Concept Challenger adopts four-wheel drive: Dodge's muscle car could make it into production

This uses a 4wd system borrowed from, would you believe, Dodge’s own Charger police car

Dodge has unveiled a heavily beefed-up version of the Challenger GT as a concept car at SEMA.

This uses a 4wd system borrowed from, would you believe, Dodge’s own Charger police car. The feds are responsible for the concept’s improved brakes, too.

These systems help cope with the 440bhp and 450lb ft growled out by the car’s modified 5.7-litre V8. That’s not far short of 20% more than normal for the Challenger GT, so this is every inch the muscle car.

The engine is mated to an eight-speed auto from a Chrysler 300 and the (four) wheels it turns are 20” alloys. Since good things clearly come in fours in this story, that’s also the number of tailpipes you get to wave at the people you’ve just overtaken.

The whole thing was created by Mopar, the Chrysler group’s in-house parts and accessories arm, and they shrouded the lot in a wide-arch body painted in a colour with the splendid name of Destroyer Grey.

It’s just a concept – for now. But manufacturers see SEMA as an opportunity to test the water with their new product ideas – and since the technology does all exist, this one looks to have an above-average chance of moving ahead.