Dodge revisits golden age of muscle cars with 2017 Challenger T/A, Charger Daytona
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Dodge is reviving two legendary names from the golden age of muscle cars at the 2016 Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit.
The 2017 Dodge Challenger T/A and Charger Daytona both borrow names from classic Challenger and Charger models of the late 1960s and early ’70s. The original T/A and Daytona were both performance models built for racing, but the new versions are a bit less extreme, with milder performance upgrades and some cosmetic changes inspired by the classics.
When Dodge first used the T/A and Daytona names, many race series still required manufacturers to sell a certain number of production models before any car could be certified for competition. The original T/A was built to homologate the Challenger for the SCCA Trans Am (that’s what “T/A” stands for), and it raced against rivals like the Ford Mustang Boss 302 and Chevrolet Camaro Z28. The original Charger Daytona featured a radical nosecone and massive rear spoiler, both of which gave it an aerodynamic advantage on the NASCAR tracks it was built to race on.
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The 2017 Charger Daytona doesn’t have a massive rear spoiler, but it does have retro graphics and a few performance upgrades, including a cold-air intake, upgraded brakes, and a performance exhaust system. Both the Daytona and T/A are available with a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine that produces 375 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque, or a 6.4-liter HEMI good for 485 hp and 475 lb-ft. The top dog in both the Charger and Challenger lineups remains the 707hp, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 SRT Hellcat.
The Challenger T/A follows the same pattern as the Daytona, with some performance upgrades, including sportier suspension and performance exhaust, and a heavy dose of nostalgia. With its satin black hood and period graphics, the 2017 Challenger T/A is a spitting image of the 1970 original. The new model also gets the trick air-intake system from the Hellcat, which draws air into the engine through an opening in one of the headlights.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Dodge will begin taking orders for the 2017 Charger Daytona in September, followed by the 2017 Challenger T/A in October. The Daytona starts at $40,985 with the 5.7-liter V8 engine, or $46,090 with the 6.4-liter V8. The T/A will be offered in three trim levels: base and upscale T/A Plus models, both with the 5.7-liter engine, start at $38,485 and $41,235, respectively, while the 6.4-liter version starts at $45,090. All prices include destination.