Could Dodge's Challenger muscle in on the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro?

FORGET what they say about three being a crowd, the best things are always a trinity.

After all, fast food meal sizes are always available in small, medium or large; it's a ménage a trois not duex; and the best dinosaur out there is the triceratops (fight me).

The American muscle car threesome of the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger is also one of the best rivalries going, and while the latter model is not yet offered Down Under, things may soon change...

Could the Dodge Challenger make its way to Australian shores to steal sales away from the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro?

Let's make this clear from the get go, this isn't confirmation that the Dodge brand will be resurrected in Australia with the Challenger arriving to smoke its rivals at the lights.

Instead, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Australia has given its strongest indication yet that the rear-drive, V8-powered Challenger could clear local customs... if the demand is there.

Giving an interview to GoAuto, FCA Australia boss Steve Zanlunghi said he was watching sales of the Ford Mustang and upcoming Chevrolet Camaro to build a business case for the Dodge competitor.

Available with a 362kW/644Nm 6.4-litre Hemi V8, at least in the States, the Dodge Challenger outmuscles its rivals by as much as 37kW/27Nm.

With Mustang going absolutely gangbusters since it launched in factory right-hook form in early 2016, we can definitely see there being interest in another muscle car.

In fact, Ford's pony car has topped the sub-$70,000 sportscar sales charts since its introduction in Australia, and has consistently finished as the Blue Oval's second-best selling model behind the Ranger.

The Mustang has single-handedly shouldered the majority of the sportscar segment's sales and even lifted it into growth in 2017 when sales of BMW’s 2 Series, the Mazda MX-5 and Toyota 86 were falling.

Having just launched in Australia, the impact of the HSV-converted Chevrolet Camaro are still to be felt, but first reviews are exceedingly positive.

What about the Camaro then? Well, HSV clearly thought there is a buck to be had by snapping up some Chevrolet muscle cars and converting them to right-hand drive.

Though numbers are limited for the Chevrolet Camaro, they will be available in HSV dealers that number around 60 in Australia, and will be sold alongside its Chevrolet Silverado full-sized pick-up stablemate.

However, with a local conversion, the Camaro will come in around $20,000 more expensive than the V8-powered Mustang ($85,990 before on-roads compared to $62,990).

Pricing may be the biggest hurdle when it comes to the $85,990 before on-roads Chevrolet Camaro’s success, as it sits more than $20,000 upstream of the Ford Mustang.

So we've thoroughly established there is keen interest and demand for muscle cars in Australia, but how do the three of them stack up in performance?

Each of the three models are powered by naturally aspirated petrol V8s, each send drive to the rear wheels and each feature two-door, four-seat body styles.

However, each car-maker has taken that recipe and put their own subtle spin on the formula.

With a 5.0-litre Coyote V8 in tow, the Ford Mustang punches out 339kW/556Nm in its latest, facelifted iteration that launched earlier this year.

Powering the updated Mustang GT is a 5.0-litre Coyote V8 punching out 339kW of power from 7000rpm and 556Nm of torque from 4600rpm.

The Camaro meanwhile, will arrive in local showrooms in 2SS guise that shoehorns a 6.2-litre bent eight under the bonnet for an output of 339kW/617Nm.

Dodge however, beats both rivals in a game of top trumps thanks to its 6.4-litre Hemi V8 – the same motor in the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300 SRT grades – that belts out 362kW/644Nm... at least in the US it does.

Ford’s Mustang is still the most attainable performance car on the market at $62,990 before on-roads – the cheapest petrol V8 available in Australia.

Here in Australia, due to our lower fuel standards and 'hotter' climate, the engine only makes 344kW/624Nm in the aforementioned Jeep and Chrysler SRT models.

Still, Dodge also has access to the famed Hellcat engine, a supercharged 6.2-litre Hemi V8 that produces a supercar-scaring 527kW/881Nm that would blitz anything from Ford and HSV.

One of the biggest questions facing the local introduction of the Dodge Challenger, though is actually around its price point.

The Dodge Challenger is also available in Hellcat form overseas, powered by a pants-ruining supercharged 6.2-litre Hemi V8 that belts out 527kW of power and 881Nm of torque – more than a Lamborghini Huracan!

Of course Ford can ask $62,990 for its base manual Mustang GT Fastback because it comes directly from the factory in right-hand-drive form, but, as we've mentioned above, the Chevrolet Camaro will cost about 25 per cent more.

So, does FCA Australia build a case for a factory right-hook Dodge Challenger and price it right up against the Mustang? Or do they bring the cars in now and convert it for Australia with a hefty premium?

Time will tell, as sales of both the Mustang and Camaro will determine the fate of the Dodge Challenger here, but from where we are sitting, the more American muscle the better.

Protect your Dodge. Call Shannons Insurance on 13 46 46 to get a quote today.