What could be brewing under there? The camo gives a clue that changes are in store for Chally.

Is the new-gen Challenger really going on six years old? Wow, time flies when you’re the biggest, baddest pony car on the block. The clever folks at Dodge have done a textbook example of product life fortification with special editions, horsepower injections, mechanical and cosmetic updates – and they’re not through yet. With the clock ticking on the current car, Mopar gurus are employing an exterior update to bolster sales during the cars swan song days. Our friends from MotorAuthority bring us the update.

Say whatever you will about the current Challenger’s, um, girth, it’s arguably one of the prettiest cars on the road and presents quite a challenge (ha!) on updating the thing. Compounding the issue is the trickiness of improving a “retro” design without “painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa.”

Arguably the weakest view of current car is tall rear end. Styling tweak might cure that. LED loop tail lights coming?

From the pics here, it’s hard to see what the changes will be, but the camo is a giveaway that something is stirring. If we were running the show at Mopar we would borrow the separate taillights and twin grille inserts from the 1971 model. The retooling costs would be minimal and might cure the only awkward angle of the current car: the tall rear end with it’s bland taillights.

While we’re are on the subject of taillights, expect au courant LEDs on the rear or maybe a loop configuration like the Charger and the Dart. Mopar Parts already offers a sequential taillight kit for a couple hundred bucks for the Challenger, so maybe Chrysler might throw that in too, much to the consternation of Ford fanboys who would rightfully call it a brazen “nick” from their hallowed steed. (Actually, sequential tail lights debuted on 1964 T-Bird…just sayin’)

So for now, we know we’ve got some exterior tweaks and a supercharged engine option that should give a fitting farewell to the prodigal son of now divorced DaimlerChrysler. With all the scuttlebutt surrounding the Challenger (and rumored stable mate, Barracuda,) gestation, lets hope the RWD platform, jointly developed with Fiat and shared by Alfa Romeo, will result in proper Mopar pony cars and not a hodgepodge misfit with Italian seasoning.

Mopar pony car sports dashing profile. How do you update it without mucking it up?