While other carmakers focus on fuel efficiency, connectivity, and lower-case “i”s, Dodge is as committed as ever to the muscle car.
At the 2014 New York Auto Show, Chrysler’s mainstream brand unveiled the 2015 Dodge Charger and Challenger, both refreshes of the tire-smoking models that have been with us for a few years.
The newest part of the 2015 Charger is definitely its face, which has traded the angry look of current models for a slimmer grille and headlights. This completely changes the look of the car, which is otherwise unchanged.
Base Chargers are still powered by a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, which produces 292 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, although an optional Rally Appearance Group boosts output to 300 hp and 264 lb-ft.
The V6 is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and Chargers are once again available with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Charger without a HEMI. The 5.7-liter V8 returns for 2015 with 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque, also paired with an eight-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive.
Interior changes include a new steering wheel and a beefy-looking, fully-electronic shifter. The Charger also gets the latest version of Chrysler’s Uconnect infotainment system, with an 8.4-inch center-stack touch screen.
The 7-inch TFT gauge cluster that’s been proliferating throughout the Chrysler lineup also appears here.
The 2015 Dodge Charger arrives in U.S. showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2014, but less-patient buyers can take advantage of Dodge’s “Double Up” deal, which allows customers to lease a 2014 Charger (or Challenger) for one year and trade up to a 2015 model without any increase in payment.