Dodge Challenger, Charger get new V6 muscle

Dodge is getting competitive in the horsepower wars. After years of languishing with a 250-hp V6 in the Charger and Challenger muscle cars, both are getting a substantial power boost.

Chrysler announced some of the ratings for the Pentastar V6--the new 3.6-liter engine that will be the base powerplant across much of its lineup--and for enthusiasts, it's good news. The Challenger now pumps out 305 hp, which is exactly the same as the Ford Mustang V6 and just behind the Chevrolet Camaro's 312-hp V6.

The Charger's power grows to 292 hp, up 42 horses from the previous V6. The Chrysler 300 now makes 292 hp as well.

All models increase in torque thanks to the new engine's broader and flat curve. The Challenger's output grows from 250 lb-ft to 268 lb-ft of torque.

The Pentastar V6 uses an aluminum block with cast-iron bore liners and aluminum cylinder heads. The cylinders are banked at a 60-degree angle, and it is shorter than many of the engines it replaces, allowing for more compact configurations.

Despite the horsepower gains, Chrysler is quick to point out that fuel economy is fortified as well, though ratings were not released.

The Pentastar V6 will roll out across 13 vehicles by 2013. It replaces units that displaced 2.7 liters to 4.0 liters. The Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Chrysler Town & Country and the Dodge Avenger will all get the new engine. The engine fits with front-, rear- and all-wheel-drive setups. It runs on regular, 87-octane fuel and meets emission requirements around the world.

In the case of the Challenger, the horsepower increase is especially critical as Ford and Chevy have rolled out advanced V6s that far eclipsed the output of the Dodge. The Camaro's six-cylinder is shared with Cadillacs and returns impressive fuel economy, while Ford's counterpart raised the Mustang V6's power by 95 hp from its predecessor's paltry 210 hp.

The Challenger has been panned as too heavy, and this power leap should address criticism about its sometimes sluggish driving demeanor. The Charger, meanwhile, launched in 2005 just ahead of the advancements in horsepower that made its then-formidable 250-hp output quickly seem pedestrian.

By Greg Migliore