Dodge’s entry pulls a fast one.

Plum Crazy Dodge Challenger — Dodge Challenge sales are plum crazy!

The Dodge Challenger is No. 1. Or at least it was in June 2017. In the annual battle for pony car supremacy, the Ford Mustang continues to lead the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger in US auto sales, but last month the Challenger overtook the two to finish first.

And that’s no small feat for Dodge’s sport coupe. Long a distant third-place finisher, the Challenger is living up to its name and is within striking distance of overtaking the second-place Camaro.

Pony Car Sales Through June 2017

What’s especially significant here is this Challenger is the same generation model released in 2008. Moreover, both of its American competitors are newer, with the most recent Mustang released in 2015 and an all-new Camaro in 2016.

The Dodge Challenger is the lone car bright spot among the major brands in the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles portfolio. Specifically, sales are up 4 percent through the first six months of 2017, while sales of the similar Dodge Charger sedan are down 11 percent.

Mustang sales are plunging, dropping 29.2 percent through June. Comparatively, Camaro sales are nearly flat, slipping just 0.7 percent during that time. There’s an opportunity here for both Mustang foes to pick up sales this year, but we’ll see how Ford chooses to respond before making predictions.

Pony Car Sales Breakdown

June 2017 Pony Car Sales

New and Specialty Models

So, how is Dodge managing to wring out sales from the Challenger, now in its 10th year of production? By releasing a slew of new and speciality models.

In 2008 — its first model year since the 1970-1974 pony car run (let’s never mention the heretical Mitsubishi model of the late 1970s and early 1980s) — Dodge limited production to 6,400 units and nearly all sold in advance of production.

Throughout the intervening years, Dodge expanded the Challenger product line as new engines joined the portfolio. Special package options, including Drag Race, Rallye, and Rallye Redline joined in, giving shoppers even more reason to consider this model.

And Along Comes the SRT Demon

Even as its competitors prepared and released new models, Dodge kept the pedal to the metal with the Challenger. Notably, in 2015 Challenger sales reached a record 66,365 units as a special edition Hellcat variant making 707 horsepower rolled out. The novelty of this before-unheard-of model sparked sales. Also, Dodge’s decision not to limit production fueled interest.

Earlier this year, Dodge threw new attention on the Challenger as it announced an SRT Demon wide-body variant. The specialty model comes packed with a 6.2-liter V8 engine outfitted with a 2.7-liter supercharger with an output of 808 horsepower. Fill this machine with 100 octane racing fuel and 840 horsepower is at the ready.

The interesting thing here is that the first Demons have yet to arrive at Dodge dealers. That’ll happen in the fall and the allotment of 3,000 2018 models should add further impetus to Challenger sales.

Meanwhile, Dodge continues to enjoy outstanding buzz based on its latest super model, no doubt a contributing factor in its sales increase so far this year. Another factor is the Challenger GT, the model’s first-ever all-wheel drive variant.

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon — 2018 Challenger SRT Demon sales begin this fall.

Ford, Chevrolet Respond

Neither Ford nor Chevrolet is likely to allow Dodge to steal their thunder without putting up a fight.

For one thing, the 2018 Mustang gains a Pony Package, offering 19-inch polished wheels, side stripes, and other embellishments. Other yet-to-be-determined changes will have to await the release of the 2018 Mustang product sheet in the coming weeks.

As for the Camaro, a high-performance ZL1 1LE Extreme Track package debuts, outfitted with a racing-based suspension and aero technologies, while delivering a blistering 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. Importantly, Chevrolet matches this engine with a six-speed manual gearbox only.

It may be a few more years before we see an all-new Challenger, bringing the current-generation model run to at least 12 years. That’s long for any car, but still a few years short of the 15-year model run (1979-1993) of the third-generation Fox-body Ford Mustang.

Sales statistics verified with each manufacturer.

Americans resoundingly reject non-driving characteristics in determining auto insurance rates.

If you’re a low-income American, chances are you’re paying plenty more for auto insurance than other citizens even if you have a similar driving record and home address. Those are the findings of the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) based on a study the non-profit organization released on Monday.

Low Income Status = Higher Insurance Premiums

The CFA evaluated minimum limits liability premiums shared by men and women in 15 cities by five of the nation’s largest auto insurers. Specifically, the CFA found that premiums surged by an average of 59 percent, or $681 annually when characteristics of the drivers were changed to denote a lower economic status. Auto insurance is required in all states with New Hampshire the lone exception. Insurance is regulated at the state level.

“Insurance companies should judge you on how you drive, not who you are,” said J. Robert Hunter, CFA’s Director of Insurance and former Texas Insurance Commissioner. “Insurance companies are penalizing good drivers by hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars each year based on economic and social status, and the end result is that the poor pay more, much more.”

Five Non-Driving Factors

Auto insurers use five factors when developing quotes for consumers. They are: level of education, occupation, homeownership status, ownership of a car during the prior six months, and marital status.

The CFA found that drivers with the same driving record and living at the same address may pay dramatically different rates, especially if multiple factors are considered. For this study, 15 cities were examined with the five largest auto insurance companies surveyed — Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Progressive, and State Farm studied.

The study revealed the average premium for all drivers with high economic status indicators was $1,144. On the other hand, the low economic status driver is charged $1,825. That’s 59 percent or $681 more than people with a higher net wealth.

Of the five insurers survey, GEICO (92 percent) and Progressive (80 percent) charge the largest premium increases to lower income drivers residing at the same address. The largest per dollar increases come from Allstate ($915) and Farmers ($900). The lowest increases are assessed by State Farm, which charges $217 more per year or is 13 percent higher.

Your Home Address

Depending on where you live, your auto premium as a low-income driver can come in much higher than average. Drivers in Queens, Jersey City, Boston, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Houston, and Jacksonville face the most significant increases, topping $700 per year versus high-income drivers.

On the other hand, if you live in Los Angeles your rate may average only $80 per year higher, an increase of 9 percent. That’s due chiefly to a 1988 voter proposition passed by Californians whereby non-driving-related factors (except for marital status) could not be considered by the insurance companies.

Survey Says

The CFA authorized ORC International to conduct a poll of 1,000 Americans from June 9-12, 2016, to gauge their opinions about auto insurance. The organization discovered that a large majority of Americans believe that auto insurance premiums should be related to policyholders’ driving safety record and accident history. They also indicated that the insurance companies should not use personal economic factors such as their education or occupation in establishing rates.

In particular, 84 percent of Americans believe that auto insurers are acting very or somewhat fair in using moving violations as a factor in developing insurance quotes. Some 83 percent believe that if drivers are in an accident they caused, then their rates should be reflected accordingly.

When non-driving factors are considered, the respondents shifted their answers dramatically in support of the drivers.

Indeed, only 38 percent believe that credit scores should play a factor in determining insurance rates. Home ownership (35 percent), job occupation (35 percent), and marital status (32 percent) were other factors considered. Only 30 percent agreed that no previous insurance because of no car should be a factor. Some 29 percent thought education level should be used as a determining factor.

“The American people don’t like the idea of insurance companies using personal and economic factors to set premiums, even though most people don’t realize how much of an impact these non-driving characteristics have on the price they pay for coverage,” said the study’s co-author Doug Heller.

In two instances, the insurers bucked the trend, giving lower-income drivers an edge. For instance, Allstate lowered rates by 19 percent for the lower economic status female driver in Chicago and by 4 percent for both male and female drivers in Oklahoma City.

Free Quotes or Not

As is common practice, the insurance companies provide online quotes for consumers, but not always. The CFA has found that if income status is changed from high to low, then online quotes are typically not supplied to the latter. Even with such key factors as address and driver record considered, the insurance companies often refer people to local brokers or to partner companies.

The CFA continues to advocate a state-by-state change to auto insurance underwriting to adopt more equitable methods for determining insurance rates. Because auto insurance is mandated by law in all but one state, then regulators and legislators should protect consumers from unfair practices, including those outlined in its report.

Chevrolet

Pony Wars: Dodge Challenger Upends Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro