2013 Dodge Challenger Rallye Redline
On paper, the Challenger
Rallye Redline looks pretty excessive. The engine has only six
cylinders, but it still makes 305 hp, enough to hustle this car around
at police-annoying speeds. The stereo, which is the second of three
levels (it's an optional extra, but audiophiles can pay extra for a more
capable setup), is ear-splittingly loud. The wheels are 20-inchers;
while this won't impress your local rap superstar, they're still really
big. "Really big" also describes the Challenger's body, which appears to
have eaten a smaller muscle car on its way to your driveway.
With that said, the V-6 Rallye Redline
Challenger is a good trim level because it's less excessive than you
might think. The car rides well and has a comfortable interior (albeit
one you can't see out of), while the V-6 engine will return 27 mpg EPA
highway. The Challenger doesn't handle like a Mustang or a Camaro, and
it would lose to both in a drag race (to be honest, it handles like a
pull-out couch and would lose to a 2013 Honda Accord V-6 coupe in the
quarter-mile), but most Challenger V-6 drivers couldn't care less.
The Challenger Rallye Redline brings all of
the muscle car look and feel to the table but skips the huge gas bills,
weighty clutch pedal, stiff suspension, and expensive tires. In other
words, it ticks all of the right boxes for "muscle car looks" but leaves
the questions of performance to other cars.
Ben Timmins, Associate Web Editor
God bless remote start. Not only does it warm the car in single-digit winter temperatures but it also makes it easier for me to tolerate having an automatic transmission in such a sporty car. It seems silly that the automatic transmission has only five forward speeds, though, what with the related Charger offering an eight-speed automatic with this engine. While we’re talking about fundamental engineering changes that don’t make sense for Chrysler’s bottom line, it’d also be wonderful if the Challenger were about a foot narrower. This car feels simply massive, so even though it looks sporty, it doesn’t feel that way. The Redline model looks pretty cool in red and black. Even the wheels have red rings on the perimeter and red on the inner-bowl portion. I also love this vintage-style hood. In this instance, being straight outta 1970 is a good thing. Rusty Blackwell, Copy Editor
God bless remote start. Not only does it warm the car in single-digit winter temperatures but it also makes it easier for me to tolerate having an automatic transmission in such a sporty car. It seems silly that the automatic transmission has only five forward speeds, though, what with the related Charger offering an eight-speed automatic with this engine. While we’re talking about fundamental engineering changes that don’t make sense for Chrysler’s bottom line, it’d also be wonderful if the Challenger were about a foot narrower. This car feels simply massive, so even though it looks sporty, it doesn’t feel that way. The Redline model looks pretty cool in red and black. Even the wheels have red rings on the perimeter and red on the inner-bowl portion. I also love this vintage-style hood. In this instance, being straight outta 1970 is a good thing. Rusty Blackwell, Copy Editor
