The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

27 · Wednesday, May 5, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Four "bomb" gauges, Dark Slate Gray Leather and a tastefully subdued interior hint at Challenger's muscle car heritage inside the R/T Classic model. 2010 Dodge Challenger has a viable future ahead Continued from page 26 On the plus side though, oh baby, the sheer joy of just listening to that engine as you work your way up through the gears, the accelerating roars punctuated by popping snarls as the clutch breaks the engine loose to spin free between shifts. Just lovely. As far as pony cars go, the Challenger is one of the biggest entries, larger in every dimension than competitors like the Camaro or Mustang. Sure, with the front seat racked all the way back, you can barely fit your fist between the seat back and second row but, with a little compromise, there's more passenger room on the 60/40 split back bench than with most 2+2 rear seats. And stand behind the car and the Challenger's classic North American roots show in a wide-assed back end that gapes open with enough trunk space for four golf bags. Inside, the Challenger R/T Classic is comfortable, less kitschy than competitors, with trapezoidal door panel cues that reflect the window shapes, and a cluster of four "bomb" gauges hearkening back to past styling cues. The shifter bezel angles nicely toward the driver and, in fact, the instruments and dash layout reflect the driver-orientation of a true performance car. Challenger R/T models added LED-illuminated cupholders, auto headlamps and door handle lighting for 2010. I just can't list all the safety, security and amenity features that culminate with available voice-controlled Uconnect navigation and communication systems, but they can be explored at leisure on Chrysler Canada's website. And, lest you think I've forgotten the last of the trio of powertrain and model choices, yes, I should mention the ultimate Challenger SRT8, harnessing a 6.1-litre, bored-out version of the HEMI V8, making a knuckle-biting 425 hp and 420 lb/ft of torque. There have been some minor changes made to the lineup for 2010 and rumours are swirling about more cosmetic tweaks and a possible bump up to 6.4-litre HEMI power (Yikes!) for 2011. That should stir the waters and, although novelty vehicles like the Challenger tend to have a short shelf life, in only its second year, and selling out early after its debut, the Challenger still has a viable future ahead of it. Unless gas prices go through the roof. I was going to draw up some power-toweight ratios and price comparisons for the segment but even though the Challenger, Camaro and Mustang share a narrow market niche, it would still be very much a case of comparing apples and oranges. Nostalgia tends to be brand-specific. If that first shining automotive memory or emotion is linked to the sound, smell and feel of Uncle Bill's Challenger or Camaro or Mustang or whatever, well, then no other car will do, regardless of specs, stories or comparisons. And, for Challenger fans honouring the adrenaline rush of power and excitement, tapping into that whole "Vanishing Point" mystique and the heritage of muscle car tradition, the 2010 Dodge Challenger makes for a unique and convincingly modern tribute to a retro classic.