The Dodge Challenger is one of the most iconic muscle cars to come from the US and a 2015 iteration has been privately imported in India.
Ask any petrolhead in India and at least one muscle car will be a part of his/her dream list. But the absence of these manufacturers in the country has left many disappointed. However, this has not stopped one such aficionado from fulfilling his dream of owning a muscle car in India. Witnessed rolling on the streets of Mumbai recently, a 2015 Dodge Challenger has been imported in the country in the Right Hand Drive (RHD) guise. Considering the fact that Dodge does not produce an RHD version of the Challenger, this particular version was an after-market conversion in order to legally ply on Indian roads.
The version imported in the country is the 2015 Challenger SXT Plus and is powered by a 3.6-litre V6 Pentastar petrol engine tuned to produce 305 HP and comes paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. With all that power on disposal, the Challenger SXT Plus is loaded on luxury with ventilated performance seats done up in Nappa leather, UConnect 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, ParkView and Park Assist features.
The suspension setup comprises of an independent unit at the front and a 5-link rear suspension with optional Bilstein high performance dampers at the rear. With an expected price tag close to Rs. 1 crore (on-road,) minus the cost for the RHD conversion, the Dodge Challenger is one of the few ways a petrolhead could spend his money wisely instead of opting for a flagship luxury saloon from any of the German automakers. The car’s iconic lines now come with modern elements while the long hood and sharp styling are reminiscent from the era gone by. Complete eye candy, the muscle car is easily distinguishable from anything on Indian roads at present.
Other good bits about the 2015 Dodge Challenger SXT Plus include all wheel disc brakes, Traction Control, ABS, ESP and a host of other features, not to forget its straight line performance capabilities. As desirable as it may look, parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has no plans of bringing the Dodge brand or the Challenger officially to India as of now, irrespective of a tonne of potential buyers on this side of the hemisphere. Nevertheless, possibilities are high that the other American, Ford Motor Company might finally introduce the Mustang RHD in the country with the launch expected by next year. Will it pave way for more muscle cars in the country? We hope!
Source – Zauba.com and Saurabh Jadhav Photography on Facebook