New Challenger T/A and Charger Daytona Keeps Dodge’s Heritage Alive

Dodge returns to its roots with the introduction of the new 2017 Challenger T/A and Charger Daytona.

As if the retro-inspired brutes weren’t enough to caress the American car maker’s muscle car heritage, Dodge reckoned this year’s Woodward Dream Cruise would be the perfect time and place to reintroduce the brand’s two famed, race-bred nameplates, adding even more blast from the past to its naturally aspirated HEMI V8 line-up.

The Dodge Challenger T/A model builds on the legacy left by the original variant, initially constructed for the Sports Car Club of America’s (SCCA) Trans Am racing series in 1970. Only 2,399 units were ever built, making the T/A one of the most sought after muscle cars of all time.

The new model uses the 375-horsepower Challenger R/T as a base, adding a plethora of performance hardware into the mix, including new “Air Catcher” headlamps with LED-illuminated T/A logos; NACA-ducted hood that actually feeds air to a modified SRT Hellcat air box with Mopar conical filter, an all-new 2.75-inch electronically controlled active performance exhaust system, and a set of wider 20 x 9-inch Mopar lightweight forged-aluminum wheels finished in Hyper Black II.

And if you think that’s not enough, Dodge added the Super Track Pak, which comes with a long list of chassis upgrades for the driving enthusiast, including a 0.5-inch suspension drop, high-performance Bilstein shock absorbers, performance brake linings, three-mode electronic stability control (ESC) calibration with “full off” settings, and high-performance Goodyear Eagle F1 tires.

And then there’s the Plus model, which comes with heated and ventilated Nappa leather performance seats and all the creature comforts you can imagine.

Created in 1969 as a 501-unit, purpose-built production run for NASCAR, the Charger Daytona set records with its distinct aerodynamic styling and legendary power. The new model has nothing to do with NASCAR, but it delivers even more performance in the 5.7-liter Charger line-up by offering almost the same hardware enhancements as the T/A.

Instead of a “Plus” variant, there is the Daytona 392, which comes with even more upgrades, including an ultra-high performance Brembo six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes with vented rotors.

Production for both models will commence this fall. The Challenger T/A and T/A Plus will have a starting price of $37,390/$40,140, while the Charger Daytona and Daytona 392 will cost at least $39,890/$44,995.