Dodge Adds Special-Edition Packages for 2017 Charger, Challenger

It is Woodward Dream Cruise week in Detroit, which means it’s time for Dodge to up its game in the muscle car power wars.

From Vinsetta Garage on Woodward, Dodge announces it will add a pair of special-edition cars that add a little Hellcat magic.

Dodge will start taking orders this fall for a new 2017 Challenger T/A and Charger Daytona with enthusiast packages that up the performance for cars with both the 5.7- and 6.4-liter “392” HEMI V-8 engines.

Dodge is in a unique position, offering big, everyday driver cars when others are going to smaller, track-oriented cars, said Tim Kuniskis, head of passenger cars for Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and Fiat for FCA North America. He said the Charger and Challenger account for 40 percent of muscle car sales in the U.S. He sees the competition as being the Chevrolet Camaro, SS, and Ford Mustang.

Dodge wants to pay homage to cars that were once race cars and today are everyday drivers with style and attitude.

The 2017 Dodge Charger Daytona with the 5.7-liter builds on the Charger R/T model by improving the engine’s intake and exhaust with a Mopar cold-air induction system with conical air filter; plus an all-new electronically controlled 2.75-inch active performance exhaust system with 4-inch round tips. Also included is the Super Track Pak with its performance-tuned suspension, performance brake linings, three-mode ESC calibration with “full off” and high-performance Goodyear Eagle F1 tires. For improved acceleration and speed, Charger Daytona includes a rear differential with a 2.62 axle ratio, plus performance engine and transmission calibration with a high-speed engine controller (150 mph, up from 135 mph).

The special 2017 model marks the fourth use of the Charger Daytona name. The 5.7-liter sedan gets the full SRT package for the first time with the distinctive front and rear fascias, side sills, Satin Black performance spoiler, and an unmistakable HEMI logo hood graphic as well as Dodge stripes and Daytona grille badging. There are also wider 20×9-inch Mopar lightweight forged-aluminum wheels finished in Hyper Black II and shod in P245/45ZR20 Goodyear all-season performance tires (three-season tires are optional). Inside are leather and suede seats and new bezels.

Pricing starts at $39,890 (the package comes to about $3,000) and the order book opens in September. There is no limit on how many Dodge will make and the packages will continue into future model years as long as there is demand, Kuniskis said.

The Charger Daytona 392 adds Brembo brakes and the wheel and tire package from the Hellcat as well as functional cold air intakes and leather SRT seats for less than $4,500. The car already offers 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque from its 6.4-liter HEMI V-8, but adds a new air box with directed cold-air induction and Mopar conical air filter. It rides on wider 20×9.5-inch forged aluminum wheels finished in Low Gloss Black and P275/40ZR20 Pirelli all-season performance tires,  and has “392” fender decals, a 180-mph primary speedometer, an electronically controlled active performance exhaust system, and a 220-amp alternator.

The 2017 Dodge Charger Daytona 392 starts at $44,995. The T/A Plus starts at $40,140 and the T/A 392 starts at $43,995 minus gas guzzler tax.

“They are not autonomous. They are not hybrids. They do not get 50 mpg. You cannot summon them with your smartphone,” said Kuniskis. “But they might encourage teens to put down their phone and enjoy a ride down a boulevard in a true muscle car.”

The 2017 Challenger T/A is the second iteration of the model, and essentially gets a Scat pack with Hellcat features. The car has a satin black hood and roof, ducted to feed a modified Hellcat air box with Mopar conical filter and dual air catcher headlamps lit from inside giving the effect of a tunnel view into the engine compartment. There are optional Mopar hood ring pins; a new 2.75-inch electronically controlled active performance exhaust system; and 1-inch wider 20×9-inch Mopar lightweight forged-aluminum wheels finished in Hyper Black II.

There are chassis upgrades, a lowered suspension, Bilstein shock absorbers, performance brake linings, three-mode electronic stability control (ESC) calibration with “full off,” and high-performance Goodyear Eagle F1 tires. A Tremec six-speed manual  or an eight-speed automatic transmission is offered, and SRT seats with houndstooth cloth comes standard.

It starts at $37,390 with orders starting in October.

All are available in two new colors: Green Go and Yellow Jacket.

The Dream Cruise is already underway on Woodward Avenue leading up to the official cruise on Saturday which will attract about 1.5 million people. Dodge is also sponsoring Roadkill Nights, a TEN event that will actually close a portion of Woodward on Friday for live street drag racing.

Source: Dodge

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