Meet the 2015 Dodge Challenger T/A Concept

The 2015 Dodge Challenger T/A Concept will make its formal debut next month at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, but I had a chance to meet the lineup of Moparized vehicles early and from that meeting – here is a full complement of information and pictures on the beautiful T/A Concept. Yes, the hood of this Challenger T/A Concept looks more like something that you would have seen on the Plymouth AAR Cuda whereas the 1970 Challenger T/A had a snorkel style scoop, but in every other way, this car is a perfect modern interpretation of the Trans Am road racing Challenger from the original muscle car era.

The most noticeable features of the 2015 Dodge Challenger T/A Concept are found all over the exterior, where the Mopar team has added features that are clearly inspired by the original 1970 Challenger T/A. This includes a chin spoiler that wraps around the entire lower front fascia, a matte black SRT hood, matte black T/A stripes high on the body, matte black lightweight SRT Hellcat wheels and subtle rear spoiler – also in matte black.

What you may not have noticed about the 2015 Challenger T/A Concept is the application of the Hellcat Challenger’s air induction headlights on both sides of the front end, a massive brake system upgrade and a side exit exhaust system that is activated via a button on the dash – diverting the flow of the exhaust from the standard rear tips to the tips located just in front of the rear wheels. On the inside, the Challenger T/A Concept sports a set of Viper carbon fiber seats mounted on aluminum tracks, a harness bar behind those race inspired front seats and a rear seat delete panel made of the same bright, shiny metal as the seat tracks.

Finally, the 2015 Dodge Challenger T/A Concept is powered by the same 392 cubic inch Hemi V8 that is found under the hood of the 2015 R/T Scat Pack and the 2015 SRT392 with 485hp and 475lb-ft of torque.   Helping that powerful Hemi to breathe a little easier is a new intake system that fits against the bottom of the SRT 392 hood and channels cold air directly into the air filter assembly. This system has been created by modifying the lower portion of the production Shaker assembly and adding a new “hat” that works with this hood.

Right now, the 2015 Dodge Challenger T/A Concept is just that – a concept. However, I fully expect to see these components in the Mopar accessories catalog very soon. Also, while I wouldn’t expect to see a road going model with a rear seat delete and a harness bar, I wouldn’t be all that surprised to see a T/A model in the future that looks very much like this concept. After all, the vast majority of the components that make this car unique are already available as either components on a production model or as a Mopar accessory.

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

Facebook   Twitter