Up Close: 2009 Dodge Challenger SE, R/T

If you’re a fan of the Dodge Challenger’s retro looks but are frightened by the SRT8’s price tag and fuel-sucking ways, then your Challenger has arrived at the New York auto show. The 250-hp V-6 in the base SE might not have the burnout-ability of a Challenger SRT8, but it gets 18/25 mpg city/highway when teamed with a four-speed automatic transmission, and it still looks the part of its more powerful big brother.

There’s also a new R/T, which offers a blend of performance and gas mileage with its 375-hp V-8 and 15/23 mpg rating with the manual transmission. R/Ts with the automatic transmission feature cylinder-deactivation technology to save gas and gain 1 mpg in the city.

Official pricing hasn’t been announced, but Dodge says its lineup of Challengers will start in the low-$20,000 range. That’s a big discount from the 2008 SRT8’s near-$40,000 price tag, really upping the coupe’s accessibility for buyers on a budget. More photos of the newly introduced trims are below.

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2008 New York Auto Show: 2009 Dodge Challenger SE, R/T