.7 liter V8, the Challenger will likely get an all new 3 liter twin-turbocharged V6 which will offer between 320 and 400 horsepower and as much as 400 lb-ft of torque, more than enough to successfully replace the old engines.
Also, the top end SRT version is likely going to stick with a V8 but this time around it might be a newly developed 3.8 to 4 liter twin-turbocharged unit that could offer as much as 500 horsepower and over 500 lb-ft of torque, more than any of its direct competitors.
2018 Dodge Challenger Price
The price or even the details about the car are still unknown at this point but considering how things are going, it is safe to assume that the new car will be just that, an entirely new car.
So far we do know that it will share its platform with a sedan, most likely the future Charger, and both of them will be based on a E-Platform.
