Click Here to Comment at The Motor Portal Blog!! Dodge Challenger   Dodge Challenger Update 12/6/07 Strap on a bib, go ahead and drool. Here’s the first look at the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. To download hi-res photos, go to http://www.fpistudios.com/SRT8/ or go to the media Web site: www.media.chrysler.com.   You can see all-new Challenger SRT8, in its full glory for the first time publicly, on Feb. 6, 2008, at the Chicago Auto Show.       Update 12/5/07 - Orders flood in for 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8®     2006 Dodge Challenger Concept   What has muscle cars fans squealing like teenage girls at a Hannah Montana concert?   Try the all-new 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8®. Just in the first DAY of orders, more than 4,300 people plunked down a deposit for the American muscle coupe. And more than 6,000 have made deposits with dealers since orders opened on Monday, months before the limited-edition Challenger SRT8 goes into production.   “This is unprecedented,” said Mark Mallie, Challenger Brand Manager – Dodge Marketing. “Customers were actually coming to us and pushing us, so we thought this was a good time to take pre-sale orders.”   Orders are still coming in – long before enthusiasts have even seen the car. They’ll have to wait until the production Dodge Challenger SRT8 makes its debut at the Chicago Auto Show next February. But there’s no surprise about the benchmark performance of the Challenger SRT8. Each is powered by a 6.1-liter HEMI V-8, and features a numbered dash plaque, plus dual “carbon-fiber” hood stripes that harken back to the original Dodge Challenger.    The car is available in black, silver or HEMI orange.   “More than half of the orders are HEMI Orange,” Mallie said. “It’s been almost 35 years since the last Challenger, and there’s a lot of interest. There’s a lot of people anxious for it. It’s certainly an iconic muscle car.”   The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $37,995, including a $675 destination fee. Remember – this is a SRT, delivering top-of-the-line performance, world-class ride and handling, benchmark braking and a race-inspired interior. Pricing on the rest of the Challenger lineup will be announced at a later date.   Since pricing was announced on Nov. 29, Web site traffic to www.Dodge.com has spiked up 23 percent, Mallie said.   The muscle car wars start next spring, when deliveries begin for the Challenger SRT8.   But later this week, muscle car fans will have more to squeal about, when we release some eye candy. Check back here later.     Challenger, Burn Outs and Fixing Cars - Ridenour Discusses it All         March 5, 2007 The seconds are literally ticking away at www.DodgeChallengerCountdown.com until the production version of the Dodge Challenger muscle car is revealed at the Chicago Auto Show in February, 2008.   “People will be really amazed” at how close the production Dodge Challenger is to the concept, said Eric Ridenour, Chrysler Group Chief Operating Officer.   After a 35-year hiatus, the Challenger will debut as a 2008 model next year.   Judging by all the snapshots of the muscle car taken at the auto shows, another year is too long to wait.   “You just see that excitement, that passion, is right back,” Ridenour said. “It’s really cool because it’s both the people who grew up with them and always wanted them and has a chance to see them again…and then you watch 16-year olds just absolutely drool over them also.”   Ridenour and the Dodge Challenger concept   The Chrysler Group’s West Coast Pacifica Design Studio in California went through a lot of concepts and clay models before capturing the classic looks of the Challenger and bringing it into the modern age, Ridenour said. (Click ‘download podcast’ below to hear an interview with Ridenour about the Challenger and his own memories of cruising Detroit streets during the muscle car era).   “We tried a lot of different looks. We really wanted to capture the essence of it,” he said. “We had done Charger a little differently. Charger was intended to be the next-generation of Charger.”   “With the Challenger, the idea was to go the other way, and say, okay, let’s take a car that had the constraints of the ‘60s and say, okay, if we could build it today, what would a 1970 Challenger that would have been designed in something like 1966 probably, or 1967, what would that have looked like.”   The Hemi®-powered Challenger concept sits on a 116-inch wheelbase, six inches longer than the original. But its width is two inches greater, giving the concept car a squat, tougher persona. The wider track recalls the wide look of the original 1970 Challenger, which is the most sought-after model by collectors.   What looks like racing stripes are actually the exposed carbon fiber of the hood   Compared to the original, the greenhouse on the concept Challenger is longer, the windshield and backlite faster, and the side glass narrower. All glass is set flush with the body without moldings, another touch the original designers could only wish for. The car is a genuine two-door hardtop — no B-pillar — with the belt line ramping up assertively at the quarter window just forward of the wide C-pillar.   Getting the Challenger just right meant several flights out to the Pacifica Studio for Ridenour, but every minute there was like being a “kid in a candy store”, he said.   “We looked through a lot of different concepts, a lot of different clays and ways to do it. We actually rejected a whole bunch of them, because it just wasn’t right. The proportions weren’t working, and we didn’t quite capture the essence we wanted. I had one more surprise visit out to Pacifica, saw this one in clay and said, ‘You know, that one works’. The more you walked around it, the more you said, ‘You know, that one is really growing on me fast’.”   Not bad for a guy who grew up burnin’ rubber in his high school parking lot and used to cruise Telegraph Road outside Detroit.   Ridenour, a Detroit native and who earned an engineering degree from the University of Michigan, got the bug for fixing cars from his dad.   “There were always cars and transmissions and engines around my garage. My dad was big into it. He always had great high performance cars. (He) unfortunately passed along some genetics for excessive speed occasionally.”   In his free time, Ridenour spends time with his two sons and his daughter working on their 1970 Super Bee, which they are refitting with …. (recreate it as a 440 six pack? From a 383, rebuild engine with more than 500 hp??)   And before long, there could be a 2008 Challenger sitting next to the Super Bee.   “We’re looking forward to getting (the Challenger) out to the real market, and getting customers into it,” he said.   Ridenour and his 1970 Dodge Super Bee     Fired Up in Vegas - The Dodge Challenger Super Stock Concept   March 30, 2007 Vegas has never sounded this good since Elvis played the Intercontinental. This week in Las Vegas, we’re going to fire up Mopar's Dodge Challenger Super Stock Concept at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.   If you're not in Vegas, you can hear the fuel-injected 392 HEMI crate motor in the Challenger Super Stock Concept by clicking on “download podcast” below.       The muscle car concept is in Vegas for the annual Mopars at the Strip event. Caravans of Mopar muscle cars, street machines and tuner vehicles that will converge on Vegas at the Cannery Hotel & Casino from cities like Salt Lake City and Phoenix.   A "Top Eliminator" award will be presented by Mopar in recognition of the most passionate and skilled Mopar enthusiasts and their modified/restored vehicles.   The Chrysler Group will have a few surprises at the event. Stop by the Las Vegas Motor Speedway if you’re in Vegas.   You can find out more about Mopars at the Strip, click on this link - MOPAR – to go directly to the Web site.   UPDATE:  Mopar® Celebrates 50 Years of HEMI® Heaven with Relaunch of Legendary 392   The History of the 392 HEMI® Dodge Challenger Super Stock Concept with 392 HEMI by Mopar Beware the Foose HEMISFEAR™ 392 Technical Specifications     Las Vegas, Oct 31, 2006  -  Next year marks the 50th anniversary of an engine that revolutionized not only drag racing, but the entire automotive industry as well: The legendary 392 HEMI®. Mention the word “HEMI” to an automotive enthusiast and little else needs to be said. Or, perhaps a lot more needs to be said depending on your perspective. “The 392 HEMI is a legend so rich in automotive tradition that hundreds, if not thousands, of books and accounts have been written about its historical significance,” said Chris Cortez, senior vice president – Global Service & Parts, Chrysler Group.”   The History of the 392 HEMI The original 392 HEMI engine was introduced in the new 1957 model year Chryslers and Imperials. It replaced the 354 cubic-inch version of the original HEMI launched in 1951. Compared with the 354, the 392 was completely revised and improved, with larger valves and ports, a beefier block and crankshaft, and improved bearings. In short, the 392 HEMI, often referred to simply as the “92,” was perfect for drag racing. More than a few racers bolted on six or eight carburetors, slipped in a hotter cam, tipped some nitro into the tank and went racing. Racing legend Don Garlits ran a 392 in his Swamp Rat I at record speeds of over 180 mph on nitro with no supercharger. Garlits also used a 392 HEMI to officially break the 200-mph barrier when his Swamp Rat went 201.34 mph at Atco, N.J. in 1964. Dodge Challenger Super Stock Concept with 392 HEMI by Mopar To further commemorate the legacy of the 392, Chrysler Group and Mopar are unveiling a SEMA first: a concept vehicle tricked out just for SEMA. From Detroit’s 2006 North American International Auto Show and a year before its production debut, the stunning Dodge Challenger Super Stock with 392 HEMI by Mopar. “There was really only one vehicle choice to showcase our new crate motor — the bold, powerful and capable, Dodge Challenger,” said Cortez. One of the most iconic muscle cars of the 1970s, it debuted in the fall of 1969 as a 1970 model. Although it was only produced from 1970 to 1974 (188,600 sold), the Dodge Challenger earned a reputation as one of the most desirable of the original “pony cars,” with meticulously restored and rare examples today selling for six-figure prices. The Challenger went racing in its first year and HEMI-powered Challengers tore up the drag strips across the country in the SCCA Trans-am series and NHRA Pro Stock classes. In 1971, a Dodge Challenger paced the Indianapolis 500. “The HEMI legacy lives on,” said Cortez. “But this Dodge Challenger Super Stock concept will no doubt bring that legacy to a whole new generation.” The all-new Dodge Challenger will debut as a 2008 model in calendar-year 2008. Beware the Foose HEMISFEAR™ Also at SEMA this year, Mopar is taking the wraps off the Foose HEMISFEAR™, powered by — what else — a 392 HEMI. Foose — visionary customizer, television personality, and hot rod shop owner — purchased 50 392 HEMI crate motors to install in his new kit car project. “HEMISFEAR is an appropriate name, because it’s destined to put fear in the ears of racers,” said Cortez. “When Chip saw that Mopar’s new 525-horsepower 392 HEMI featured programmable fuel injection and coil-on-plug technology, he knew he found the power to breathe life into his design and bring classic HEMI engineering to a new generation.” The Foose HEMISFEAR is a rear-engine vehicle that will be hand-built and sold as unfinished Hot Rod kits by Gaffoflio Family Metalcrafters, a longtime Chrysler Group design partner and Mopar supplier. 392 Technical Specifications To help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary engine, Mopar is launching an all-new 392 HEMI crate motor for a new generation of performance enthusiasts. This engine — built with all new components — is a complete engine assembly from the throttle body to the oil pan, and cranks out 525 horsepower in it most potent form. Three different versions of the new 392 are available from Mopar:  P5153604 392 HEMI Crate Engine – Carbureted, 540 horsepower and 490 lb.-ft of torque  P5253605 392 HEMI Crate Engine – SEFI, 525 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque  P5153603 392 HEMI Long Block HEMI Crate Engine Technical specifications include:  Deep-skirted cast iron block with cross-bolted mains  CNC-ported aluminum twin-plug cylinder heads  Stainless steel 2.100" intake and 1.600" exhaust valves  Ovate wire (beehive competition) valve springs  Viton competition valve stem seals  279°/285° hydraulic roller camshaft with 0.584" intake and 0.552" exhaust lift  Forged pistons (4.055" bore)  10.5:1 compression ratio  Aluminum single plane high rise intake manifold with holley 870 cfm 4-bbl carburetor for carbureted 392 applications (1)  4140 forged steel crankshaft — 3.795" stroke  4130 forged- steel I-beam performance connecting rods — 6.200" length  SFI-approved competition crankshaft damper  “Plug-and-Play” wiring harnesses (2)  80 mm manual throttle body on fuel-injected engines (3)  Premium tri-metal performance engine bearings  Precision balanced rotating assembly  Distributorless coil-on-plug (COP) ignition system About DaimlerChrysler’s Mopar® Brand When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts supplier led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Division. In 1937, Mopar® (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was created for the business of distributing parts through a depot system and car divisional wholesalers. Mopar made its mark in the 1960s — the muscle car era. Beginning in 1962, Mopar carried a line of “Special Parts” for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use. Today, Chrysler Group’s Global Service & Parts division is responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of nearly 250,000 authentic Mopar replacement parts, components and accessories for Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles sold around the world. To assure quality, reliability and durability, all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to DaimlerChrysler engineering standards. For additional information on Mopar, log on to www.mopar.com or www.moparspeed.com.   Chrysler Group President and CEO Tom LaSorda Says Dodge Challenger Is a “Go”   Nearly 35 Years Later, Dodge Challenger Returns as the Ultimate Modern American Muscle Coupe Unprecedented public response to Challenger concept leads to “green light” decision for production Chrysler Group COO Eric Ridenour says concept-to-production success story highlights focus on speed-to-market   Auburn Hills, Mich., Jul 1, 2006  -  Chrysler Group President and CEO Tom LaSorda today announced that Dodge Challenger will return to production after a nearly 35-year hiatus. The all-new Dodge Challenger will debut as a 2008 model in calendar-year 2008. The announcement was made shortly before the Pepsi 400 NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Driving out with the Dodge Challenger was Chrysler Group Chief Operating Officer Eric Ridenour. "We haven’t seen this kind of spontaneous, passionate response to a car since we unveiled the Dodge Viper concept in 1989,” said LaSorda. “But it’s easy to see what people like about the Dodge Challenger. It’s bold, powerful and capable. It’s a modern take on one of the most iconic muscle cars, and sets a new standard for pure ‘pony car’ performance.” The Dodge Challenger will feature the long hood, short deck, wide stance and two-door coupe body style that distinguished the iconic Challengers of the 1970s. “We drew on the rich heritage of the Dodge Challenger, but with contemporary forms and technologies,” said Ridenour. “It’s not just a re-creation; it’s a reinterpretation.”       Dodge’s “Pony Car” in the 1970s The Dodge Challenger made its debut in the fall of 1969 as a 1970 model. While it shared the “E-body” platform with the Plymouth Barracuda, Dodge Challenger’s wheelbase was two inches longer, creating more interior space. The Dodge Challenger was originally offered as either a two-door hardtop or convertible. And, befitting the brand’s performance heritage, the Dodge Challenger also went racing in its first year, competing most notably in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Trans-Am series and National Hot Rod Association’s Pro Stock class. Although it was produced only from 1970 to 1974, the Dodge Challenger earned a reputation as one of the most desirable of the original “pony cars,” with meticulously restored and rare examples today selling for six-figure prices. In its first year, Dodge Challenger was offered in a limited-edition T/A model to meet homologation requirements for SCCA Trans-Am racing. In 1971, a Dodge Challenger paced the Indianapolis 500 race. New front-end styling in 1972 featured a larger, “egg-crate” grille. In April 1974, Challenger production ceased. Over a five-year span, approximately 188,600 Dodge Challengers were sold. The Dodge Challenger is another chapter in Chrysler Group’s long history of bringing concepts quickly to production, including the Dodge Viper, Plymouth Prowler, Chrysler PT Cruiser and Jeep® Compass. “Our product development system allows us to quickly turn concepts into high-quality production vehicles,” said Ridenour. “We’re justifiably proud of our speed to market, and Dodge Challenger is the latest example of our focus on getting gotta-have-it vehicles to our customers.” Dodge Brand With 1.4 million vehicles sold globally in 2005, Dodge is the No. 5 nameplate in the U.S. automotive market. Overall, Dodge has a 7 percent market share in the United States. In the minivan market, Dodge has a 22 percent market share; in the truck market, 16 percent; and 5 percent of the car market. This year, Dodge Caliber paved the way for international expansion of the brand. Hot on the heels of Caliber are the all-new 2007 Dodge Nitro, Caliber SRT4 and a D-segment vehicle.