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2015 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack Quick Spin

"Scat Pack" is plucked from The Big Book of Dodge Nameplates to describe what is basically the average of the Charger R/T and Charger SRT 392. Unnecessary horsepower always seems to go down better with a dose of heritage. If you think it's a silly name, just be thankful Dodge didn't call it an S/RT or an R/T-S. In previous years, a similar formulation was known as the SRT8 Super Bee. Going by another name, it's still as sweet and wears the same hurried-looking pollinator on the grille. We do wonder: What has displeased him so, and why does he have wings and wheels? The packaging is at least fresh. All Chargers get updates for 2015, including improved interiors and a Dart-on-steroids exterior redo. The new lines work especially well on the more aggressive models, including this Scat Pack car. Like the Super Bee before it, the Scat Pack gets the 6.4-liter engine from SRT 392; for 2015 it gets a slight output boost to 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, respective increases of 15 and 5. It does without the SRT three-mode suspension and comes with cloth seats (leather is an option) to keep the price down. The Scat Pack also has slightly smaller Brembo front brakes, narrower wheels, and different rubber. It does, however, cost eight grand less and is just as quick in a straight line. Intriguing. Driving Notes Scat Pack cars get an electronically controlled active exhaust that we'd call hyperactive. It's loud all the time, opening its widest at startup, idle, and when you ask for any appreciable amount of power. Sport mode supposedly makes a difference, but we couldn't discern loud from louder. It's a delicious and appropriate loudness, with a brassy trumpet tone to it, and the engine makes top-fuel noises at full tilt. The squeal of the rear tires can be heard from every stoplight no matter the road conditions. A light touch avoids leaving a mark if you're so inclined. We weren't. When the tires eventually smear into the realm of traction, this thing is pretty quick – hitting 60 miles per hour takes 4.5 seconds. There's also an adjustable launch control mode if you want to cut out some of the wheelspin. The eight-speed transmission shifts smoothly. Quicker, more-palpable shifts are had in Sport mode, but occasionally the transmission still needs a moment to drop down from seventh or eighth when you mash the throttle. Despite its two overdrive gears, this Charger is still loud on the highway. In a good way. Probably.

Here's your chance to vote for the best-looking state police cruiser

Across the country, state police generally drive the same types of vehicles. Right now, the most common cruisers are Ford Explorers, Chevrolet Tahoes, and Dodge Chargers, with some exceptions sprinkled in. The differentiation comes through in the livery, which can range from simplistic badging to busy stripes. Each year, the American Association of State Troopers (AAST) holds a fun contest to determine which state has the coolest-looking cars, and 2019 voting has just opened. We discovered the contest after Motor1 posted about the Florida Highway Patrol's newest addition to its fleet, a Dodge Challenger R/T. The musclemobile is, without question, the coolest car in the competition, and it might have the best livery too. But that doesn't mean it's going to win, as contests like this often turn into hotbeds for chest-beating homers.  The AAST is posting results on Facebook, and as of July 17, 2019, Kentucky and Nebraska are blowing the rest of the states out of the water. Florida is in ninth place with 4,653 votes compared to first-place Kentucky's 14,699. New Jersey is in last place with only 107 votes. As the internet goes, this will likely be determined by how many times the contest is shared across social media.  The Challenger isn't the only eye candy, either. Not every state participated, but those that did came correct with the photography, including Nebraska posing its car in front of a freakin' tornado. Others staged their cars with helicopters in the background, some set the car in front of the gorgeous landscapes their states have to offer, and others posed with dogs. Because who doesn't love dogs? No matter which car wins, it's cool to see the various designs all in one place. Check out the gallery above and vote for your favorite on the AAST's survey. The survey will close on July 30, 2019.  

New Barracuda, Grand Cherokee Trackhawk coming soon

As we write this, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is conducting a major dealership event in sunny Las Vegas. New vehicles are being announced, redesigned offerings are being teased, and promises are being made to the sprawling company's dealer body. And, as all these announcements are meant to be tip-top secret, they're leaking out left, right, and center. Naturally. FCA is telling its dealers all of the vehicles shown at the Vegas gala will be in showrooms within 12 to 24 months, and that the product offensive will include at least 30 new or significantly refreshed models. Some of those we've known about since FCA boss Sergio Marchionne unveiled his highly ambitious five-year plan in May 2014, while we're hearing about others for the very first time. We've reached out to our sources within FCA, and will update this post as we learn more. It should be noted that while we've tried to rely on concrete sources or corroborations from multiple sources, some of the news here comes from people claiming to have been in attendance and posting in forums like Allpar and Jalopnik's Opposite Lock. Unless corroborated by a mainstream source or confirmed by our own sources within FCA, we're listing each item that comes from a forum. Have those grains of salt at the ready. Chrysler Dodge Durango-sized SUV with stow-and-go was shown. A poster on Allpar Forums claims it had a Durango's interior. New Aspen? Town and Country PHEV confirmed (again). A plug-in minivan was originally announced as part of five-year plan. No news on 200 or 300. Dodge The redesigned Charger will use the Alfa Romeo Giulia's rear-drive platform and, according Automotive News, draw inspiration from 1999's Charger concept car. We're wagering the 24-month time frame specified to dealers will move the new sedan's arrival up from 2018 to mid-2017. Jalopnik's Opposite Lock claims two new Challenger models are coming. Challenger ADR (American Drag Racer) and T/A. ADR should appeal to bracket racers and is more powerful than the SRT Hellcat, while T/A is for track rats, just like Viper T/A. Automotive News claims the legendary Barracuda nameplate will be revived as a Dodge. The Barracuda will be smaller than Challenger, offered as both a coupe and a convertible. Allpar claims it will feature modern styling. A Dodge Durango SRT was announced with 6.4-liter Hemi V8 and rear-drive. Sources within FCA confirmed its arrival with Autoblog. Apparently, dealers were shown an example in B5 Blue.