The Dodge Challenger has come into the world in three completely different generations. The first generation Challenger was a pony car produced from 1970-1974 and the second generation ranged from 1978-1983 and was a badge engineered Mitsubishi Galant Lambda. The third, current generation came about in 2008 and was produced to compete against the Mustang and the Camaro, two muscle cars that had outlived the pony car era.
The current generation Challenger is built on the Charger/Chrysler 300C platform and features rear-wheel drive and an independent rear suspension. It is powered by a choice of three engines: a 3.5L V6 that produces 250HP and 250 lb-ft of torque, a 5.7L V8 delivering 372HP and 400 lb-ft of torque, and the top-of-the-line 6.1L V8 producing 425HP and 420 lb-ft of torque. These engines are mated to either a 6-speed manual pr 5-speed automatic transmission.
Dodge revealed this week-end the 2010 Challenger for NASCAR Nationwide Series. Dodge will provide support for Penske Racing’s two-car operation in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in addition to Penske’s three teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Penske Racing will field two teams, both running the full-season schedule. The Dodge Challenger will be used at the four “New Car” races NASCAR has designated, starting at Daytona in July. At the other 31 events that complete the 35-race season, Penske Racing will field Dodge Chargers as it did this season with the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge Charger driven by Justin Allgaier. NASCAR is expecting full integration of the “New Car” in 2011.
Press release after the jump.
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Chrysler’s in house tuning division, Mopar, is pretty busy these days preparing their lineup of high performance modified muscle cars for the SEMA Show next week. Aside from the quarter mile conquering Dodge Challenger 1320, the Dodge booth will include at least one other hot rod Challenger. The other Challenger will be a reworked R/T that makes use of almost every part in the Mopar catalog. With everything from a Mopar intake to their stage 2 coil overs, it is almost as if someone threw the entire book at the modern muscle car in order to create this SEMA ready show car.
The Challenger will be painted red and feature quite a few flat black accents to help the glossy surface pop. The blacked out treatment includes a Mopar Go-Wing Rear Spoiler and a set of side stripes as well as the traditional black bars running down the hood with a special Mopar touch. Finishing off the R/T Challenger are a set of retro rally wheels measuring 20 inches in diameter, giving the modern muscle car the perfect touch of nostalgia.
Full list of specifications and prices after the jump.
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The SEMA show will be filled with hot rod American muscle cars amongst a multitude of high performance vehicles when they open the doors to the Las Vegas Convention Center next week. One of the many tuning shops from around the nation that will be in attendance is SpeedFactory, and they will be bringing the world’s first all aluminum 440 cubic inch Hemi powered Challenger. The speed shop has performed open heart surgery on the Mopar muscle car and replaced the standard iron heart 6.1 Liter Hemi V8. SpeedFactory bored and stroked the SRT-8’s Hemi all the way up to a displacement of 7.2 Liters, which converts to the magical number, 440 in American.
The result is a Dodge Challenger that can make 700 HP on pump gas and has been massaged enough to be reliable as a daily driver. Covering the best part of the car is a matte black carbon fiber hood, complimented by a set of matching SpeedFactory side stripes. The rest of the good stuff is hidden behind a set of BBS CH-R Black Edition flow formed wheels measuring 20 inches in diameter that make the Mopar paint pop. The SpeedFactory STR-8 is equally as dressed up on the inside with some new upholstery and a retro shifter. As far as modern American muscle cars are concerned this big block Challenger will be at the top of the heap.
Press release after the jump.
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Dodge announced today the official details on the 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic and SRT8 featuring the classic Plum Crazy Pearl Coat exterior color. Both models are now on sale and are priced at $35,140 for the 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic in Plum Crazy Pearl Coat and at $44,155 for the SRT8 model.
The Dodge Challenger R/T Classic Plum Crazy edition is the first to offer dual throwback A-line body-side R/T stripes in matte black or new bright white. It also features "Challenger" fender badges in classic script, large 20-inch polished-chrome heritage wheels with all-season performance tires, classic egg-crate grille with heritage “R/T” badge, body-color rear spoiler, functional hood scoop and chromed fuel-filler door.
The Plum Crazy R/T Classic is powered by a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine that delivers 376 hp and 410 lb.-ft. of torque and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds. The SRT8 is powered by a 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine producing 425 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. It adds exterior-matching SRT performance seats with Plum Crazy accented stripe.
Press release after the jump.
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Dodge is taking a page out of their Mopar muscle car paint book by bringin back one of Chrysler’s most memorable shades of purple from the 1960s for the 2010 Challenger SRT-8 and R/T models, Plum Crazy. So if you are a sucker for for a bygone era, or just want to feel like you were there, your brand new modern day Mopar muscle car can come straight from the factory with a bit more of a nostalgic feel, not to mention make everyone turn their heads and drop their jaws to the sidewalk when rumble passed them in your Hemi powered Dodge Challenger.
Complimenting the Plum Crazy exterior of the special option Challenger are an optional pair of dual side stripes just like to old car available in either white or black to help that purple paint pop. Mopar has also upgraded the Plum Crazy Challenger’s interior with a full Katzkin leather upholstery that is available in quite a few different colors. Differentiating the men from the boys, the Plum Crazy R/T model will feature color matching Plum stitching on the seats while the 425 HP SRT-8 ground pounders will have a Plum stripe running up the length of the seat back. You would think that this kind of a retro treatment would be a bit hard on your wallet, however the Plum Crazy package adds an additional $225 to the sticker price of an R/T Challenger while the more extensive SRT-8 package is only $500 more than the standard vehicle.
