Sources: Challenger to feature Hill Start Assist
Manual transmission versions of the 2009 Challenger R/T and SRT models will offer a feature that has previously only been available on the Dodge Ram, Jeep Commander, Grand Cherokee and the Liberty, according to reliable sources. The HSA (Hill Start Assist) feature assists the driver when starting a vehicle from a stop on a hill by maintaining the same level of brake pressure the driver applied for a short period of time after the foot has been removed from the brake pedal. The system will release the brake pedal in proportion to the amount of throttle applied. If the throttle is not applied within a short period of time after the foot has been removed from the brake pedal, Hill Start Assist will release brake pressure.
This feature is particularly helpful on cars which use foot-operated emergency brakes (note - we don’t know what kind of emergency brake the Challenger will have), and in particularly hilly areas or with heavier cars. The presence of Hill Start Assist and the name Trak Pak (applied to the combination of manual transmission, gearing, and limited-slip differential used in manual transmission Challengers) indicates that Dodge is going to take the stick-shift market seriously. This is a welcome change from the past; many who take driving seriously prefer manual transmissions. Even when an automatic or sequential shift provides similar acceleration and gas mileage, there are those who like the feel of the clutch and shifter. The Hill Start Assist does not do away with the overall “clutch experience” but does make it a little easier and more convenient to drive with one, especially for those who have gotten used to an automatic or who are just learning.
Taking stick-shift drivers seriously enough to not only make one available with a premium engine, but also to provide Hill Start Assist and a new/old marketing name to them, tells us that Dodge is off on the right foot with the Challenger.
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