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| Dodge Challenger Consumer Reviews |
Dodge Challenger Overview |
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By Danny Chang
Pros
Cons
Horsepower. Raw, tire-melting horsepower. Every man worth his chest hair can’t deny it’s one of the first criteria for buying a car powered by a V8. Typically, the more the horsepower and the lower the MSRP, the more attractive it looks. It was the formula that made the muscle car era a piece of American history. But nowadays, American automakers aren’t the only ones making rear-wheel-drive radial roasters; Japan and Germany have also gotten in on the unmitigated horsepower wars, albeit with a little more luxury and refinement.
We recently had a Bridgestone bar-b-que with three fire-breathing, rear/all-wheel-drive V8s representing each of the three respective automaking countries. Japan arrived respectfully in the Lexus IS-F, Germany showed up to the cookout well dressed in the Audi S5, and the United States arrived rockin’ a mullet and Miller Lite in the Dodge Challenger SRT8. Three different V8s, three different countries, and three very different cars.
Time to get outta Dodge and head to Las Vegas for the 2008 SEMA show. Three new Challenger concept vehicles will be under the spotlights at the Dodge booth this year. The new 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT10 with a smokin’ 600 hp Viper V10 engine laying power to the wheels. A Dodge Challenger Blacktop, built by the Mopar Underground design team, improved breathing by adding a cat-back dual exhaust, cold air intake to the already hefty 5.7L HEMI® V8. Visual cues are set by the 22 inch Viper wheels, custom spoilers, front brow, and black-on-black racing stripe paint scheme.
Also in the corral this year is the Dodge Challenger Targa which is a all-out competition car that completed the Targa Newfoundlands race this year. The Mopar hood is equipped with a scoop to make room for the 540-horsepower, 490 lb. ft. of torque, 392 HEMI® V-8 Mopar crate motor. Mated to a Tremec six-speed manual gearbox, the engine blasts power to the rear wheels through a production 2009 modified gear ratio in the rear end. Looking svelte, sleek, and downright ornery is the Challenger Blacktop. Details of the Challenger Blacktop, conceived by the Mopar Undergroud team, follows below the jump.
(photos of the SRT10 Concept, Challenger Blacktop, and Challenger Targa cars below the jump)
Dodge’s remake of the classic 1970s muscle coupe, the Challenger, will start below $22,000 when the 2009 model arrives in showrooms this fall.
The automaker announced pricing for the three-car 2009 Challenger lineup on Monday. The base SE starts at $21,995, the R/T is $29,995, and the SRT8 is $39,995. Prices include a $675 destination charge.
The Challenger SE comes with a 3.5-liter V6, which makes 250 hp and is paired with a four-speed automatic. Other standard equipment includes 17-inch aluminum wheels, four-wheel-disc brakes and keyless entry.
The R/T upgrades to the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, which makes 370 hp–30 more than it makes in the Dodge Charger and the Chrysler 300, which ride on a similar chassis. The Challenger R/T also comes with dual chrome exhaust, P225/60HR-18 all-season touring tires and a rear spoiler.
Hotrodder’s who have no apprehensions of getting speeding tickets will want to pay another $995 for the “track pak,” which includes the Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual with a pistol-grip shifter. The stick-and-Hemi combination boosts output to 375 hp.
The SRT8 comes with the 6.1-liter Hemi V8 that pumps out 425 hp. Five-speed automatic and six-speed manual transmissions are available. Standard equipment includes 20-inch forged aluminum wheels and functional hood scoops. The race-inspired interior has reconfigurable displays that show 0-to-60-mph and lap times.
Dodge launched the Challenger this year as an ‘08 with limited availability–only 6400 were available, outfitted as SRT8s. High gas prices won’t sway the muscle car enthusiasts and we expect the SRT8 to leave the showroom faster than Speedy Gonzalez with a caffeine overdose. Would you believe Dodge got more than 11,000 requests to buy the car? (Editor)
Official press announcement from Dodge is below the jump.
Dodge Challenger SRT8 available for $37,995
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