CARS OF THE WORLD

Dodge Challenger 2022.

New Mopar tuning catalog for Dodge Challenger: up to 897 hp with factory warranty.

Stellantis executives have sentenced powerful versions of the Dodge Challenger to retirement in 2023, to be replaced by some sort of electric sports car, but the Petrolheads still have time to enjoy the living American legend and pimp it out properly.

Mopar (subdivision of parts and accessories corporation Stellantis) has released a large catalog of parts for tuning the muscle car, from which you can even assemble the whole car if you want.

New in this case is well forgotten old: in 1974, the then Corporation Chrysler and Mopar «at the request of workers» have released a catalog of parts Direct Connection to improve the dynamic characteristics of production models and turning them into racing (mainly for drag racing), and in 1987 the factory tuning program was renamed to Mopar Performance and was designed mainly for ordinary motorists, not racers.

Now it has been decided to return to its roots and relaunch the Direct Connection program: a multi-page catalog for various modifications of the current Dodge Challenger, both road and race.

The drag Challenger can be assembled entirely from parts of the catalog: there is a «bare» body with an integrated safety cage, several engine options (including the legendary 7.0-liter Hellephant with more than 1000 hp), 4-speed automatic transmission, race suspension, brakes, tires, dashboard, seats, and so on. — Take it, assemble it and race it, if only there was time and money.

We are more interested in offers on modification of road cars from Hellcat range with compressor 6,2-liter V8 and 8-speed hydro-mechanical «automatic machine».

For example, for the «automatic» you can order a reinforced hydro-transformer, which allows you to transfer more torque and at the same time provides a faster start from a place.

For the top version Hellcat Redeye, which has 808 hp, there are two options to boost the engine — up to 852 hp on Stage I and up to 897 hp on Stage II, and such an increase is achieved without significant changes in the design, mainly due to the reduced intake resistance and a new control program.

It makes sense to buy reinforced crankshaft and axles from the same catalog to the pumped up engine and gearbox, differential with more «short» main gear for faster acceleration, struts for the body, and, perhaps, cool headlights with through holes for easy «breathing» of the engine.

Besides, the catalog contains separate parts for engine modernization (pistons, connecting rods, camshafts, etc.), kits for body upgrade (widebody body, «hole» hoods, stickers, etc.), additional instruments, parts for suspension performance improvement.

To install the parts from the catalog Direct Connection in the U.S. next year will work a specialized network of dealers Dodge Power Brokers: the installed parts from these dealers are given a 2-year warranty without mileage limitation. But of course, you can do the installation yourself — enthusiasts are promised a hotline support and detailed instructions.

We should add that at the end of the first three quarters of this year, the Dodge Challenger became the best-selling sports car in the U.S.: 44,142 units were sold, which is 15% more than from January to September of 2020.

The main competitors are lagging behind: Ford Mustang has sold 41,065 pcs. (-14%), Chevrolet Camaro — 15 084 pcs. (-32%).