2020 Dodge Challenger Guide: Specs, Performance & More

2020 seems a long time since the beginnings in 2008, but you wouldn’t know that from the Challenger fan base. The tried and true Challenger followers will say that the car has matured and become a stronger, more exuberant car from its origins.

Well, maybe not exuberant.

Fact is, however, that the Challenger from 2009 and 2019 are more alike than most cars spanning a decade and, yet, are very dissimilar.

Photo Source: carbuzz.com & autoblog.com

On one hand, there is the same look, the same overall engine spread (yeah, the Hellcat is a bit more than anything from 2009, but the rest are close), and the same exciting appearance option types. Side by side, the cars couldn’t look too much more alike – even with the most outlandish options.

Then, on the opposite hand, there are dozens of improvements on the technology side. With Bluetooth hands-free options, backup and rear-park assist, full-speed forward collision warning, and rain-sensing wipers, the 2020 Challenger looks like a NASA shuttle compared to 2008’s more like a Sopwith Camel.

2020 Dodge Challenger Models

Challenger SXT, GT

Photo Source: sanantoniododgechryslerjeepram.com

2020 is a major carryover from 2019 for the SXT and GT models – with the SXT being the most inexpensive one you could buy and the GT being the executive level of the bottom rung. No, that didn’t mean 14″ rims and a plastic steering wheel, but it did mean that 305hp was all you could muster – that and an overly expensive low-level Challenger if you weren’t careful with the options list.

The owner of the above most likely paid near R/T prices for GT levels of performance.

Challenger R/T, T/A, Shaker, Scat Pack

Photo Source: universitydodge.com

The R/T model list returns mostly unchanged as well. The 375hp base R/T leads the way and the Scat Pack remains the king of the hill. Scat Pack versions are available with the Wide Body option to make it look as devilish as the other tire-smoking vehicles from the underworld. Again, don’t be fooled, the Scat Pack Wide Body still can get all the creature comforts Dodge offers.

Challenger SRT Hellcat, Redeye

Photo Source: rods-classics.com

The ultra-performance versions of the Challenger have never been this plentiful, diverse, or obscene. The Hellcat is bad enough with 717hp, but you don’t have to go too far – or spend too much coin to get the 797hp Redeye. The Redeye is a shrieking slap to the face everywhere it goes. It is loud, unapologetic, and blisteringly fast. At a shade over $70k, it is also as fast as most mid-income mortals will ever travel.

Hellcat, and Hellcat Redeye Widebody cars get massive 305mm Pirelli All-Season Performance Tires, competition suspension, and those extraordinary fender flares… try not to stare.

Challenger SRT Super Stock

Photo Source: Motor Trend

Dodge has sworn on a stack of … Dodge brochures that they’ll never build the Demon again. Well, they have. No, the above car isn’t a Demon, but it may as well be so. The Super Stock adds a whopping 10hp over the Redeye and if that were all, then it may as well just be a Redeye “S”. Dodge adds 18″ rims with drag radials; shorter final-drive ratio; Bilstein dampers, and downsizes the Redeye’s rotors from 15.4 to 14.2.

So what? Well, the demon-less named Super Stock would be the quickest Challenger since the Demon and basically takes up the voided space both in cost and performance. Yup, 10.5s or less in the quarter is the estimated mark and with the figures its stablemates have put up in the past, it seems right on the mark.

When is a Demon not a Demon?

Challenger 50th Anniversary

Photo Source: gtcarlot.com

Not a bad figure for the old clunker. Well, 50 years is a bit of a stretch since the car has only been in showrooms for half that time, but it was 1970 when the Challenger name came to fruition. A shade under a million cars later (almost 700k just in the 3rd-generation) and the fascination couldn’t be stronger.

Seven different colors were available – including the model-specific Gold Rush seen above. After deciding which performance level you wanted (save for the Super Stock), you’d get potentially a shaker scoop, gunmetal calipers, Gold Rush wheels; special badges, and special Sepia Nappa leather interior.

At a total of 70 cars per trim level, these are truly collector’s items and may be worth their weight in gold… someday.

2020 Challenger Quick Specifications

*11.2 w/ street drag tires, 10.7 Euro version.

** estimate

***mftr estimate

Like the previous 11 years, and for the foreseeable future I suppose, the SXT/GT still holds the last place ribbons for any acceleration run a sports coupe can muster. The 305hp is now so far out of date, that the car will most likely go fully electric before growing a set and it is unfortunate. While looking to buy a cheap one myself, I couldn’t help feeling depressed that a $15,000 Challenger with some 60,000 miles would also come with a hampster-run engine.

Why anyone would buy a used 6-cyl version today is a mystery with all of the cheap cars out there nowadays besting 300hp.

The R/T has had its run at 375hp as well and is in need of a remake. I get the echelon of engines for the Challenger, but to stay competitive, the R/T needs a heart transplant before the model flatlines permanently.

The Super Stock version of the Hellcat/Demon/Redeye company is amazing in its own right, but not a whole lot different than the past couple of years batch of crazy Challengers. Hennessey has already made a 1000+hp Challenger and I think it time for Dodge to get on board. Whatever the case, the Super Stock is about as fast as a production car is going to go in 2020.

2020 Dodge Challenger Interior

Photo Source: Dodge.com

Technologically fit and comfortable like few in its class, the Challenger’s interior is mostly a 2019 re-do. Sedoso/Houndstooth cloth starts out the fabric selection and it quickly escalates to Nappa and Laguna leathers. With a dozen overlapping options, the comfort and style level you’d wish to have could most likely be combined for you.

2020 Dodge Challenger Wheels

Photo Source: Dodge.com

The 17″ rim had a quick life and has been killed off for 2020. The base rim is – again – 18″ and from there, you’d have a pretty solid selection of interesting and sporty rims. The biggest addition here – not shown – would be the Gold Rush rims on selected 50th Anniversary models.

2020 Dodge Challenger Colors

Photo Source: Dodge.com

From the amazing selection of 2019, back to the half-hearted one for 2020. No yellow; dropped B5 Blue; lost the Go Mango namesake, and decided Plum Crazy needed to go again. Was Hellraisin that much better of a purple name? I think a Hellcat could be Plum Crazy just as well.

It is an amazement to me just how many sets of colors Dodge has gone through over the course of the Challenger’s life. I cannot imagine the company makes more money by re-shifting half their colors every year – while giving customers less to choose from, but what do I know?

2020 Dodge Challenger Option Packages

1320 Package:

Includes Drag Mode w/adaptive damping suspension, transbrake, torque reserve, Nexen P275/40R20 street-legal drag radial tires and 20×9.5in low gloss black drag wheels, Drag Mode Performance Pages, Houndstooth cloth seats, Passenger seat delete, rear seat delete, cargo net, drivers side floor mat, 1320 illuminated air-catcher headlamp, 1320 instrument-panel badge, Angry Bee fender badge, and Dodge Alacantara Performance Steering wheel.

Alpine Audio Group:

Includes 9-speaker premium amplified Alpine speakers with 506-watt subwoofer and surround sound.

Alacantara Appearance Package:

Includes Alacantara/Nappa leather ventilated seats with logo and 4-way lumbar adj. and Wildwheel Alacantara steering Wheel (req. Plus grp).

Blacktop Package:

Includes Gloss Black instrument cluster trim rings, leather performance steering wheel (SXT), Black grille with Blacktop badge, GT grille badge (GT), R/T badge (R/T), Hemi fender badge (R/T), black rear spoiler, black fuel door, 20in black noise wheels (SXT,GT,R/T), 245/45ZR20 BSW all-season performance tires (SXT), 19″ black noise wheels (SXT & GT AWD).

Cold Weather Group:

Includes 180-amp alternator, heated front seats & heated steering wheel.

Driver Convieneience Group:

Includes power multi-function foldaway mirrors, HID headlamps, Rhombus illuminated air-catcher headlamp (R/T), foglamps (SXT), ParkSense Park Assist System (SXT RWD), Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-path detection, Remoe start, and Universal Garage Door Opener (SXT).

Dynamics Package:

Includes power 4-wheel disc brake system with 15.4 inch vented and slotted front rotors with 6-piston Brembo calipers and 13.8 inch vented and slotted rear rotors with 4-piston Brembo calipers, 275/40ZR20 All-Season Performance tires and 20×9.5in low-gloss black forged wheels.

Mopar Interior Appearance Group:

Includes Trunk Mat w/ logo, Mopar bright door sills, premium logo floor mats and Mopar bright pedal kit..

Premium Sound Group:

900-watt amplifier, 18 Harmon Kardon speakers, and tire service kit (replaces spare).

R/T Classic Package:

Performance Nappa leather and suede heated and ventilated seats, dual classic R/T side stripes, HID headlamps, “Challenger” script fender badge and 20″ polished forged aluminum Classic II wheels.

Technology Group:

Includes rain-sensing wipers, Auto High-Beam Headlamp Control and Forward Collision Warning and Adaptive Cruise Control Stop.

Plus Group:

Includes Nappa leather-trimmed sport seats (SXT), Nappa/Alacantara Performace Seats (GT,R/T), Nappa/Alacantara Performace Seats with Scat Pack logo (R/T Scat Pack), Nappa/Alacantara Performace Seats with Hellcat logo (SRT Hellcat), Performance brakes (SXT), ventilated front seats, door trim panels with ambient lighting, black-edged premium floor mats or red-edge mats (GT,R/T), Dodge Performance Pages (GT, R/T), heated front seats (SXT,GT,R/T), 6 premium speakers with 276-watt amp (SXT,GT,R/T), power steering column, 245/45ZR20 BSW all-season performance tires (SXT), 20in Granite Crystal painted wheels (SXT), 20in Saton Carbon painted wheels (GT,R/T), Rear Park Assist, Bright pedals (SXT,GT), Universal Garage Door Opener (SXT), dark interior engine turn accents (SRT Hellcat)

Lightweight Package:

Includes floor mats, lightweight washer bottle and tilt/telescoping steering column. (req. Harmon audio grp, sunroof, and Widebody pgks).

Widebody Package:

Includes Widebody fender flares, Widebody competition steering, adaptive damping suspension, Brembo 6-piston brakes (R/T Scat Pack), performance shift indicator (R/T Scat Pack), 305/35ZR20 all-season performance tires and 20x11in Devil’s Rim forged aluminum wheels.

2020 Dodge Challenger Production Figures

Down another 14%, the Challenger’s numbers have slid two years in a row for the first time in the 3rd-generation’s life. Part of the slide may be a result of the Covid-19 epidemic and its consequences (chip shortages and such), but it may also be a sign of things to come. If Dodge continues to rely on decade-old style and engine choices, the model may die off for the third time.

…Maybe for its last time.

Source: GoodCarBadCar.net

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