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{{Short description|Muscle car produced by Dodge}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2011}}

{{Infobox automobile
| name = Dodge Challenger
| image = Dodge Challenger SRT8 (2015) Hirschaid-20220709-RM-120221.jpg
| production = {{unbulleted list | 1969–1974 | 1977–1983 | 2008–2023}}
| model_years = {{unbulleted list | 1970–1974| 1978–1983 | 2008–2023}}
| caption = 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
| manufacturer = [[Dodge]]{{efn|name=manufacturer|{{ubl| [[Chrysler Corporation]] (1969–1974) | [[Mitsubishi Motors]] (1978–1983) | [[Chrysler LLC]] (2008–2009) | [[Chrysler Group LLC]] (2009–2014) | [[FCA US LLC]] (2014–2021) | [[Stellantis North America]] (2021–2023)}} }}
}}

The '''Dodge Challenger''' is the name of three generations of automobiles produced by the American automobile manufacturer [[Dodge]]. However, the first use of the Challenger name by Dodge dates back to 1959 for marketing a "value version" of the [[Full-size car|full-sized]] [[Dodge Coronet#Silver Challenger (1959)|Coronet Silver Challenger]].

From [[model year]]s 1970 to 1974, the first-generation Dodge Challenger pony car was built using the [[Chrysler E platform]] in [[hardtop]] and [[convertible]] body styles sharing significant components with the [[Plymouth Barracuda]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Grist |first=Peter |title=Dodge Challenger, Plymouth Barracuda: Chrysler's potent pony cars |date=2009 |publisher=Veloce |isbn=978-1-84584-105-8}}</ref>

The second generation, from model years 1978 to 1983, was a [[Rebadging|rebadged]] [[Mitsubishi Galant Lambda|Mitsubishi Galant Lambda / Sapporo]],<ref>Marketed as the 'Galant Λ (Lambda)' in Japan, or 'Sapporo' in Europe and South America</ref> a coupe version of an economical [[compact car]].

The third and most recent generation is a full-size muscle car that was introduced in early 2008 initially as a rival to the evolved [[Ford Mustang (fifth generation)|fifth generation Ford Mustang]] and the [[Chevrolet Camaro (fifth generation)|fifth generation Chevrolet Camaro]].<ref>{{cite web|date=July 7, 2020 |title=Dodge Challenger Prices, Reviews, and Pictures |url= https://www.edmunds.com/dodge/challenger/ |website=edmunds.com}}</ref>

In November 2021, [[Stellantis]] announced that the 2023 model year would be the final model year for both the LD [[Dodge Charger (2005)|Dodge Charger]] and LA Dodge Challenger, as the company will focus its plans on electric vehicles rather than fossil fuel-powered vehicles, due to tougher emissions standards required by the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] for the 2023 model year.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 24, 2021|title=Dodge Challenger to End Production |url= https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/dodge-challenger-charger-hellcat-end-production/}}</ref> Challenger production ended on December 22, 2023, and the [[Brampton]], [[Ontario]], assembly plant will be re-tooled to assemble an electrified successor.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Panait |first1=Mircea |title=The Final 2023 Dodge Challenger Has Been Produced, Brampton Plant Will Be Retooled |url= https://www.autoevolution.com/news/the-final-dodge-challenger-has-been-produced-brampton-production-facility-to-be-retooled-226550.html |website=autoevolution.com |date=December 22, 2023 |access-date=23 December 2023}}</ref>
{{TOC limit|3}}

==First generation (1970–1974)==
{{Main|Dodge Challenger (1970)}}
{{Multiple image | align = right | direction = vertical | width = 220
| image1 = 1970 Dodge Challenger RT 440 Magnum (13440447413).jpg
| image2 = 1970ChallengersixpackGreen.jpg
| caption2 = Dodge Challenger (first generation)
}}

The [[Chrysler E platform|E-body]] Challenger was introduced in the autumn of 1969 for the 1970 model year,<ref name="1960s">{{cite book | last=Gunnell |first=John |title=American Cars of the 1960s |publisher=Krause Publications |year=2005 |page=69 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=_apeyhD-Dj8C&q=As+Dodge's+answer+to+the+Mustang+and+Camaro&pg=PA69 |isbn=978-0-89689-131-9 |access-date=July 13, 2014}}</ref> similar in appearance to but somewhat larger than its less expensive, platform-sharing Plymouth sibling, the [[Plymouth Barracuda#Third_generation_(1970–1974)|Barracuda]]. It was positioned to compete against the [[Mercury Cougar]] and [[Pontiac Firebird]] in the upper end of the [[pony car]] market,<ref>{{cite book |last=Newhardt |first=David | title=Dodge Challenger & Plymouth Barracuda |publisher=MotorBooks |year=2000 |page=42 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=3bQmUlA2QWEC&pg=PA42 |isbn=978-0-7603-0772-4 |access-date=July 13, 2014}}</ref> a large and lucrative niche of two-door sport coupes that the [[Ford Mustang (first generation)|Ford Mustang]] had pioneered in April 1964.<ref>{{cite book |last=Statham |first=Steve |title=Dodge Dart and Plymouth Duster |publisher=Motorbooks |year=2000 |page=21 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Jz-ItcylfasC&pg=PA21 |isbn=978-0-7603-0760-1 |access-date=July 13, 2014}}</ref> Like the Barracuda, it was available in a wide variety of trim and option levels.  In spite of its premium price, size, and market placement, Chrysler intended the new Challenger to be the most potent pony car ever,<ref>{{cite book |last=Genat |first=Robert |title=Hemi Muscle Cars |publisher=MotorBooks |year=1999 |pages=61, 63 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=L8TcfqcZ_cwC&pg=PA63 |isbn=978-0-7603-0635-2 |access-date=July 13, 2014}}</ref> and virtually every engine in its inventory (including the famed [[Chrysler Hemi engine|426 Hemi]]) was made available.<ref name="Edmunds-DandP">{{cite web |url= http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=109513 |title=Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Barracuda |publisher=Edmunds Inside Line |date=March 13, 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090301034727/http://edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId%3D109513 |archive-date=March 1, 2009 |access-date=July 13, 2014 }}</ref> 

While the vehicle was all new, Dodge had used the Challenger name in 1959 for the Silver Challenger, a limited-production two-door coupe based on the [[Dodge Coronet#Fourth generation (1957–1959)|fourth-generation Dodge Coronet]].

The 1970 Challenger's longer wheelbase, larger dimensions, and more luxurious interior than the Mustang or its smaller Chrysler products stablemate, the Barracuda, were prompted by the launch of the upscale 1967 Mercury Cougar, a bigger, better appointed, and more expensive pony car aimed at affluent young American buyers.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1970-1974-dodge-challenger.htm |title=1970–1974 Dodge Challenger |date=October 17, 2007 |website=How Stuff Works |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201001084109/http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1970-1974-dodge-challenger.htm |archive-date=October 1, 2020 |access-date=March 25, 2022}}</ref> The {{convert|110|in|mm|abbr=on}} wheelbase was {{convert|2|in|mm|abbr=on}} longer than the Barracuda's, and the Dodge differed in its sheet metal, much as the Cougar differed from the shorter-wheelbase Mustang. Air conditioning and a rear window defogger were optional.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Dodge/1970_Dodge/1970_Dodge_Challenger_Lineup/1970%20Dodge%20Challenger%20Lineup-08.html |title=1970 Dodge Challenger Lineup |website=Oldcarbrochures.com |access-date=June 14, 2024}}</ref> With 1971 being the sole exception, the front ends of both cars differed from each other in that the Challenger had four headlights and the Barracuda had only two. 

The exterior design was penned by Carl Cameron, who was also responsible for the exterior designs of the 1966 [[Dodge Charger (B-body)|Dodge Charger]]. Cameron based the 1970 Challenger grille on an older sketch of a stillborn 1966 Charger prototype that was to have a turbine engine. The pony car segment was already declining by the time the Challenger arrived. Sales were excellent initially, with 76,925 units<ref>{{Cite web|website=Torque News|url=https://www.torquenews.com/106/dodge-challenger-sales-totals-through-years|title=Dodge Challenger Sales Totals Through the Years|author-first1=Patrick|author-last1=Rall |date=January 29, 2020 }}</ref> moved in the model's debut year, but fell dramatically after 1970.  Though sales rose for the 1973 model year with over 27,800 cars being sold, Challenger production ceased midway through the 1974 model year. A total of 165,437 first-generation Challengers were sold.

=={{anchor|Sapporo|Colt}}Second generation (1978–1983)==
{{Main|Mitsubishi Galant Lambda}}
{{Multiple image | align = right | direction = vertical | width = 220
| image1 = 1981 Dodge Challenger X, front left.jpg
| image2 = 1982 Dodge Challenger (all original).jpg
| caption2 = Dodge Challenger (second generation)
}}
Beginning with the 1978 model year, Dodge marketed a [[Rebadging|rebadged]] variant of the early [[Mitsubishi Galant Lambda]] coupe as the Dodge Challenger &mdash; through [[Dodge]] dealers as a [[captive import]], initially as the "Dodge Colt Challenger".<ref name=RTbg79>{{citation | ref = RT79 |title=Four Sports Coupes |work=Road & Track's Road Test Annual & Buyer's Guide 1979 |date=January–February 1979 |publisher=CBS Publications |page=31 }}</ref> Chrysler's Plymouth brand marketed its rebadged variant as the [[Plymouth Sapporo]], and a rebadged variant was marketed and sold overseas as the Mitsubishi Sapporo/Scorpion.

The Sapporo and Challenger were redesigned in 1981 with revised bodywork with increased foot room, headroom, trunk capacity, and soundproofing.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/car_info_mitsubishi_scorpion_gj |title=Mitsubishi Scorpion GJ/GK/GL |work=Unique Cars and Parts |access-date=June 14, 2024}}</ref> Both cars were marketed until 1983, when they were replaced by the [[Mitsubishi Starion#North America|Conquest]] using the same rear-wheel-drive platform through 1989, and in 1984 by the front-wheel-drive [[Chrysler Laser|Laser]] and [[Dodge Daytona|Daytona]].

The car retained the frameless hardtop styling of the old Challenger, but had smaller engines, a 1.6&nbsp;L inline-four and a 2.6&nbsp;L inline-four instead of the [[Chrysler Slant-6 engine|slant-6]] and V8 engines of the original Challenger models. The engines were rated at power outputs of {{convert|77-105|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=RTbg79/> [[Mitsubishi Motors|Mitsubishi]] pioneered the use of [[balance shaft]]s to help damp engine vibrations.

{{clear}}

==Third generation (2008–2023)==
{{Main|Dodge Challenger (2008)}}
[[File:Dodge Challenger 2006 PBCd'E.jpg|thumb|2006 Dodge Challenger Concept]]

In late 2005, Dodge teased spy photos of the third-generation Dodge Challenger prototype on the internet, which was announced on November 21, 2005, with an official sketch of the vehicle.<ref>{{cite web |title=2006 Dodge Challenger concept car |url= https://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/dodge/challenger-concept.html |website=allpar.com|date= January 14, 2021 }}</ref> The Dodge Challenger Concept was unveiled at the [[North American International Auto Show#2006|2006 North American International Auto Show]]; production started in 2008. Many design cues of the Dodge Challenger Concept were adapted from the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T.

==Racing==
[[File:Challenger Sebring.jpg|thumb|2017 Trans Am TA class Challenger at Sebring]]
[[File:76 Tommy Joe Martins drivers side NASCAR Nationwide 2014 Gardner Denver 200 at Road America.jpg|thumb|right|NASCAR Nationwide Series Challenger at Road America in 2014]]
The Challenger was introduced to the SCCA [[Trans Am Series]] in 1970. Two factory-backed cars were prepared by Ray Caldwell's Autodynamics and driven by [[Sam Posey]] and [[Tony Adamowicz]]. The No.77 car was built at Autodynamics from a street Challenger T/A taken from a local dealer showroom. The No.76 chassis arrived mid-season from Dan Gurney's All-American Racers and was completed by Autodynamics.
* Dodge's early to mid-1970s factory-supported "Kit Car" program for short-track late-model stock car racing offered a choice of Challenger, and a few (less than 12) were made. Still, in 1974, Dodge ended the Challenger line, and they went to the Dodge Dart Sports and Dodge Aspen bodies over a steel-tube chassis.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.superbirdclub.com/earnhardtkitcar.html |title=Dale Earnhardt Tests the Chrysler Kit Car |website=superbirdclub.com |access-date=June 14, 2024}}</ref>
* Blackforest Motorsports has currently entered a Challenger in the [[Continental Challenge]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.grand-am.com/schedule/entrylist.cfm?series=k&eid=1502 |title=Event Information – Entry List |website=grand-am.com |date=January 10, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110811062836/http://www.grand-am.com/schedule/entrylist.cfm?series=k&eid=1502 |archive-date=August 11, 2011 |access-date=July 13, 2014}}</ref>
* The Challenger R/T has been used as the Chrysler model for starting in [[2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series]] competition.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://nationwide.nascar.com/nationwide-series/2010/news/headlines/bg/07/01/nationwide.new.car.ford.mustang.dodge.challenger.nascar.roots/ |title=Dodge, Ford hope new cars mark return to NASCAR roots |website=Nascar.com |date=July 1, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100704043626/http://nationwide.nascar.com/nationwide-series/2010/news/headlines/bg/07/01/nationwide.new.car.ford.mustang.dodge.challenger.nascar.roots |archive-date=July 4, 2010 |access-date=July 13, 2014}}</ref>

With Dodge officially out of NASCAR at the end of the 2012 season, the remaining cars and racing parts have been bought up by "privateer" racing teams and continue to show up in [[Nationwide Series]] during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. [[J. J. Yeley]] indicated his two-car team would continue to field a Challenger in the series for as long as he can find parts to keep the cars running. The team stopped after the 2014 season after his No. 93 (later No. 28) regularly ran in the top 20 during races. However, the [[Mike Harmon (racing driver)|Mike Harmon]]-owned No. 74, and the [[Derek White (racing driver)|Derek White]]-operated No. 40 qualified and ran Dodges in 2015. [[Mike Harmon Racing]] ran a Dodge the entire season and also did so in 2016, and has raced in over half of the 2017 season so far. Likewise, White's [[MBM Motorsports]] team fielded the Nos. 13 and 40 as Dodges in some races.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.jayski.com/news/nxs/2016/story/_/page/2016nxs-teamchart|title=2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series Team Chart |work=Jayski's Silly Season Site |access-date=March 22, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161202034351/http://www.jayski.com/news/nxs/2016/story/_/page/2016nxs-teamchart |archive-date=December 2, 2016}}</ref> MBM continues to field Dodges into 2018 with Timmy Hill in the 66 (was the 13).

In late 2014, two Challengers fielded by Miller Racing with the support of SRT and [[Mopar]], driven by Cameron Lawrence and Joe Stevens, started racing in the [[Trans-Am Series]] TA2 class. Both cars used a spec Howe road racing tube chassis with fiberglass bodies. Powered by a Hemi 392 slightly modified for road racing extremes and restricted by class rules, the cars made around 500 horsepower. Except for the slightly bulged fenders and a large rear wing, the cars look much like the stock/street version despite being roughly 7/8s the size of the road car. Lawrence won four of the twelve races in the 2015 season, finishing third overall in the Trans Am TA2 championship.
 
Joe Stevens in the No. 11 "Green Car" finished sixth overall after fourth place at the season finale at Daytona International Speedway. Joe Stevens also received the Cool Shirt Hard Charger award for his excellent rookie season performance. For the 2016 season, the Stevens-Miller Team fielded three Challengers in the TA2 series and ran in 16 events, scoring a few wins. The No. 77 car was painted in a throw-back scheme similar to the 1970 No. 77 car driven by [[Sam Posey]]. The No. 12 car occasionally fielded a blue scheme paying tribute to the Plymouth Cuda Trans-Am car driven by [[Swede Savage]].

In March 2017, the Challenger returned to compete at Sebring after a nearly 40-year absence from Trans-Am's fastest racing class TA class in Tra. Jeff Hinkle drove it under the American V8 Road Racing team with John Debenedictis as crew chief. The car was orange and purple with stripes of many of the other challenger colors to celebrate the current stable of cars for the street. It is powered by a Penske Engines Mopar R5 / P7 carbureted engine producing {{convert|855|hp|0|abbr=on}}. In its debut, it qualified 16th and finished 9th out of 24.

At all [[Superbike World Championship]] races in the United States, Fiat's Alfa Romeo safety car is replaced with Chrysler's Dodge Challenger.

== Discontinuation ==
On August 15, 2022, Stellantis formally announced that Dodge Challenger, Charger, and [[Chrysler 300]] production would end following the 2023 model year, stating tightening U.S. EPA emissions requirements as reasons for doing so.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wayland |first1=Michael |title=Dodge will discontinue its Challenger and Charger muscle cars next year |url= https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/15/dodge-challenger-charger-to-be-discontinued-in-2023.html |date=August 15, 2022 |work=CNBC |access-date=23 December 2023}}</ref> In response, the company announced a series of "Last-Call" models with special paint and unique trims to commemorate the Challenger and Charger. The final Dodge Challenger, a Pitch-Black Demon 170, rolled off the Brampton assembly line on December 22, 2023; it was also the very last vehicle built on a derivative of the long-running Chrysler LX platform, which was introduced in 2004 for the 2005 model year. After production ended, the Brampton, Ontario assembly plant was re-tooled to assemble the next-generation Jeep Compass.

The 2024 [[Dodge Charger (2024)|Dodge Charger]] line includes a three-door [[liftback]], replacing the Challenger.

== Explanatory notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Dodge Challenger}}
*{{Official website}}
* [http://www.media.chrysler.com/newsrelease.do?&id=7768&mid=17 Dodge Challenger: History of the Dodge Pony Car]

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[[Category:1970s cars]]
[[Category:1980s cars]]
[[Category:2000s cars]]
[[Category:2010s cars]]
[[Category:2020s cars]]
[[Category:Convertibles]]
[[Category:Coupés]]
[[Category:Pony cars]]
[[Category:Dodge vehicles|Challenger]]
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