Retro Challenger flashes its muscles

Here are the tantalising first official shots of the new Dodge Challenger. Brimming with retro appeal, they are sure to make followers of the legend’s rebirth even more excited.

The three pictures follow our recent spy shot of the muscle car in production form, which confirmed that the coupé shape has remained faithful to the concept model first shown at the Detroit Motor Show in 2006.

The polished chrome fuel-filler cap carries classic retro lettering, while the rectangular grille features a distinctive Challenger badge. And there’s no missing the SRT-8 logo on the rear spoiler. This promises to be the view of the car that most people will see, thanks to the mighty V8 engine under the bonnet – likely to be a 6.4-litre powerplant producing 505bhp. The production-ready model is set to be unveiled at February’s Chicago Motor Show, with US sales starting shortly afterwards. And while the Challenger is unlikely to be officially sold in the UK, as with its Ford Mustang rival, grey imports are a possibility.