"No, it's not the Hellcat," was pretty much my mantra for the last week. Everyone that approached me about the Sublime Green Dodge Challenger I was testing wanted to know if it was the 707-horsepower Hellcat variant that's been in all of the buff books. Unfortunately, it wasn't.
That said, the 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack that I was rumbling around in was still a beautiful beast and an amazing performer, both where performance and tech are concerned.
The 392 Hemi
Under the hood is the SRT 392 Hemi, a naturally aspirated 6.4-liter V-8 engine that is a significant step up in displacement and power from the standard Challenger R/T's 5.7-liter. Power is stated at 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, and drivers can choose between a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic. Our example was equipped with the TorqueFlite eight-speed auto with its T-shaped shifter. The gearbox features Sport and manual shift programs, as well as metallic steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
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This is an engine that makes its power the old-fashioned way: by combusting ridiculous amounts of air and fuel. However, the stated fuel economy is higher than I thought it'd be, at an EPA estimated 15 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined. Cylinder deactivation technology enables the 392 to drop down to just four-cylinder operation when coasting at highway speeds and helps it to boost its economy estimates. That said, you probably won't get anywhere near those numbers. I only managed a 13.1 mpg average after draining the tank twice during our week of testing. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised; nobody really buys a muscle car to brag about how efficient it is.
Ironically, one of the first things I had to learn when behind the wheel of the powerful Scat Pack Challenger was a gentler throttle application. The combination of a hair-trigger on the throttle and an engine that will deliver massive amounts of instantaneous torque takes some getting used to. You'll probably chirp the tires a few times during your first trip, but quickly the beast is tamed, and the Challenger reveals itself as a remarkably comfortable and easy-to-drive 485-horsepower muscle car.
Brains and brawn
In the central position on the dashboard, you'll find the familiar 8.4-inch touchscreen of the UConnect infotainment and navigation system. You might be surprised to find that this brute has some pretty good brains to go with the brawn.
The system features Garmin-powered navigation with one of the best voice command interfaces this side of Siri or Google. Addresses can be requested in a single go ("Navigate to 1000 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco") without all of the hassle of multiple prompts and waiting. Most of the major infotainment functions are able to be voice-commanded without the need for physical input outside of the tapping of the steering wheel button, and the voice recognition was also very accurate.
Built-in audio sources include CD, Bluetooth, USB/iPod, HD and satellite radio, and an SD card slot, but drivers can add more digital streaming services via the UConnect apps portion of the interface, which lets you access a selection of smartphone apps (such as Pandora or iHeart Radio) from the touchscreen. For a subscription fee, a 3G wireless connection can be activated, transforming the car into a rolling Wi-Fi hotspot that passengers can access with their devices.
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The UConnect interface, in this case, also has some interesting tie-ins with the Challenger's performance. Tapping the virtual button for "Performance Pages" brings us to a series of screens that allow the driver to monitor aspects of the engine's performance and status. If you're interested in keeping an eye on virtual gauges that display the oil pressure and coolant, battery, and transmission temperatures, here is where you'll find all of that and more. There's even a complex-looking combination gauge that displays the engine's current horsepower and torque output.
Many of these Performance Pages gauges can also be displayed in the small color multi-information display in the center of the Challenger's instrument cluster. Using the thumb buttons on the steering wheel, the driver can toggle between the various gauges, track fuel economy information, and watch horsepower and torque meters. There's even a set of performance timers that allow the driver to measure their 0-to-60 and 0-to-100 times, braking distance, 1/8- and 1/4-mile times, and more. Just select the metric you want to test, tap the OK button on the steering wheel to begin a countdown, and step on the gas when it says "Go." The system can even measure your reaction time when clocking drags. Obviously, you'll want to find a closed course, abandoned airstrip, or just a place out of the way of local law enforcement to do your testing.
Tapping the physical "Super Track Pack" button on the lower console brings up another set of performance controls on the UConnect screen. Rather than monitoring the performance, these are settings that allow the driver to adjust the Challenger's behavior. A set of virtual toggles allow the customization of the Challenger's Sport and Normal driving mode presets.
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The 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack links the thrills of a classic muscle car with the tech and amenities of today.
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