Meet the 2017 Dodge Charger Daytona and the 2017 Dodge Challenger T/A

This morning at a small media event along Detroit’s Woodward Avenue, the Dodge brand rolled out their newest muscle cars for the 2017 model year – the new Charger Daytona and the new Challenger T/A. Each of these new muscle cars are offered with two different Hemi engines along with a handful of high performance goodies and exterior upgrades from the SRT models, but they all cost quite a bit less than the Charger and Challenger in SRT 392 form.

The 2017 Dodge Challenger T/A is offered in three trimlines – T/A, T/A Plus and T/A 392. The T/A and T/A Plus models are powered by the 5.7L Hemi with 375 horsepower while the T/A 392 is powered by the 6.4L Hemi with 485 horsepower. The 6-speed manual transmission is standard on all of these, but the 8-speed automatic with paddle shifters is optional.

The 2017 Challenger T/A is based on the Challenger R/T, but the new T/A package adds the following features:
-Air Catcher headlamps with LED-illuminated T/A logos
-Satin black functional SRT-style hood with a Mopar cold air intake package
-2.75 inch active exhaust system with electronically controlled valves (similar to the Hellcat exhaust)
-20×9 inch Mopar lightweight wheels
-Super Track Pak (1/2 inch lowering springs, Bilstein performance shocks, performance brake pads, three mode stability control with Full Off, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires
-T/A stripes on the side
-Black hood and trunklid
-Black fuel door
-Challenger T/A rear badge
-Black decklid spoiler
-Mopar hood pins

The 2017 Challenger T/A Plus is based on the Challenger T/A, with the Plus package adding the following features:
-Heated/Cooled/Power Nappa leather seats with Tungsten accent stitches and the T/A logo
-4^th Generation UConnect 8.4 system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Dodge Performance Pages
-Six speaker audio system with a 276 watt amp
-Short cut button for the Dodge Performance Pages

The 2017 Dodge Challenger T/A 392 is based on Challenger T/A, but the T/A 392 package adds a long list of high performance goodies, including the following:
-392 cubic inch Hemi, 485hp, 475tq
-Brembo big brakes (similar to those on the Hellcat models) with 6-piston front calipers and 4-piston rear calipers
-Performance tuned front suspension
-New 20×9.5 lightweight wheels wrapped in Hellcat Pirelli P275/40ZR20 3-season tires
-392 fender decals
-180mph speedometer

The 2017 Dodge Challenger T/A starts at $37,390, with the TA/ Plus starting at $40,140 and the T/A 392 starting at $43,990 (prices do not include tax or destination fees).

The 2017 Dodge Charger Daytona is offered in two trimlines – Daytona and Daytona 392. The Daytona is powered by the 5.7L Hemi with 370hp and the Daytona 392 is powered by the 6.4L Hemi with 485 horsepower.

The 2017 Dodge Charger Daytona is based on the Dodge Charger R/T, but the new Daytona package adds the following items:
-Charger SRT front fascia, rear fascia, side sills, rear spoiler and hood
-Satin Black roof, hood stripe and tail stripe
-20×9 inch lightweight Mopar wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 tires
-2.62 rear gear set
-Mopar cold air intake kit which works with the functional hood
-2.75 inch active exhaust system with electronic valves and 4 inch round tips
-Unique engine calibration with 150mph top speed (up from 135)
-Super Track Pak (Includes performance suspension, performance brake pads, three mode stability control will Full Off
-Heated/cooled/power Nappa leather performance seats and Daytona logos
-Brazen Gold stitching throughout the cabin
-Carbonite aluminum bezels with gloss black accents
-Daytona badging on the instrument cluster

The 2017 Dodge Charger Daytona 392 is based on the 5.7L Daytona, but the 392 package adds the following key features:
-392 Hemi engine
-3.09 rear gear
-Brembo big brakes (similar to those on the Hellcat models) with 6-piston front calipers and 4-piston rear calipers
-New 20×9.5 lightweight wheels wrapped in Hellcat Pirelli P275/40ZR20 3-season tires
-392 fender decals
-180mph speedometer

The 2017 Dodge Charger Daytona has an MSRP of $39,380 while the Daytona 392 starts at$44,995.

These cars will all go on sale in September or October with the first units reaching dealerships before the end of 2016.

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