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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, May 5, 2010 · 26 $ any Castrol oil change package Coupon required. Expiry: May 16, 2010 Code: 5558 8 OFF 345 Speers Rd. (at Dorval), Oakville 905-842-9299 Valid at all GTA locations. Dodge Challenger RT Classic is more than a blast from the past By Rob Beintema Metroland Newspapers Carguide Magazine I stabbed the starter button and the engine awoke, snarling to life with that typical V8 sound and swagger. The stereo lit up with Dion, trying to sing "The Wanderer" over the bass background of the engine beat. I wriggled happily into the bucket seat, jammed the fuel receipt for $5.28 into my shirt pocket, chucked the pistol-grip shifter into first gear and rumbled away from the gas station. I know. So far, it sounds more like driving a time machine than a modern car. And, in a sense, that's just what I was doing, relishing the retro flavour and the sounds and sensations of unapologetic power. I was rambling the roads in a 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic, a muscle car made for today but embodied with the spirit of performers past. Okay, I admit I'd set the stage for this blast from the past with my golden oldies CD. And, as for the $5.28 gas bill, well, that was just from topping up the tank to establish a baseline for my fuel economy test. Which, as an early omen, along with the 17.1L/100km average displayed from a previous driver, did not bode well for the ol' bank account, despite the lower, official fuel econ rating. Somehow, that still didn't seem reason enough to wipe the grin off my face. Forty years have passed since the original Challenger hit the streets and this latest version faithfully reproduces the heritage feel, flavour and muscle car characteristics of a classic in a new package packed with modern Dodge Challenger RT Classic 2010 At A Glance: BODY STYLE: compact crossover SUV DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, front- or all-wheel-drive ENGINE: 2.4-litre, four-cylinder (175 hp and 169 lb/ft of torque); 3.5 litre V6 (276 hp and 248 lb/ft) TOWING CAPACITY: 3,500 lbs (V6 models equipped with towing package) FUEL ECONOMY: 2.4-litre FWD auto 9.7/6.9 litres/100 km (city/highway); 3.5-litre V6 AWD: 11.1/7.9 litres/100 km (city/highway) PRICE: (base 4 cyl.) $23,995; (base V6) $29,095 WEBSITE: www.kia.ca shift selection or through an optional sixspeed manual. Much as I enjoyed snicking gears through the six-speed shifter, this manual tranny employs the accursed 1st-to-4th skip-shift. This was my only real gripe with the car. I believe and hope there is an especially warm room in automotive hell reserved for those who invent gimmicks that circumvent a driver's freedom of choice ­ like skip-shift programs, BMW i-Drives or mirrors that tilt and/or auto-dim without on/off switches. Don't let my grumping or the skip-shift feature put you off the Challenger, however. The same TR-6060 tranny is in almost every modern muscle car, from the Camaro to the Shelby GT500, and it can be easily defeated by aggressive shifting or aftermarket add-ons. But, grrrr, anyways. Continued on page 27 More than just a blast from the past, the 2010 Dodge Challenger is pictured here in R/T Classic trim with dual throwback A-line body-side R/T stripes set against Deep Water Blue Pearl Coat. With a full suite of available amenities including Uconnect communications and navigation systems, the Challenger R/T Classic mixes modern technologies with the potent performance of its muscle car bloodline. conveniences and technologies. The 2010 Dodge Challenger is Canadianbuilt on Chrysler's Brampton, Ontario production line and it shares the LX platform with the 300, the former Magnum and the current Charger. In fact, it wouldn't be unfair to think of the Challenger as a two-door Charger coupe, despite styling differences. The Challenger comes in a three model selection, reflecting a trio of powertrain choices. The lineup starts with a 250 hp 3.5litre V6 in SE and SXT trim levels. With a starting price of $25,995, this is an affordable, if somewhat power-limited nod to nostalgia. More in keeping with the spirit of the original, the Challenger R/T ups the ante with a 5.7-litre V8 that makes a more macho 372 hp and 400 lb/ft of torque. This was the engine I was testing - burly, noisy, potent in power, sound and fury, and, yeah, it's a HEMI. My tester was actually one step higher up the trim ladder, an R/T Classic model that tips a nod to the past with heritage cues like the dual throwback A-line body-side R/T stripes that set off the Deep Water Blue Pearl paint job so nicely. Standing on large 20-inch polishedchromed heritage wheels mounted with performance rubber, the R/T Classic also adds a functional hood scoop, `Challenger' script fender badging, a classic egg-crate grille with traditional `R/T' badge, a body-colour rear spoiler, dual chromed square exhaust tips and a chromed `FUEL' filler door. Very nice. The classic rear-wheel-drive V8 power surge can be translated through a five-speed automatic with overdrive that allows manual