2023 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Swinger - Addictive and Exhilarating

We sampled a very special Dodge Charger this week and found it the cure for the common car.

Having a new media vehicle appear magically is always a blessing. We vehicle testers are well aware we have a great gig. It can take a decade to break into the automotive media, or it can happen in a few years for the truly talented and financially independent. Either way, the auto media are fortunate in that they get to try out rare cars that few Americans will ever have a chance to enjoy.

So it was with these thoughts in mind that we sampled one of the last remaining American V8 muscle cars that will be produced. The folks at Dodge SRT are moving toward battery-electric performance, and who can blame them? The powers that be have dictated that we should all overpay for our cars and that they will plug in rather than burn liquid sunshine. 

The Dodge that showed up was a Charger R/T Scat Pack Swinger. It is one of a short list of special editions that Dodge and SRT are creating as the swan song for the muscle car twins, the Charger and Challenger. Cars so good, they defy even the highest of expectations.

The car has a HEMI V8 that sings a song so lovely you want to start the car just to hear it. Not overblown, not silly, loud, just perfect. The best V8 sound we have ever had the aural pleasure to enjoy. Passersby look at the car when they hear its burble, and they smile and start to approach. This car makes friends like Dale Carnegie.

The Charger accelerates so hard you need to be careful. Fully stopped awaiting semis to pass on an inclined on-ramp we gave the Charger about 75% throttle, and it produced a sweet five-foot burnout and then hooked up like the hand of dog. It is hard to imagine why anyone needs more than this car’s power, given that it can break its rear tires free in warm, dry weather on perfect pavement. Uphill.

But the Charger's massive tires and wide body allow to also turn. Off-ramps are just as fun. How fast do you dare? Or, instead of bombing down an off-ramp, check six to ensure there is no one beyond you and pound the brakes. Oh my goodness, they are race car perfect. The Charger stops like a Miata.

All the fun stuff is great, but in traffic, the Charger is as docile as a house cat. It purrs along and you enjoy the sumptuous microfiber-covered interior cranking tunes. The Charger offers you fun and comfort in a package that looks as great as it goes.

If you want a Charger or Challenger, now is the time to act. The folks at Dodge are planning to stop the carnival sometime soon. 
 

Image by John Goreham.

John Goreham is an experienced New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can follow John on Twitter, and TikTok, and view his credentials at Linkedin.