The Woodward Dream Cruise kicks off in the third weekend of August this year. The Cruise is always amazing, but this year, Dodge is hoping to make it even better than usual. This year, it is bringing a handful of special Challenger models that pay tribute to the original Challenger T/A. They aren’t quite as wild as the Challenger Hellcat models, but they are pretty wild special editions that are sure to garner some great attention from muscle car enthusiasts.

Of the three special edition models, two of them come with a cool 375 horsepower on tap while the other two come correct with 485 ponies. Furthermore, they are all equipped with some of the best features and tech that Chrysler has available now. Tim Kuniskis, the Head of Passenger Cars for Dodge, SRT, Chrysler, Fiat, and FCA, said, "More than 1.5 million enthusiasts are expected to come to Woodward to celebrate classic muscle cars this week, so it’s a perfect opportunity to pay tribute to the Challenger T/A and Charger Daytona with new special editions."

And, even better yet, Kuniskis went on to say that there "will be another special edition announced later this fall." We don’t know what he might be talking about quite yet, but until then, let’s take a good look at these three special-edition Challengers and what makes them so great.

Continue reading to learn more about the Dodge Challenger T/A.

Challenger T/A

The Challenger T/A is based on the standard Challenger R/T model and comes with a 5.7-liter, HEMI, V-8 that delivers 375 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. IT features the Super Track Pak which brings a stance that is lowered by 0.5-inches, Bilstein shock absorbers, performance brake linings, electronic stability control with three different modes, and Goodyear Eagle F1 tires. A Tremec six-speed manual comes as standard equipment, but it can be optioned with the TorqueFlite eight-speed auto with Sport mode and paddle shifters for those who like more automated driving. Fuel Saver Technology (FST) is also standard and allows the engine to run on four cylinders at certain times to go with Decel Fuel Shut Off to help save a few sips of gas when coming to a stop. All the exhaust from the engine is routed to the rear via an all-new 2.75-inch, electronically control performance exhaust system and 20-inch by 9-inch Mopar forged-aluminum wheels that are finished in Hyper Black II.

On the outside, you’ll find the hood, front fascia, roof, and decklid finished in Satin Black to go along with the T.A body stripes. The center caps in those 20-inch Mopar wheels have been upgraded to feature the Dodge Stripes, and you’ll find the front grille prominently displaying the “Challenger” nameplate. Optional exterior accessories include factory-installed hood pins, and an all-new, limited-production Green Go and Yellow Jacket High-impact Paint. All told, it’s a pretty nice exterior package if I do say so myself.

Dodge didn’t just stop on the outside, either. On the inside, the car gets aluminum interior bezels to go with black and Gloss Black interior. Performance seats with Houndstooth cloth inserts offer improved lateral support while the Dodge performance steering wheel features performance contouring. Ahead of the wheel, you’ll see a 971-inspired tic-toc-tach gauge cluster with Gloss black detailing and Bright White faces. Velour-bound floor mats sporting the Dodge logo also come standard. The Challenger T/A starts out at $37,390 plus a $1,095 destination fee.

Challenger T/A Plus

The Challenger T/A Plus builds on the aforementioned T/A and brings some extra goodies to the interior of the vehicle. To start, the T/A Plus comes equipped with heated performance seats that are wrapped in Nappa leather held together by Black and Tungsten accent stitching. The “T/A” logo is also embroidered on the seats. The other big news here is the Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes standard on this model. It features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity to go with enhanced processing power, vivid imagery, a faster startup time, and better graphics capabilities. The sound from this system is sent to six “premium” speakers through a 276-watt digital amplifier.

As part of the Uconnect system is this model, a new shortcut button makes accessing the Dodge Performance Pages simple. IT offers the ability to set a programmable shift light indicator, as well as the recording of reaction time, zero-to-60 mph times, and lap times. All of which are displayed in the seven-inch TFT display in the instrument cluster. This model comes at a $2,750 premium over the T/A with a price of $40,140 plus the $1,095 destination fee.

Challenger T/A 392

If you’re someone who has a need for power than that 375-horspower HEMI V-8 might not be enough for you. But that’s okay because Dodge has something else in store for you. The Challenger T/A 392 comes with a 6.4-liter, 392 cubic-inch, HEMI V-8 that delivers 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. That represents an increase of 113 horsepower and 65 pound-feet of torque over the other two Challenger T/A models we’ve talked about thus far. According to Dodge, this best-in-class power returns a mid-four-second 0-to-60 sprint and 12-second runs on the quarter-mile.

Improvements to this model don’t just come under the hood, however. To go with the extra power are signature “T/A Air Catcher” headlamps and a directed cold-air NACA hood system. To handle stopping duties you’ll get Brembo ultra high-performance six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear. The car gets a bespoke front suspension geometry and rides on 20-inch by 9.50inch forged aluminum wheels that are finished in Low Gloss Black and wrapped in 275/40Z-series Pirelli performance tires. Rounding off the package are “392” fender decals to let everyone know you’ve got the big boy under the hood. Getting one will set you back $43,995, plus destination, and don’t forget Uncle Sam’s Gas Guzzler tax because, you know, he doesn’t already suck our pockets dry everywhere else.

Conclusion

For a while, I wasn’t very fond of the new Challenger. I’ve always wished that Dodge had gone with the same old school designs from way back when. Even still, the Challenger has grown on me over time, and I swear it didn’t have anything to do with the Hellcats. OK, well maybe a little, but that’s not the only reason. The Challenger is actually a pretty decent car for what it is, and these models are looking pretty good to me. I really like the 392. Not just because it has an extra 113 horsepower but because it offers a fair medium between the 5.7 Hemi and the Hellcat model, and features a number of custom features you don’t normally see on Challengers. And, for the record, the Challenger SRT 392 starts out around $46,000 the last time I checked, which means the T/A comes at a pretty decent discount. Finally, a special edition model that you don’t have to sell two children and a testicle to afford.

Dodge Challenger

Read our full review on the Dodge Challenger here.