You Dodge Charger and Challenger , especially in its more powerful variants, are two of the models that are most in the sights of car thieves in the USA.
To combat this… preference, they will receive a software update that aims to protect them from “others' friends”. Expected to arrive in the second quarter of the year, this update can be installed free of charge at Dodge dealerships.
Eligible specimens to receive it will be the 2015-2021 Charger and Challenger, which are equipped with the 6.4 Atmospheric V8 (SRT 392, “Scat Pack”) or the 6.2 V8 Supercharger (Hellcat and Demon).
What does this system do?
Connected to the Uconnect infotainment system, this “Security Mode” requires the entry of a four-digit code in order to start the car.
If this is not entered or a wrong code is entered, the engine is limited to 675 rpm, delivering only about 2.8 hp and 30 Nm ! With this, Dodge hopes to combat and reduce theft of its models and help their owners, making high-speed escapes impossible.
Although it may seem exaggerated, this measure finds its justification in the statistics. According to a study carried out in 2019 by the “Highway Loss Data Institute”, the Dodge Charger and Challenger theft rate is five times higher than the average.