Dodge & Ram Get Beauty Makeover for 2019 Model Year

Dodge vehicles get new looks and more power while Ram continues to roll out its new 1500 powertrain offerings.

FCA recently invited us to attend its “What’s New” event at its Chelsea Proving Grounds in Michigan to learn about the changes made to its range of vehicles for 2019. We’ve been fortunate to experience many of them already. Back in July, Dodge Forum shared the news about the Dodge Challenger Scat Pack 1320, and then we got an early look at the 797 horsepower 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye.

Ram let us experience the regular Hemi and eTorque-assisted Pentastar and Hemi versions of the all-new 1500. There are still changes in store for 2019 Dodge and Ram vehicles, though. These are some of the highlights.

Charger/Charger SRT

The 2019 Charger lineup includes two new models: The Charger SXT AWD, and the Charger GT RWD V6. Both the SXT and SXT AWD are available with a Caramel Nappa leather interior or Houndstooth cloth sport seats, which are standard equipment on GT, R/T, and Scat Pack models. A Cold Weather Package with a heated steering wheel and heated cloth driver and passenger seats is a new option for the Charger SXT, SXT AWD, GT, and R/T.

Dodge has made several upgrades to the Charger GT and R/T. Both models get a new hood, fascia, side sills, spoiler, and bolstered performance seats. In addition, they come standard with a performance suspension, Bilstein shocks, improved steering, paddle shifters, and an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen with Dodge Performance Pages. The GT gets a 3.07 axle ratio. Options for the GT and R/T include new 20-inch Satin Carbon and Black Noise wheel designs.

The R/T Scat Pack has gotten a makeover, too. It features a new grille with dual air intakes and a new Scat Pack Bee badge on the trunk instead of the outgoing R/T badge. Dual carbon stripes and a Satin Black hood are available for a more custom look. Dodge upgraded the R/T Scat Pack’s performance by adding standard Launch Assist, line lock, and a dashboard switch that quickly accesses Launch Control. You can up the R/T Scat Pack’s performance potential even more by adding the optional three-mode Bilstein adaptive damping setup, which features Auto, Sport, and Track modes.

Designers gave the SRT Hellcat the same grille as the R/T Scat Pack, as well as its standard Launch Assist and line lock. They infused it with even more Demon DNA by adding Torque Reserve and the After-Run Chiller. Optional equipment includes a Satin Black hood, 20-inch Brass Monkey wheels, and an Alcantara interior package.

continued…

Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Twitter