Start Defender Theft System Now Protecting HEMI® Muscle Cars
Dodge Rolls Out New Anti-Theft Tech for Charger and Challenger Owners Just In Time for HEMI® Day
Just in time for HEMI® Day, the team at Dodge’s Direct Connection (via Mopar) brand has introduced a new way to keep your HEMI-powered muscle car safer: the Start Defender. This new theft-deterrent system is designed for 2018 to 2023 Dodge Charger and Challenger owners and gives you extra peace of mind when it comes to protecting your ride.
April 26 (4/26) is a special day for Mopar fans—it marks HEMI Day, in honor of the iconic 426-cubic-inch HEMI “Elephant” engine that first roared to life in 1964. What better way to celebrate than with a new layer of defense for your modern HEMI?
Start Defender is now officially available through Wesley Motorsports as a licensed Direct Connection product and comes with a U.S. MSRP of $695. It’s an added shield to the built-in safety systems already on most Dodge muscle cars, like the factory alarm and key fob programming lockout.
So, what exactly does Start Defender do? It adds two-factor authentication to the car’s ignition. You set a custom button-press sequence (kind of like a PIN code), and the car will only start when the right sequence is entered. Without it, your car won’t budge—keeping potential thieves out of luck.
You don’t need to be a tech genius to install it either. The system is CAN-based and uses a simple Wi-Fi setup—private and encrypted for your security. There’s even a webpage that lets you manage and customize everything. Up to four different sequences can be programmed in, so multiple drivers can each have access.
You can also temporarily disable the system if your car needs to go through a car wash, valet service, or dealership visit—without needing to give away your button code.
Other cool features include the ability to hook up sirens or warning devices through a 12V external relay, and best of all, nothing gets permanently modified on your car. It’s fully reversible and won’t mess with your stock electronics.
As Dodge CEO Matt McAlear said, “The Start Defender theft-deterrent system is another tool to help HEMI-powered Dodge Charger and Challenger owners protect their muscle cars and have a little more peace of mind.”
Want in? Head over to DCPerformance.com to learn more or place your order.
