US gov confirms all-wheel drive Dodge Challenger

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has leaked details of a secret all-wheel drive version of the Dodge Challenger by posting its official fuel consumption on FuelEconomy.gov, ahead of any announcement the car would be produced.

Until now, an all-wheel drive Challenger had only been hinted at last year's SEMA show with a concept of the same name, but now the Challenger GT AWD has been confirmed by the EPA following it published the new all-wheel drive model, called the Challenger GT, official fuel consumption.

According to the EPA, the Challenger GT AWD returns 18mpg (13L/100km) in the city, 27mpg (8.7L/100km) on the highway and, combined, averages 21mpg (11/2L/100km).

The EPA document indicates that the only engine that Dodge will offer all-wheel drive with is the 228kW 3.6-litre V6.

It's thought the all-wheel drive Challenger GT should be on sale by 2017 and will be followed, eventually, by a four-wheel drive version of the wild 527kW supercharged 6.2-litre Hellcat model.

There's still a glimmer of hope both the Challenger and Charger could finally venture Down Under following comments made to motoring.com.au, back in August by former Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Australia boss, Pat Dougherty.

Thanks to the recent success in Australia of Ford's Mustang, Dougherty said he would lobby his bosses in the future to push for right-hand drive versions of Dodges early in their development, rather than trying to make a business case for converting fully-engineered left-hand drive cars.

FCA's boss did not reveal whether the 2017 Charger and Challenger have been created with Australian buyers in mind.