2011 Dodge Challenger Guide: Specs, Performance & More

2011 was the first real upheaval in the new 3rd gen Challenger line and, for the most part, there was a lot to be happy with. Engines have been revamped and power increased, new colors became available and overall choices were at an all-time high. Thankfully, Dodge did nothing to ruin the fantastic look of the mighty Mopar.

The front fascia was thinned slightly and the grille slightly more pronounced, and the R/T models also received a new bottom cutout design. For the most part, however, the car didn’t vary enough from the previous year for most people to notice. With the overall look of it, why would you need it to?

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2011 Dodge Challenger Models

Challenger SE & Rallye

Photo Source: allamericanautomobiles.com

Challenger SE was gifted a new, heartier V6 for 2011 and now has over 300hp. The new Pentastar V6, however, still did not have the power to actually Challenge the 2011 Mustang V6. At 305 horsepower itself, the almost 600lb lighter Stang would walk away from the chunkier Mopar. Still, at a shade over twenty thousand, there weren’t many sports coupes that were as good looking.

Challenger Rallye was added as an upper-level SE and added chunkier performance tires, performance steering and suspension, and more. Saying that, making the car fancier doesn’t make it any faster and at this point, you were treading on the much faster Mustang GT’s price range.

Challenger R/T & Plus

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Like the new Rallye, the R/T Challenger also received the “extra helping” edition named Plus. With better tires and rims, Xenon HID headlamps, power sunroof, and the Super Trak Pack as an option, it was a bit more of everything. Not sure if it had enough extras to be that close to the SRT’s price, but it was pretty stacked with options.

Unlike the SE, however, the standard R/T is placed in a good spot at some $3,000 less expensive than the slightly faster Mustang GT. Add to that some new exciting color choices, multiple stripe options, wings, and spoilers, and it became a true looker of a sports coupe.

Challenger SRT392

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For 2011, the SRT8 was put on steroids. The 6.1 Liter was dropped like a hot potato and replaced with an other-worldly 6.4 Liter 392ci V8 and its beastly 470 horsepower. More than the horses, the torque is raised an amazing 50 lb-ft of torque. That would make this car feel much stronger than the .3Liters would suggest and give the hefty coupe the speed increase it needed to stay with the competition.

The Sublime-Green-Esque Green with Envy color looks impressive too.

2011 Challenger Quick Specifications

*Car and Driver

Beyond what I said earlier about the Challenger SE’s lack of power, this is the first time a V6 Challenger could break the 15-second mark through the quarter. It would also give more of a sprinter feel than before. Not a track car with a 6.4 second to 60 mph, but definitely an improvement.

The R/T remained unchanged for this year, but the bigger surprise came from the new SRT. The 392, befitting to the engine’s cubic inches, was more powerful in every way – thus producing the Challenger’s first run into the 12s through the quarter-mile. More than that, the car picks up FIVE miles per hour at the end.

114 miles per hour in the quarter is moving.

At the end of the day, the new 392 also brings the car closer to the GT500 that has reigned supreme as the pony car of choice for outright speed. No, the SRT392 is not faster, but it is in the range of being really close and it gave customers another choice for their speed – for thousands less.

2011 Challenger Interior

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Aside from the new wheel and a few other minor visual aesthetics the interior is not much different than the previous years. Cloth, suede, and new Nappa leather can be ordered and make for as comfortable of an interior as the customer wants. The ridge pattern had changed as well and gave a very retro vibe to the otherwise technological interior.

Biggest change included the addition of the 60/40 rear split seat to give that much more cargo space. As if the Challenger’s trunk hadn’t dwarfed the Mustang’s before, now it would be like night and day. As it is, the Challenger already feels more like a full-size vehicle on the inside, so adding to carrying capacity just makes the car even more user-friendly.

2011 Challenger Wheels

Photo Source: Dodge.com

Aside from the Rallye FOOSE 18″ rims that were available, most of the lineup was similar to last year. The 17″ rim was also dropped from available sizes as bigger is better reigns with the Challenger. Its 4200lb weight should attest to that.

2011 Challenger Colors

Photo Source: Dodge.com

Probably the biggest change in colors since 2008, the Challenger now receives the Sublime treatment with Green with Envy but also loses the Hemi Orange, Furious Fuscia, and Plum Crazy. One can only speculate that there wasn’t enough demand for them, but as an antique fan myself, I cannot imagine people would rather have a Challenger in Bright White. In addition, most of the other colors were changed and overall it seemed like a less vibrant collection than the previous year.

2011 Challenger Packages

Sound Group II:

Media center 430 AM/FM stereo w/6-disc CD/DVD/MP3 changer, 30GB hard drive w/6700 song capacity, (7) Boston Acoustics speakers w/subwoofer, 368-watt amplifier, 6.5″ touch screen

Super Sport Group:

20 x 8.0 aluminum chrome-clad wheels, 245/45R20 all-season performance BSW tires, 3.06 rear axle ratio, 4-wheel anti-lock performance disc brakes, performance steering, performance suspension (REQ: 26G CPOS Pkg)

Electronics Convenience Group:

Body-color power heated mirrors w/fold-away, remote start system, security alarm, temp & compass gauge, tire pressure monitor display, universal garage door opener *Deletes remote start system w/DEC transmission

Green with Envy Group:

20″ x 8.0″ aluminum wheels, Green with Envy paint.

Super Track Pak:

P245/45ZR20 all-season performance BSW tires, 4-wheel anti-lock disc HD brakes, sport suspension, performance steering w/variable displacement.

2011 Challenger Production Figures

This year for the Challenger only saw modest gains in production, but gains nonetheless. Could the loss of color choices and stiff competition from Mustang and Camaro be the culprits for not exceeding 40k this year? Most likely.

However, the Challenger was just getting started.

Source: GoodCarBadCar.net

Check out the next year here!

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