2017 Dodge Challenger, Charger Get New UConnect – Hellcat Wheels and Badges

The majority of information on the 2017 Dodge Challenger and 2017 Dodge Charger has been announced and while there aren’t any major changes or more power, the entire Challenger and Charger lineup will benefit from a new version of the UConnect system. Also, the Hellcat variants of both Dodge muscle cars receive new, lightweight wheels, new SRT badges with the Hellcat head logo inside and out and a new steering wheel with a back lit SRT logo that glows red.

The New UConnect
The biggest change for the entire 2017 Dodge Challenger and Charger lineup is the introduction of the newest version of the UConnect system. This system continues on with an 8.4 inch touchscreen, but it has a new screen and a new software system which promises smoother operation, quicker load times and better image quality. Also, like your smartphone or tablet, you can make adjustments on the screen of the UConnect system with pinch, swipe and tap gestures.

More importantly for some, the new UConnect system has a greater level of compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, allowing drivers to access those programs via the touchscreen system or the vehicle’s integrated hands-free voice prompt system.

Dual Mode Exhaust for All Hemi Cars
Next up, the biggest news for those folks buying a Hemi-powered 2017 Challenger or Charger is the introduction of the 2.75 inch dual mode active exhaust system across all Hemi-powered vehicles. This system has previously been offered on the Scat Pack, SRT 392 and Hellcat models and with the introduction of the new Challenger T/A and Charger Daytona, Dodge has expanded this system to all vehicles with a Hemi V8.

Hellcat Wheels, Badges and Steering Wheel
The Hellcat versions of the 2017 Dodge Challenger and Charger get the most changes, but those changes are all fairly minimal.

Like the other 2017 muscle cars, the Hellcat cars get the new UConnect system, but they also get a new set of wheels, new badges around the car and a new steering wheel center cap.

The steering wheel of the Hellcat Challenger and Charger has a chrome SRT logo in the middle and when it gets dark out, there is a red glow coming from under that SRT badge. On SRT 392 vehicles, the logo glows white.

The Hellcat Challenger and Charger both get new 20 inch wheels with a 5-spoke design, which are 4 pounds lighter than the wheels on the previous Hellcat cars. The removal of these 16 pounds of unsprung weight will improve performance of the Challenger and Charger in every category – even if only by a small amount. The pictures here do not show the new wheels.

Finally, the 2017 Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat cars will get new SRT logos on the rear of the car, on the seat backs and on the dash that include the Hellcat head logo.

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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