Snow on the ground was the hope of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles executives for their recent gathering at the Ellis Ranch, west of Loveland near the entrance to the Big Thompson Canyon on U.S. 34.
For, you see, the occasion to which I was invited was the unveiling in this part of the country for the all-wheel-drive edition of the 2017 Dodge Challenger muscle car.
More than anywhere else in the country, the AWD version is aimed for Colorado and the states in the northeastern part of the U.S. It’s an indication that the Dodge Boys rate not only our winter weather, but our terrain, too, as toughest in the country.
To test the Challenger’s four-wheel grip on snowy trails wasn’t to be, however, for our two-week spell of temperatures in the 60s had removed any trace of winter at Ellis, a longtime working horse ranch now known for its event center and wedding park. In fact, Jan and I were there 18 months ago for the wedding of granddaughter Nicole Wells to Matt Ward.
In the absence of winter weather for the recent event, we drove the Challenger GT V-6 AWD models on dirt trails over the ranch’s rolling hills.
This four-wheel spin by Dodge lends the Challenger an edge in its keen competition with muscle-coupe rivals Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, neither of which offer all-wheel drive. The three performance models, which date back to the mid- to late 1960s, are rear-wheel based.
With an active transfer case and front-axle disconnect, the Challenger GT will be equipped with the same system as that used in the bigger Dodge Charger AWD. The GT’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 delivers 305 horsepower and 268 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive will not be available with the more powerful V-8 Challengers.
Identifying the Challenger AWD models won’t be simple. There will be no AWD indicator on the exterior of the coupes. The only tipoff will be a small GT designation along the side of the Challengers.
The AWD addition cuts 3 miles per gallon highway fuel mileage off the V-6 models, from 30 mpg to 27.
“The GT seamlessly transitions between rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive with no driver intervention,” said Benjamin Lyon, Dodge Challenger specialist for FCA. Under normal conditions, the front axle is disengaged and torque is directed to the rear wheels. With the slightest slip, the system automatically engages the front axle in AWD mode.
Beginning base price for the Challenger GT is $33,395, plus $1,095 destination charge. The GT model I drove, finished in mango orange exterior with nappa leather performance seats, carried a sticker price of $38,965. It is built in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.