For a lot of people, "Targa" just means a Porsche with large sunroof. But actually, the open-top Porsche is named as a tribute to a long distance race called the Targa Florio. This Targa was a single lap race throughout Sicily that ran until 1977. Since then, a new race invented in the same one lap endurance spirit has emerged in the North American Targa Newfoundland. Dodge's Mopar competed in this event and will present the competition car called the Challenger Targa at this year's SEMA show.

Is is powered by a 392 HEMI V-8 Mopar engine that delivers 540-hp and 490 lb. ft. of torque. The engine is mated to a Tremec six-speed manual gearbox. The Challenger Targa features race suspension and brake upgrades coming from the Dodge Viper ACR.

Press release after the jump.

2009 Dodge Challenger Targa

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2009 Dodge Challenger Targa
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Press release

The Dodge Challenger Targa is a full-blown competition car that raced and completed the infamous Targa Newfoundland race this year. “Samantha” started life as a Mopar Challenger drag race package car. Many features were borrowed from the Dodge Viper, but the most noticeable is the snakeskin green paint. To keep the front end down, a Mopar chin spoiler "Splats“ developed in a full scale wind tunnel, was added to the front of the car.

Mopar gauges keep a close eye on the vital signs. 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. An abundance of fade resistant stopping power comes from Stop-Tech brakes.

Up front, the six-piston calipers clamp 380-millimetre rotors, while in the rear, four-pot calipers work with 355-mm rotors. Developed by KW, the race suspension and brake upgrades came from a proven hero — the Dodge Viper ACR, which just broke the production car lap record at the world-renown Nurburgring in Germany. With only a few exceptions, the Dodge Challenger Targa was built using parts available through Mopar.