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2014 Dodge Challenger Review - A look into American Muscle written by Martha Hindes

2014 Dodge Challenger Shaker Road Test Review

by Martha Hindes

Road & Travel Magazine's - American Muscle

Chevy Camaro

Dodge Charger

Chevy Corvette

Ford Mustang

We've all met the hunk, who regularly haunts the gym, haven't we? Bulging biceps get his self-applied "kiss-kiss" of appreciation as he shows them off. Now imagine which muscle car would have the same attitude. It would have to be the 2014 Dodge Challenger R/T Shaker, a big, bad rear-drive cruiser extraordinaire to die for, or at least to swoon over a lot.

The Dodge Challenger isn't a newbie on the American muscle car scene. This big daddy of muscle cars goes back to the heady days when female carhops in super short hot pants at drive-ins roller skated burger and soda orders out to muscle cars laden with birddogging teens. That was when Challenger was in its prime and apparently remains so in many memories. Those one-time teens now pay extraordinary sums of cash to buy, as classics, the muscle cars they had admired several decades earlier.

OK, now that we've set the stage, how does the 2014 revision rank? From the reception we got driving the bright orange R/T Shaker with black "hood-to-tail" racing stripes overhead and dual exhausts around town, we'd say forget the '60s. Despite the growing trend toward electrically-enhanced, fuel-stingy hybrids et al, there still are passionate cruiser chasers right here and now that seem determined not to give up without a fight.

And that's just ranking other people's opinions.

Like Michelle of Clinton Township, Michigan – near Motor City headquarters, AKA Detroit -- who was in heaven at the sight. "That's beautiful," she said, nodding her head in appreciation. "That's a bad car, a real bad car," she emphasized. And the woman in the next lane at a stoplight who called over: "That's gorgeous. My daughter just bought one. She loves it."

Yes, women can be among the biggest muscle and pony car fans anywhere, and Motown-bred companies seem to know how to woo them. Especially when they don't have to do the sweat equity work for a customizer's delight like the Shaker.

So what's not to love about the super-sized Challenger if one's budget can afford and support it?

Let's check under the hood that sports a large hole to accommodate the cold air grabbing shaker that directs cooler air back to the engine. As automakers seek to trim out anything that will cost an additional half-ounce of petrol per mile, they've been coming up with some possibilities, such as the latest version of Dodge's 5.7-liter, V-8 HEMI engine that pours out 375 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of twisting, launching torque.

HEMI is parent company Chrysler's trademarked term for a multiple displacement (MDS) engine that shuts off half the cylinders at highway speed so the car can coast on half the grunt for better fuel economy while retaining its muscular burn-the-road talent. Despite the wheel stander image, and R/T intent (Road/Track), displayed by our R/T Shaker test model, it didn't shake, but it sure did rumble. (With gas hovering $4 a gallon, we didn't try flooring it in neutral)

The HEMI does help it get more respectable fuel economy than one ever could have hoped for back in the days when the cost of a gallon of gas could still be counted in loose change.

Our 2014 R/T Shaker gets a combined 18-MPG, from 15 city and 23 highway miles (the automatic scores 2 more MPG highway). That's nothing compared to the 40-plus of new hybrids, but it sure beats out the sometimes single digit ratings of those original, old school muscle cars.

There's nothing old school about what's on today's Challenger. The R/T base price of $30,495 is just for starters.  Besides standard equipment such as performance steering and suspension, plus electronic stability and all-speed traction control systems, this baby gets the in-your-face Shaker goodies. Pay an extra $7K and get the Shaker hood with mid-hood-mounted functional air intake, 20-inch satin aluminum wheels with black pockets, performance steering and track tuned suspension plus BWS performance tires. A satin black rear spoiler and bright metal pedal kit make sure (every)one knows this is designed to perform.

All that, set against the interior with "high performance" dark slate gray leather sport seating, half-black gauges, and individually numbered dash plaque (0002 on ours, the second one produced) leaves no doubt. The 2014 Shaker edition also coincides with the 100th Anniversary of Dodge.

The inside story of our test model would be well suited to any high end auto.  Power sunroof, Harman Kardon 18-speaker premium audio, rear park assist, 6.5-inch touch screen with navigation, and Uconnect with integrated voice command are there -- for a price of course. Our model, as tested, and tweaked with options, including $995 in destination charges, totaled $43,370.

Our test vehicle in Header Orange, one of the Shaker's "high impact" colors, had action figure energy just standing still. We hit the starter button and shifted the six-speed manual into gear, then onto the road. The 5.7-liter V8 HEMI responded with enthusiasm moving up the shift gates with supple ease.

The R/T Shaker leapt forward with no hint of effort, stayed glued to the road even during aggressive turning and easily could have cruised in three digit territory if we had wanted to risk a hefty speeding fine. A 160-MPH top speedometer read hinted at the 155 MPH max speed runs one could get. Centered gauge twins of speedometer and tachometer work in tandem for those days at the track. Personal setting not only locks in park assist and headlamps-on-when-wipers-on but records a zero to 60 time for a flat out run.

Some autophiles lament the direction of the automotive world as of late, with hybrids, all electrics and fuel cell vehicles on the horizon and a fear that such classics as muscle cars won't hang around for long.

But the Shaker reception, after its introduction at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) in November, suggests it won't be a slam dunk. According to Dodge, the total 2000 production run of the limited edition auto were claimed by dealer orders in a scant four days. "...It’s clear that our customers are excited about the return of the legendary Shaker model, which was engineered for enthusiasts who asked for even more attitude and a dose of muscle car heritage,” said Tim Kuniskis, President and CEO of the Dodge Brand.

And if you doubt some still would rather fight than switch, we got the message loud and clear as we parked in a department store lot. When we returned to the Challenger, we found a sibling 2014 Dodge Charger in the same bright orange with a big Mopar stencil on its rear window in the adjacent parking spot nuzzled close to us. Point taken.