Have you ever wondered which of these two iconic American vehicles is better? Insideline made quite a drive-test and compared the Dodge Challenger with the Ford Mustang Bullit Edition. We won’t tell you who is the winner. Watch the video and find out!
Chrysler today celebrated the production launch of one of the industry’s most highly anticipated vehicles — the all-new 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8(R). Dodge Challenger is back in Chrysler’s line-up as a modern muscle car with a new SRT8 model. A full line-up will follow in the 2009 model-year. Consumer interest in the Dodge Challenger has been some of the highest seen at Chrysler.
The all-new Dodge Challenger is built at Chrysler’s Brampton Assembly Plant on the same assembly line as the Dodge Charger and the award-winning Chrysler 300.
The 2008 Challenger SRT8 is powered by a 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine that delivers 425 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick. It makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in lest than 5 seconds and the 0-100-0 mph in under 17 seconds.
The U.S. MSRP for the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 starts at $37,995, including the $675 destination charge.
Chrysler announced that all the 6,400 units of its Dodge Challenger SRT8 that will be built and sold for the 2008 have been already ordered. 28 from the 6400 units are available for sale on eBay, so if you’re dying for a 2008 you can go there.
The base price of a rare SRT8 is $37,995, which includes a $675 destination charge but doesn’t include the only three options available: all-season radial tires for $100, a power sunroof for $950 and MyGig for $890. That price also doesn’t include a gas-guzzler tax of $2,100; the Hemi V-8 gets only 13/18 mpg city/highway.
So that’s a total of $42,710 before tax, title and license fees.
Of the 28 cars listed on eBay, most sellers are starting in the low-$40,000 range, while some start at $50,000.
For 2009 Chrysler will also offer a V6-powered SE and 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 R/T.
The 2009 Challenger will go on sale starting August at a price starting $23,995. Steven Landry, Chrysler executive vice president for North American sales, said last week that prices for some versions of the new muscle car will go as high as $39,995 for the 2009 model year.
The 2008 Challenger SRT8’s base price is $37,320, and the automaker limited the number of vehicles it would make in the first batch to 6,500 — even though it had almost 10,000 orders.
In August and September, Landry said, the 2009 Dodge Challenger will come out in three versions, including a 250-horsepower V6 car.
Challenger’s biggest competitor, Ford Mustang is priced at $19,650.
Dodge added today at the New York Auto Show two new models to the Challenger line-up: the R/T and the SE. The all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger will be built at the Brampton Assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. It will be built on the same assembly line as the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger.
The Dodge Challenger R/T features the new-generation 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with a five-speed automatic transmission that produces an estimated 370 hp and 398 lb.-ft. of torque. For 2009, the HEMI engine is upgraded to get an estimated five percent improvement in fuel economy as well as an increase of 30 hp and 8 lb.-ft. improved torque (2 percent) over a greater range of engine speeds.
The Dodge Challenger R/T also offers a precision-shift six-speed manual transmission - the first for a new-generation HEMI-powered car - that produces 375 hp and 404 lb.-ft. of torque when running on premium fuel. The Dodge Challenger R/T can go from zero to 60 mph in less than six seconds.
The Dodge Challenger SE powered by the 3.5-liter High Output V-6 with a four-speed automatic transmission produces 250 hp and 250 lb.-ft. of torque.
is not even a month since Dodge launched the Challenger SRT8 and Hennesey already worked under its hood to upgrade the performance. With 715 hp and 750 lbs-ft the SRT700 Turbo makes the 0 - 60 mph sprint in 3.5 seconds and can hit a top speed of 190 mph.
For those waiting for a manual transmission for the Challenger, the company has a bad news: all the 7,100 2008 Challenger SRTs — the initial production run — will be equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission and a 6.1-liter Hemi V-8 engine. The six-speed manual gearbox, a Tremec 6060, will not be available until the 2009 Challengers arrive later this year. The Tremec box is a modified version of the same 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 unit.
The first production Challenger will be built April 14 at Chrysler LLC’s Brampton, Ontario, plant, according to a Canadian Auto Workers official who declined to be identified.
Chrysler usually introduces the SRT performance versions of its vehicles only after it has rolled out the high-volume version. But with the Challenger, the SRT comes first in the short 2008 run, with the lower-priced units arriving for the 2009 model year.
Also in the 2009 model year, Dodge will offer a lower-priced version with a 3.6-liter V-6.
Dodge and Victory Junction Gang Camp partnered to auction the 43rd 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 on eBay and the winning bid of $228,143.43 was placed by Richard Martin of Delaplane, Va.
“Dodge is elated the auction of the only B5 Blue 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 raised so much money for such a worthy cause,” said Mike Accavitti, Director–Dodge Brand, SRT and Motorsports Global Marketing. “I have a deep respect for the work that Kyle and Pattie Petty and all the folks at Victory Junction Gang Camp do, it is truly an honor for Dodge to be able to help further their mission.”
“We are extremely excited that the No. 43 Dodge Challenger has raised $228,143.43 for Victory Junction Gang Camp!", said Kyle Petty, Victory Junction Gang Camp Founder. "It has been a pleasure working with Dodge on this program and we are very thankful that the car raised enough to send so many children to camp.”
After nearly 35 years, the all-new 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is revving up and getting ready to race off of the production line; but when the first Challengers hit the market, only one of them will be painted in legendary B5 Blue.
From February 12-22, 2008, bid on this one-of-a-kind vehicle. The winning bidder will drive away in the #43 Challenger painted in B5 Blue, with black hood stripes, featuring a 6.1L SRT HEMI® V8 engine and a five-speed AutoStick transmission.
All proceeds will benefit the Victory Junction Gang, an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children with chronic illness, founded by Kyle Petty, in honor of his late son, Adam.
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