Dodge Charger LD (Seventh Generation)
Unveiled at the 2014 New York International Auto Show, the 2015 Dodge Charger received a substantial makeover, the most noticeable change coming in the new front grille and rounded LED headlights. Retaining its Coke bottle styling Dodge claims to have reworked just about every panel on the car; made to look “leaner and more athletic” than its previous look while keeping the same dimensions. Dodge is reported to have used the 1969 Charger as its inspiration for the remodeling.
The engines include the 370 hp (276 kW) 5.7 L Hemi V8 and the 292 hp (218 kW) 3.6 liter V6. The V6 model is EPA-rated at 31 mpg or 7.6L/100 km which is claimed by the manufacturer to be the best in its class. Except for the Police Pursuit version (which retains the 5 speed automatic), the only available transmission is the Chrysler eight-speed automatic, coupled with optional all-wheel drive. The all-wheel-drive system automatically removes power to the front axle when not required, giving an improvement in fuel economy. The new electronic gearshift with optional paddle shifters gives shift times of as little as 0.25 seconds in the sport mode.
The reworked interior includes new materials for the door, console, and dash panels, a new steering wheel and seats, and a wide range of trim packages with both leather and cloth seating. The refreshed interior also features a new instrument cluster featuring a 7-inch (180mm) TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display. The available 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen radio with available navigation has been revised, now including Uconnect Apps.
Mechanically, the 3.6L Pentastar V6 and the 5.7L/6.4L HEMI engines remained the same. All engines are now backed by the ZF 8HP 8-Speed Automatic transmissions co-produced by ZF (previously only V6 models used the ZF 8-speed). There have been revisions to the chassis components, including Electric-Assist power steering, which replaces the previous models Electro-Hydraulic Assist power steering. New aluminum rear differentials now use 4-mounting bolts for rigidity. AWD is no longer available on 5.7L R/T models.
The 2015 Dodge Charger went on sale starting December 2014 in the US and Canada.
NASCAR
Racecars based on the Charger were campaigned by several NASCAR Sprint Cup teams starting in 2005 through to 2012. Although NASCAR stock cars bear only a slight resemblance to actual street cars, Dodge’s 2005 and 2006 NASCAR entries were based on the Charger silhouette, replacing the previous Dodge Intrepid. Unlike the Intrepid, the Charger shares the rear-wheel-drive with the V8 engine configuration with its NASCAR counterparts.
During the 2007 NASCAR season, the Charger was used in all non Car of Tomorrow races while the Dodge Avenger was used in all Car of Tomorrow races. The Car of Tomorrow was used exclusively in 2008. However, the Avenger Car of Tomorrow was redesignated as a Charger R/T through the use of different decals. The decals have been revised again for 2011–2012 to reflect the updated nose and tail styling of the production Charger, including the full-width taillight panel.
Assembly: Brampton (Canada)
Years of production: 2011-2023
Length: 5,084 mm
Width: 1,905 mm
Height: 1,485 mm
Engine: HEMI V8 (5654 cc)
Power: 370 HP
Max speed: 280 km/h
Fuel consumption: 13 l/100 km
Weight: 1944 kg
