The Dodge brand revels in its old-school heritage, especially during Woodward Dream Cruise week in the Detroit area.
So maybe it’s no surprise that during his introduction of the new 2017 Dodge Charger Daytona and 2017 Dodge Challenger T/A models Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars – Dodge, Chrysler, SRT and Fiat, FCA – North America, pointed out what the cars won’t do.
“They are not autonomous. They are not hybrids. They do not get 50 mpg and you cannot summon them with your smart phone,” Kuniskis said at an event for media at the Vinsetta Garage restaurant.
Watch the full reveal video at https://youtu.be/11YkcZ250h8
But the new models do fit with the Dodge brand’s marketing theme, “Domestic. Not Domesticated,” Kuniskis added.
The names come from Dodge’s rich and colorful muscle car history. In 1969, Dodge built 501 copies of the wind-cheating Charger Daytona, with its sloped nose and 23-inch tall rear stabilizer, to battle in the NASCAR race series. A year later, with various automakers taking to road courses in the Sports Car Club of America’s Trans Am series, Dodge built 2,399 copies of the Challenger T/A, which has become one of the most-desired cars among collectors.
In general, the 2017 Dodge Charger Daytona and Challenger T/A build upon the R/T and Scat Pack trim levels of the Charger and Challenger with the help of the SRT Hellcat family.
That begins with adopting several styling features of the Hellcats, including the air induction hood and cold-air intake system. Both models carry satin black exterior treatments, including heritage-inspired hood, roof and decklid graphics.
The Challenger T/A also gains a new version of the “Air Catcher” headlight system from the Challenger SRT Hellcat, enhanced with Air Catchers on the driver and passenger side of the grille, along with unique lighting inside the Air Catcher tubes.
Both new models get larger tires and 20 x 9 inch wheels, along with upgraded braking systems.
Also, for the first time, the Charger Daytona and Challenger T/A equipped with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 will be fitted with SRT’s electronically controlled active exhaust system. The system features a moveable valve that completely opens up the 2.75-inch pipe under a variety of driving and engine startup conditions. To prove his point, Kuniskis climbed into the Charger Daytona on display and fired up the engine, filling the restaurant with a throaty roar.
“Our owners love to customize their cars. And the first things they do is add a cold-air intake and a cat-back exhaust,” Kuniskis said. “With the Dodge Charger Daytona and Challenger T/A, we’ve done the work for them with SRT components.”
