Dodge mines the past for pony car success

Overview Information

Mopar muscle car enthusiasts fondly remember the handsome Challenger coupe that took on the Chevy Camaro and Ford Mustang in the late 1960s. Dodge released the top model in the lineup first, so the Challenger SRT8 shares the same powertrain as its Charger and 300C SRT8 siblings: a 425-bhp/420 lb.-ft. 6.1L V-8, coupled to a 5-speed automatic. The Challenger SRT8 doesn't have a direct competitor from Ford, as the roughly comparable Mustang Shelby GT500 is more powerful (500-bhp) and expensive. At 4,120 lbs, the Challenger SRT8 is no lightweight, but most customers probably won't mind. Weight distribution is a reasonable 55.6:44.4 front/rear. The SRT8 gets Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 245/45R20 tires (front) and P255/45R20 tires (rear) mounted on 20" x 9" 5-spoke alloy wheels. Alternatively, Goodyear Eagle RS-A all-season tires are available instead. Naturally, Brembo brakes are standard: 14.2" diameter (front) and 13.8" diameter (rear). Vented rotors and 4-piston calipers are part of the brake package. Traction control and Electronic Stability Control are standard.

What Changed:

For the 2009 model year, Dodge rounds out the Challenger line with six-cylinder models and non SRT V8 models.

Official Word:

The all-new, five-passenger 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8(R) captures the emotion of the original two-door, rear-wheel-drive Challenger, but with an updated twist. "Our designers wanted to capture the mind's eye view of what people today remember about the Challenger from 35 years ago," said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President - Design, Chrysler. "So their challenge was to excite today's customer by capturing the emotion of the original Challenger, but with today's quality and performance." The all-new 2008...Read.