Dodge Charger
Dodge Charger
In October 2007, a new B-Body Charger based on the 1970 models was shown in a Mopar magazine. The Dodge Charger is an American automobile manufactured by Chrysler, under the Dodge brand name. There have been several different Dodge vehicles, on three different platforms, bearing the Charger nameplate.
The name was also carried by a 1999 concept car that differed substantially from the Charger eventually placed into production for the 2006 model year. The Dodge Charger, is a rear-wheel drive full-size automobile. The Charger name is a historic one, borne by many other Dodge Charger models in the past.
Introduced in February 2005 for the 2006 model year, this new Charger shares the LX platform of the Chrysler 300 and the now discontinued Dodge Magnum, which borrows component parts from the Mercedes E-Class platform in fact, the interior of the Charger is almost identical to that of the Magnum.
It replaced the Dodge Intrepid as Dodge’s full-size sedan. This Charger is a four-door sedan, disappointing many fans of the previous two-door Chargers. The first Dodge Charger was the 1964 show car, based on the Polara and fitted with a 426 Wedge engine. (Allpar.com) The first Dodge Charger available for sale was in 1966.In 1999, Dodge came out with a new Charger R/T concept car.
The concept Charger R/T, while sharing the long nose and rearward cab of the original, was a lot shorter. It was 187 inches (4,700 mm) in overall length compared to 203 inches (5,200 mm) for the 1966 Charger. In Canada, the base model Charger has a 2.7 L V6, which produces 190 hp (142 kW) and 190 lb·ft (258 N·m) of torque. This engine produces 340 hp (254 kW) and 390 lb·ft (529 N·m) of torque.
The 6.1 L Hemi produces 425 hp (317 kW) and 420 lb·ft (569 N·m) of torque.All models including the SRT-8 and the SuperBee come standard with ESP or Electronic Stability Programing. ESP specifically redirects power from the rear tires during any increased tire spin either on dry or wet surface’s causing the vehicle to regain traction before a spinout can occur.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the Charger an overall Good score in frontal crash tests. In side impacts Charger models equipped with optional side airbags are given a Marginal score overall, and models without side airbags are given the lowest overall Poor score
Both the SXT and R/T models are also available as AWD (All Wheel Drive) starting in 2007. The All-Wheel Drive system is derived from the Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC technology. From 2007-2008, the AWD system is engaged all the time, routing approximately 60% of the power to the rear wheels and 40% of the power to the front wheels. The 2009 Charger AWD utilized the Torque-on-Demand system manufactured by Borg Warner which disconnects the front axles until extra traction is needed.
