Dodge Celebrates the Iconic Challenger's 50th Anniversary
Dodge Celebrates the Iconic Challenger's 50th Anniversary
Posted on June 29, 2020
The original Dodge Challenger was launched back in 1970, designed to take on the mighty Mustang and other pony cars of the time. Its combination of performance and looks became an instant success among performance car fans, and set the tone for decades of development and strong sales.
To celebrate the 50th birthday of this iconic nameplate, Dodge have announced an anniversary limited edition featuring many refinements and upgrades, creating a very special classic pony built for 2020 drivers.
Only 70 of the anniversary celebration cars will be sold in Canada. What will the lucky few buyers get for their money?
Dodge Challenger Anniversary Edition - First Impressions
Based on the Scat Pack 392 Shaker version of the Challenger, the anniversary edition is instantly recognizable as member of the family, combining the trademark old-school stylings with some thoroughly modern flourishes.
It's also a car that attracts attention right from the start thanks to its 'Go Mango' orange paint job, recalling the 1970s heritage of the Challenger to great effect.
The striking looks are enhanced by a black Shaker hood with contrasting raised hood scoop, black rear spoiler, and silver-painted brake calipers. The distinctive front grille boasts a vintage Challenger 50 logo, set between the Air Catcher headlights decorated with another LED-illuminated Challenger motif.
Muscular Performance
But the anniversary edition isn't all about retro appeal. A look under the hood reveals a 392 HEMI V8 engine pushing out a mighty 485 horsepower and 476lb-feet of torque. This mill is paired as standard with an 8-speed TorqueFlight automatic transmission, with a 6-speed manual box an option for real 1970s traditionalists. And as you'd expect from a pony, rear-wheel drive is the only option.
Premium Interior
While the Challenger's exterior has a distinctly nostalgic vibe, the interior feels much more modern. From the carbon fibre instrument panel to the copper-weaved console bezels, the cockpit looks and feels like the premium design it is.
A comfortable drive is guaranteed by the heated and ventilated performance seats, finished with black Nappa leather, Alcantara suede, and masses of sepia accent stitching to round things off. And if you were still in any doubt that this is the Dodge Challenger Anniversary Edition, there are yet more embroidered logos on the seat backs and floor mats.
The overall verdict? The 2020 Dodge Challenger Anniversary Edition takes a slice of history to produce a modern classic, whose status is only enhanced by its limited production run.