Start Your Third Generation Dodge Challenger Research Here
"New" for 2008, the third generation Dodge Challenger sought to right the wrongs of the rightly-forgotten second generation. The horsepower wars were back. Nostalgia was in. The all-new fifth generation Mustang had set an optimistic car-buying public alight with the desire for retro-themed but contemporarily-appointed muscle. Ford sold nearly 161,000 Mustangs in the USA in 2005, and Chrysler wanted in on the action. With a thunderous 425 hp on tap, the "new" Challenger showed Ford and Chevrolet that Dodge was back... and that the bar had been raised.
Dodge Enters the Retro Restyle Race in 2008
The Dodge Challenger story is a long one that originated back in 1970. The car was late to the muscle-car party and yet sold very well. The 1st generation Challenger held its own in sales and on the street for the first couple of years and then vanished - like a short-lived insect. However, unlike a pesky locust, the original Challenger was missed and is now coveted - to the point of major 6-figure price tags.
Enter stage two. The second generation of Challenger should have been named anything but Challenger. The car was built off of a Mitsubishi platform, carried a lethargic 90 hp engine, and was as fast as... well, it wasn't fast. It was anything but what the original car signified. However, it did sell for more years than the first generation, was a competent, inexpensive coupe, and carried the name for another period in time.
Fast forward to 2005. The new Ford Mustang debuts with its fantastic retro look. The car is that of a sleek 1968 GT at the front and a 1969 Mach 1 at the rear. Met with thunderous applause, Ford beat the other two competitors to the retro-race and did so with a style that would last a decade. Sound familiar? Dodge's original Challenger was some 5 years behind the first Mustang too.
The 2006 Dodge Challenger Concept
First revealed on January 8, 2006, a date which medical professionals recall fondly as the date when millions of Americans saw their doctors due to jaw injuries (presumably from hitting the floor).
That didn't stop Dodge from entering the retro-fight as well. Designed in 2006 with the 1970-look in mind (thankfully not the 1977-look), the car kept the ovoid rear fascia and similar 4-eyed front.
Though this concept car is a bit different from the actual production model, it wasn't far from reality and soon there would be more of these Challengers on the road than the original two generations combined.
In-fact, the avid car-buying public responded very favorably, with more than 43,000 Challengers sold in 2008 and 2009 (combined).
The Third Generation Challenger Continues to Evolve
Over the next decade, the Challenger would see dozens of iterations - from mild-mannered, AWD, GT, to an utterly ridiculous 900hp Demon version. The new car was a step above anything with a Challenger badge previously, and contained all the creature comforts this century could dish out: all-speed traction control, sat-nav, keyless entry, cruise control, ABS, security systems, and much more.
What's more, the Challenger became a bigger phenomenon than that of the original while incorporating the very things that made the original so amazing:
Big rear haunches with an aggressive exhaust and wide rear fascia.
Large engine array with as many horsepower options as the original and far higher outputs.
Brilliant color schemes with stripe kits, aggressive hood options, and various wings and spoilers.
Fantastic pricing with enough range to grab everyone who wants one - from every lifestyle.
Like it or not, it appears the Challenger isn't going anywhere either. With an amazing sales growth from year one, the sporty coupe hasn't sold under 50,000 copies in almost a decade. That coupled with a potential all-new version slated for 2023, the Challenger name seems to be here for the foreseeable future.
Check out the Challenger Year List to browse specifics on a specific year!
Challenger Memes, Videos, Auction Coverage, Restomods, & More
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Everything Else Third Gen Dodge Challenger
The third generation Dodge Challenger continues to impress with more power, performance, and prestiege. Everyone knows that another car like this won't come around again, especially as the world transitions to EVs. For all things third gen Challenger, look here!
