Dodge Challenger
by: Marie Upmann
Posted on: Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 at 2:35 pm by: Marie Upmann
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After 35 years in retirement, the Dodge Challenger is reawakening. With a list price just below $38,000, the SRT8 version powered by a 425 horsepower Hemi engine has 420 lb-ft of torque and goes from 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds. Based on the Dodge Charger, but with a 116-inch wheelbase, the new Dodge Challenger is four inches shorter and offers a brake-lock differential and all-speed traction control.
Only three colors will be sold in 2008: orange, silver and black. The style of the new Dodge Challenger was inspired by the 1970 model, from the side mirrors, which were tweaked to give the car a more aerodynamic performance, to the theme of the door and gauge cluster, to the dark headliner and the slanted shifter console, to the full width grille with full-width tail-lamp graphic and fog lamps, to the raised-center hood with black stripes and functional dual scoops. A fascia directs air around the front of the vehicle, dual snorkel hood scoops bring cooling air into the engine compartment and ducts direct air to cool the brakes. The rear spoiler, reminiscent of the old muscle cars of the past, generates significant rear downforce. The unibody 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 has a multilink short and long arm (SLA) front suspension. The multilink SLA suspension allowed engineers to tune the bushings to reduce vibration and noise while maintaining performance. The 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 sports a five-link Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) to allow independent tuning of the ride and handling characteristics. For 2008, SRT-exclusive fully-forged 20-inch Alcoa aluminum wheels with 4-season Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires are standard and three-season Goodyear F1 Supercar tires are available as an option.
The interior of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 includes leather seats with added bolstering and an orange accent stripe, stitched accents. The dash display has four-bomb gauges with tachometer and 180 mph speedometer in the center and an SRT-exclusive Reconfigurable Display (RCD) with Performances Pages that provide the driver with instant feedback on 0 to 60 mph time, 60 to 0 mph braking, g-forces and quarter-mile time. Standard on the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is a 13-speaker Kicker High Performance audio system with a 322-watt amplifier and 200-watt subwoofer and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. A MyGIG “infotainment” system is also available.
The introduction of the reawakened Dodge Challenger is scheduled for April, 2008. Production of the 2009 Dodge Challenger will begin at the end of April 2008. The lineup is being expanded to three models, with the addition of three more engines, the base model having the 3.5-liter V6, while the R/T model will have the new (380 horsepower) 5.7-liter VCT Hemi with MDS (5-speed) and without MDS (6-speed). Both the R/T and SRT8 will offer an optional 6-speed TREMEC manual transmission.
