Looks like some of the major Auto Magazines got there hands on a few production 2008 SRT8 Challengers recently to test them out and see what kind of performance numbers they could get. Car and Driver was among those magazines documenting quarter mile time, 0-60 mph and top speed. Check out Car and Drivers performance tests below with a few others.
Car & Driver
Quarter Mile - 13.3 @ 108, 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds, Top Speed of 168.
Edmunds - 13.2 @ 107 mph
Motor Trend - 13.1 @ 108
To me these numbers seem a little slow given the 425 horsepower rating, I guess the 4200 pound beast is just sluggish. Lets hope the tuners can shed some wieght, add horses and get this thing in the low 12’s.
If you are looking for more performance numbers check out Car and Driver’s Road Test article here.
At the Road America event the Vanishing Point Dodge Challenger SRT8 was going into turn 1 at the end of a long straightaway and the car got loose, went into the infield grass, and then hit the tire-pile. Driving the car, Erich Heuschele, Vehicle Dynamics Supervisor for SRT was unhurt. Damage to the car looks worse than it really is as the car was seen driving around with the front fascia off later in the day. The Challenger was taken out of the race and maybe all the events. More photos of the wreck after the jump…
Chrysler’s Vice President Ralph Gilles and Erich Heuschele, Vehicle Dynamics Supervisor for SRT pictured above show off a white 2008 SRT8 Dodge Challenger dubbed ‘Vanishing Point’ that was inspired by the 1970 Dodge Challenger that stars in the cult film Vanishing Point from 1971. The two have entered the Vanishing Point Challenger in the One Lap of America which takes them on a 4,000 mile journey to 11 tracks througout the midwest and south in an eight day adventure.
The SRT8 Challenger being used for the One Lap of America is actually the first pre-production Challenger prototype that was driven on the roads. Instead of destroying the vehicle Chrysler decided to put it to good use as a promotional vehicle before actual Challengers hit the road.
The original movie revolves around a guy named Kowalski who has to deliver a white 1970 Challenger by driving it from Denver to San Francisco. He’s aided by a blind DJ named Super Soul who scans police band to help Kowalski.
Check out more photos and a video of the Vanishing Point SRT8 Challenger after the jump…
Found this video on Youtube of a 2008 Challenger SRT8 drifting through a figure 8 with a few other SRT vehicles. Not sure what the Challenger is doing or who they are drifting for but who cares, its pretty cool to see what the car can really do. Check out the video above.
The all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger RT and SE (V6) models merge the best American muscle-car characteristics, unmistakable design, world-class handling, powerful engines, and technology that is designed to delight driving enthusiasts across several generations.
The 2009 Dodge Challenger is the first five-passenger, two-door coupe produced from Chrysler’s proven rear-wheel-drive platform that delivers the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. Developed with Dodge’s credo of “bold, powerful and capable,” the Challenger delivers a modern two-door muscle car.
Three models will be offered in for the 2009 model year including the Dodge Challenger SRT8, Dodge Challenger R/T and Dodge Challenger SE V6.
The Challenger RT will come with the new-generation 5.7-liter HEMI V8 mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission producing 370 horsepower and 398 ft-lbs of torque. An optional precision-shift six-speed manual transmission with pistol grip handle is also available, horsepower & torque increase to 375 and 404 respectively with this option.
The Dodge Challenger SE is powered by the 3.5-liter High Output V6 with a four-speed automatic transmission producing 250 horsepower and 250 lb.-ft of torque.
Read all about the details after the jump along with over 30 photos.
The 2008 SRT8 Dodge Challenger has not even hit the streets yet and John Hennessey has already come up with an upgrade package dubbed SRT700. The SRT700 upgrade package increases the size of the motor to 426 cubic inches with the addition of a stroker crankshaft, forged aluminum pistons, forged steel connecting rods and high-flow cylinder heads. You are probably wondering where are all the horses coming from and your answer is a 67mm turbocharger system with a air-to-air intercooler that will almost double horsepower output to 725 bhp/750 lb-ft of torque. According to Hennessey who claims the increased power will help propell the Challenger to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and top out at 190 mph. Pretty nasty numbers if you ask me, can’t wait to see it on the streets.
Goodyear tires will be original equipment on the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 when it becomes available this spring to customers across the country. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is supplying two variations of tires to Chrysler for the 2008 Challenger. Both tire options are below:
Standard: Eagle RS-A all-season tires, size 245/45R20 size. It features an asymmetric tread design.
Optional: Eagle F1 Supercar tires in size 245/45R20 (front) and 255/45R20 (rear). It features an ultra-high performance tread compound.
The 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 and its 425 horsepower engine represent a modern-day tribute to the Hemi Challenger of the 1960s — which also ran on Goodyear tires.
The one-of-a-kind B5 Blue #43 Challenger Ebay auction is underway with several bids already. The B5 #43 Challenger pays tribute to Richard Petty’s stock car and all the years he put into his long career as a race car driver. The winner of the auction will not only win the car but Dodge is throwing in two VIP passes to the May 2008 Dodge Challenger 500 NASCAR event at Darlington Raceway, travel and accomadations, a Dodge Motorsports prize pack and a meet and greet with Kyle Petty.
All proceeds from the Ebay auction will benefit the Petty’s Victory Junction Gang Camp which enriches the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences year-round.
Below are a few photos of the #43 B5 Blue Challenger with more after the jump…
In a statement by Chrysler President Jim Press in response to questions about future Challenger models like the R/T & V6 model he said “Just wait until New York” meaning the New York Auto Show next month. I know it’s only 5 words but when someone in his position mentions it you know it must be true.
Could we possibly get our first look at the production 2009 Challenger R/T and V6 model. Some spy shots have already been taken of R/T models like the one above but nothing has been mentioned about the V6 model.
The R/T model according to Winding Road is expected to have the 5.7 liter HEMI V8 while the base model V6 Challenger will possibly get Chrysler’s 3.5 liter V6. For now it’s just a waiting game until next months New York Auto Show.
For all you webmasters, bloggers or developers out there who love reading this blog and have your own piece of the web you can now add a ChallengerBlog.com widget to your site to give your visitors all the current MChallenger news. All you have to do is click the “Get Widget” link for instructions on how to add the widget below to your blog or webpage. It’s just that simple to add more amazing content to your site and give your users more of what they want, news on the new Dodge Challenger. You will be able to add the widget to any website, facebook, myspace account, etc…
