Of the three retro-inspired, American pony-car nameplates on sale today, the Dodge Challenger, introduced in 2008, is by far the most outdated in pretty much every aspect, with the possible exception of its exterior appearance, which for many, still holds its allure.
For various reasons, including Chrysler’s bankruptcy and the sale of the group to Fiat that wanted to take care of the American division’s mainstream and halo models first, the Challenger remained virtually unchanged, with the only notable update being the replacement of the old-fashion 250hp 3.5-liter V6 with a new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine producing 305hp in 2011.
And while Ford has already introduced a brand new generation of the Mustang and GM a refreshed version of its more modern Camaro Mk5, Dodge will likely keep the current Challenger on the market for another two years, with a little help from a facelift expected later this year.
The spies from KGP Photography shared a video of the 2015MY Challenger, and in particular, what they believe to be the new SRT8 edition fitted with Chrysler’s new supercharged 6.4-liter HEMI V8 nicknamed the “Hellcat“. While there’s only so much engineers can do about the current Challenger’s mass, the force-fed V8 is rumored to gain about 170hp over the 460hp n.a. Hemi V8, pushing out some 640hp. We don’t know yet what Ford will prepare for the new Mustang, but Chevy’s comparable Camaro ZL1 has 580hp.
On the outside, the 2015MY Challenger looks like it will get a revised fascia with angel-style lights featuring an LED outer ring, and a tweaked rear end. More importantly, the still shots in the video reveal a brand-new interior that leaves behind the much-criticized Daimler-era dashboard of today’s Challenger, obtaining a large infotainment screen and a look and feel similar to that of the facelifted Charger.
By John Halas
Video Credits: KGP Photography / YouTube
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