Dodge is retiring its current muscle car lineup in preparation for a new electric Charger Daytona SRT, but that doesn’t mean the muscle car is going away quietly. Dodge has decided to go out in a blaze of glory and released seven “Last Call” special editions, each with its own flair and personality. Of course, they all offer the rumpety-rump V8 performance action one could ask for.
What is the Shakedown?
The 2023 Dodge Challenger Shakedown — its full name is Challenger Shakedown R/T Scat Pack — is the first of the Last Call cars. As the name implies, the Shakedown name is a nod to the original 1971 Dodge Shakedown Challenger concept unveiled at the 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. Production of the special Last Call version will be limited to 1,000 cars, split between two different variations: 500 Shakedowns will be Dodge Challenger Scat Packs finished in Destroyer Gray, and the other 500 Shakedowns will be Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Widebodies finished in Pitch-Black, which is what we have here. Prices start at $65,185.
Exterior
The Shakedown is physically the same as any other Challenger but with the addition of the Shakedown stripes, red 392 decals on the front fenders, and Shakedown sticker on the rear spoiler. Dodge has also equipped the Shakedown with factory options in black or red hues to suit the coloriffic theme. The hood pins, wheels, Challenger badges, and R/T badge are all finished in black, with the effect complemented by red six-piston Brembo brake calipers caressing sizeable rotors 14.2-inches/front and 13.8-inches/rear. The Challenger comes in at 16.5 feet long and almost 6½ feet wide with the Widebody fenders (adding almost three inches), which makes our test car noticeably larger than several four-doors on the road. The combination of size and color palette makes for an aggressive look that’s sure to stand out from other Mopars on the road.
Interior
Inside the Shakedown, you’ll find a loaded interior with the Carbon/Suede Interior Package, Harmon-Kardon sound system with subwoofer, comfy bucket seats, a driver-focused dashboard, and the only other Shakedown badge aside of the one on the rear spoiler. The bucket seats feature excellent support (the side-bolstering deserves special mention) to keep you in place during spirited drives or track days. Once in the driver’s seat, your view out of the windshield is met by the Shaker in the middle of a long, wide hood. In fact, the passenger-side hood pin is not visible from your seat — a reminder of the vehicle’s size, if not the internal satisfaction of sitting in a muscle car with almost 500 horsepower. That’s not even the best part because, since the Shakedown is a Scat Pack Challenger, the included Performance Pages app for the touch screen gives the option to customize the vehicle’s driving characteristics along with Line Lock, Launch Control, timers, additional gauges, and performance readouts.
Drivetrain
Power for the Shakedown comes from the Scat Pack 392ci Hemi V8 rated at 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft. Our particular car was equipped with the Multi-Displacement System (MDS), a fuel-saving cylinder deactivation function that is only available with the TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission. Those interested in the manual will receive the standard TREMEC six-speed manual. The Shakedown is clearly no welterweight at around 4,300 pounds, but it still manages a swift 0-60 sprint of 4.3 seconds, with a top speed of 174 miles per hour, which is more than enough to potentially upset your neighbors. While not performance-related, there is a plaque in the engine bay declaring your car is in fact a Last Call Dodge, although the plaque is attached to a removable plastic panel — better than nothing I suppose.
Economy
While a topic not often under consideration for a performance-oriented vehicle buyer, the Shakedown’s fuel economy is worth talking about. The EPA rates Scat Pack Challengers with automatic transmission at 15 city/24 highway/18 combined. While driving “spiritedly” around metropolitan Phoenix, we managed to average over 17 mpg, leaving plenty of room for improvement for those with a lighter foot. That’s not an outstanding number on its own, but it is impressive considering the displacement and power.
Drive
If you offered me the keys to any vehicle to have fun in an empty parking lot, I would choose one of Dodge’s SRT performance vehicles — and the Shakedown is no exception. It offers all of the noise, speed, emotion, and smoke you’d want from a car like this. I found the steering to be accurate, with the resistance adjustable to your liking as you white-knuckle the wheel. Handling is poised thanks to the wide tires, but apply throttle too early or too hard and you will find yourself sideways (or even backwards) if you run out of talent. In more civil circumstances, the Shakedown is comfortable, rides smoothly, and hides wind noise while feeding you V8 arias. It truly is the embodiment of stupid fun and everything your mother told you not to do (but without the hair growing out of your palms).
Conclusion
With Dodge moving to the next generation, the company’s selection of Last Call vehicles keeps things interesting among already interesting vehicles. However, with the exception of the Demon 170, all the specially themed tributes to Dodge’s heritage offer the same performance of existing models. These special Last Call vehicles come fully loaded, so they are not cheap, but they certainly are worth looking into if you want a unique late-model collector’s item. As always, if you are interested, you should take a trip down to your local Dodge dealer and experience these cars for yourself.
