Press Release:

The all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger earned 5-star ratings for driver- and front-passenger protection in a frontal crash along with 5-star driver and rear-passenger ratings for side-impact protection, the highest ratings in the U.S. government’s safety crash test program. The all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger is available now at local Dodge dealers.

“Safety is a top priority in all Chrysler vehicles, and the all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger features the latest in safety and security features providing our customers with the peace of mind they want and expect,” said Larry Lyons, Vice President – Car and Minivan Product Team. “Dodge Challenger offers an unmistakable heritage design and delivers numerous advanced safety and security features including advanced multi-stage front driver and passenger air bags, supplemental side-curtain air bags and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with traction control and brake assist.”

When it comes to safety and security, Dodge Challenger employs a two-fold approach: passive features including pre-tensioning seat belt retractors and supplemental side-curtain air bags are combined with accident-avoidance features including responsive steering, braking, handling and ESP.

More than 25 Safety and Security Features
The all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger offers more than 25 safety and security features including:

Advanced multi-stage air bags: Inflate with a force appropriate to the severity of an impact

All-speed traction control: Senses drive-wheel slip and applies individual brakes to slipping wheels; reduces excess engine torque until traction is regained

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS): Senses and prevents wheel lockup, offering improved steering control under extreme braking and/or slippery conditions — advanced ABS modulates the four brakes individually for optimum control and stopping performance

Auto-reverse sun roof: Advanced sensing system automatically engages and reverses the sun roof to the open position

BeltAlert: Periodically activates a chime and illuminates an icon in the instrument cluster to remind the driver to buckle up if a vehicle is driven without the driver being properly belted

Brake Assist: In a panic brake condition, the system applies maximum braking power, providing the shortest possible stopping distance

Brake/park interlock: Prevents an automatic transmission from being shifted out of “Park” unless the brake pedal is applied

Child seat anchor system: Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) is designed to ease installation of compatible aftermarket child seats

Crumple zones: Designed to compress during an accident in order to absorb energy from an impact which decreases transfer of that energy to occupants

Electronic Stability Program (ESP): Enhances driver control and helps maintain directional stability under all conditions. Provides the greatest benefit in critical driving situations such as turns and is especially valuable when driving on mixed-surface conditions including snow, ice or gravel. If there’s a discernible difference between what the driver asks through the steering wheel and the vehicle’s path, ESP applies selective braking and throttle input to put the vehicle back on to the driver’s intended path

Energy-absorbing steering column: The manual-adjust steering column utilizes two hydroformed coaxial tubes that move relative to each other in order to allow the column to move forward for enhanced energy absorption during an impact

Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS): Makes it easier for emergency personnel to see and reach occupants in the event of an accident by turning on interior lights and unlocking doors after air-bag deployment. Also shuts off the flow of fuel to the engine

High-intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps: Provide approximately three times the light output of conventional reflector lamps for improved night-time illumination

Hill Start Assist (HSA): Standard on all Dodge Challengers with a manual transmission. Assists drivers when starting a vehicle from a stop on a hill by maintaining the level of brake pressure applied for a short period of time after a driver’s foot is removed from the brake pedal. If throttle is not applied within a short period of time after the driver’s foot is removed from the brake pedal, brake pressure will be released

HomeLink® universal home security system transceiver: Stores three separate transmitter radio-frequency codes to operate garage-door openers, security gates, security lighting or other radio-controlled devices

Interior head-impact protection: Interior pillars above the belt line and instrument panel, including areas around windshield and rear window headers, roof and side-rail structures are specifically designed to limit head-impact force

Inside emergency trunk release: A glow-in-the-dark release handle, which may be activated in the event of an adult or child being inadvertently trapped inside the trunk

Knee bolsters: The lower instrument panel and the glove-box door are designed to properly position the occupant, enabling air bags to work more effectively

Remote Start: Conveniently starts the engine from outside the vehicle by using the key fob while maintaining vehicle security

Remote keyless entry: Locks and unlocks doors, and turns on interior lamps. If the vehicle is equipped with a vehicle-theft security alarm, the remote also arms and disarms that system

Safety cage body structure: Protects occupants by managing and controlling energy in the event of an impact

Seat belt guide: Allows for optimal positioning of seat belt across shoulder and chest

Seat belt pretensioners: During a collision, impact sensors initiate front seat belt pretensioners to immediately remove slack from seat belts, thereby reducing the forward movement of occupants’ heads and torsos

Sentry Key® engine immobilizer: Utilizes an engine key that has an embedded transponder with a pre-programmed security code to discourage vehicle theft. When the key is inserted into the ignition, the controller sends a random number to the transponder and the engine is allowed to start. If an incorrect key is used, the engine will shut off after only a few seconds

Side guard door beams: Provide occupant protection during a side impact

Supplemental side-curtain air bags: Extend protection to all outboard front- and rear-seat passengers. Each side air bag has its own impact sensor in order to autonomously trigger the air bag on the side where an impact occurs

Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM): Pressure-sensor modules within the valve stems of all four road wheels and spare tire send continuous radio frequency signals to a receiver and the system informs the driver when tire pressure is too low

uconnect phone: Uses Bluetooth® technology to provide voice-controlled wireless communication between the occupants’ compatible mobile phones and the vehicle’s onboard receiver

Vehicle theft security alarm: Deters vandalism and theft, frequently lowering insurance premiums. System protects the vehicle from theft by monitoring door-ajar switches and the ignition circuit for unauthorized entry

[Source: Dodge]

[Source: CarScoop]