The Dodge Challenger is cool. We say this in the general sense, because whether the topic of discussion is the classic from the 70s or the retro-fantastic new Challenger that Chrysler's bringing to showrooms next year, the consensus is that the cars are friggin' badass. As if reading everyone's minds, Chrysler followed up the Challenger concept with a second show car, the Challenger Super Stock that made it's debut at the last SEMA show. Sometime post-SEMA, the car ditched its vintage Sox & Martin livery for the matte black you see above. It's appropriately menacing, and its carbon fiber bodywork is stuffed with all the go-fast stuff Mopar could come up with. You can't look that evil without walking the walk.
Enter the gang at Edmunds, who were allowed to flog the Super Stock on the drag strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Senior Road Test Editor Josh Jacquot paints the rhetorical tableau detailing the experience of piloting Chrysler's priceless drag car, and what its like to unleash the 525-horse stampede contained in the Mopar 392 HEMI underhood. It's a fun read, and though the Super Stock bowed as a show car, the numbers it lays down at the strip are the real deal. Edmunds takes it into the 11s. Show car? Yeah, right. Read it here.
[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Avinash machado @ Apr 21st 2007 12:32PM
Very nice car. I like it better than the Mustang. Hope whoever buys Chrysler from Daimler will not dilute the Challenger.
imjon @ Apr 21st 2007 1:01PM
is it possible to make four wheels look more mean ? just looking at that picture brings the music of headers popping the echoing sound that only mass amounts of muscle can make. ya hear me?
JC3 @ Apr 21st 2007 1:10PM
looks like a real iconic blue collar musclecar
David @ Apr 21st 2007 1:28PM
Very reminiscent of the Motown Missile, which was one of the first NHRA Pro Stockers from the inception of the class in 1970. It was considered a sort of "test bed" by the Dodge engineers and Don Carlton's prowess behind the wheel was almost as renowned as Ronnie Sox'.
Paul @ Apr 21st 2007 1:34PM
Nice Spinal Tap reference. What a great movie.
Oh and that car is great...amazing that ANY show car can run an 11 second 1/4 mile.
Steven T. @ Apr 21st 2007 2:00PM
Actually, it isn't a consensus that the new Challenger is "friggin' badass." How can you say that about a veritable milk cow? The forthcoming Challenger is a classic example of what happens when bean counting dominates the design process.
Chrysler's fatal mistake was to put the Challenger on a shortened LX platform. That may have saved money, but you can't call it a pony car in any honest sense of the term -- it's a actually big car in drag. That's about as appropo as putting an overweight middle-aged man in a skimpy Speedo.
In addition, the design was heavily compromised with a cowl that is way too high, too little curvature in the side windows, and an overly short snout. The result is that the car has a weird, out-of-balance look that is only partially mitigated by the large wheels.
I particularly dislike how they perverted the original Challenger's clean front end. The new design is so tall and short that it looks like a brick. Since aerodynamics seem to be passe at Chrysler these days let's forget about that issue -- how about a front end that actually looks sporty? GM did a much better job of updating the Camaro's classic front-end look.
Let's call the Challenger what it is -- a cheap and poorly thought out attempt to cash in on the original's brand equity.
david @ Apr 21st 2007 2:53PM
Wow, steve, lighten up. I've owned two Challengers, one Cuda and a Charger and I'm waiting with checkbook in hand for the new Challenger. Sorry you don't like it. Many of us do. My advise to you; don't buy one.
Nick @ Apr 21st 2007 3:24PM
11.5 seconds? That's pathetic. This thing must be an absolute pig.
c @ Apr 21st 2007 4:58PM
What 11.5 second's must be a pig?And you think your civic is hot running 17.5 yeah get a life!!!!
Esprit bird @ Apr 21st 2007 5:17PM
Bad looking machine.
Jared @ Apr 21st 2007 6:25PM
I can't help but make the sound of an engine revving everytime I see that car. I absolutely love love love the color. I want that, bad.
HotRodzNKustoms @ Apr 21st 2007 6:49PM
11.5 pathetic??? hahahahaha it's no pro street drag racer, but anyone who thinks that's slow has never taken their car down a quarter mile. "yeah my honda civic does the quarter in 4.4secs without the NOS dude!"
Petey @ Apr 21st 2007 8:03PM
Soooooooooo, what happens to the next generation 300 and derivatives once Chrysler is sold? (they're based on an MB rwd platform.. last gen E-class to be exact)
imjon @ Apr 21st 2007 8:30PM
if I took you for a ride in a car that clicks off 14 and 1/2 sec. 1/4 mile runs you would think it was a fast car! 11.5 ! is incredible fool! that 392 challenger probably has an 11 flat in it but com on be real thats mmmm mmmm mmmm! mean? And I like it/ ok i never had a 71 but this new model is meaner and leaner I like it better. Bring that camaro on. its the 70's again boys its the 70's when Detroit was pumpin out HP. Oh and dont look now but theres a Bimmer comin and its got a v8 that redlines at over 8 grand. What brought on this new horsepower war? I dont know but I like it. Even if I cant afford it I still like it! how bout you?
Jaymez @ Apr 21st 2007 8:43PM
That is easily one of the most beautiful newer car designs I've ever seen. In the appearance department, it blows the doors off anything currently in production.
I *really* hope that I'll be able to afford something like this when the time rolls around. Unfortunately, I'm considering buying a POS 4 cylinder commuter car this year.
dakota @ Apr 21st 2007 8:50PM
"Soooooooooo, what happens to the next generation 300 and derivatives once Chrysler is sold? (they're based on an MB rwd platform.. last gen E-class to be exact)"
The platform is a Chrysler design that was in the works before MB decided to run the company into the ground. Once MB came in the LX engineers were forced to use the MB parts bin.
JasonSK @ Apr 21st 2007 9:55PM
Hahahah slow.. dont worry, he is just a typical ricer or import lover crying and crapping himself because soon there will be yet ANOTHER AMERICAN POWERHOUSE that can crush his pathetic "car"
Snix @ Apr 21st 2007 10:40PM
As I've said before, if you don't get it, just move along and go do something else like play with your skateboard, watch your little anime cartoons or go play Xbox.
I love cars that scare the hell out of people when they are started. There's more aluminum in one cylinder head of the motor than in your whole rice mobile, kid.
11.5 seconds. Oh yeah. Somebody's gotta get a bottle in this puppy and see what happens.....
Torque. It's what's for dinner.
JC3 @ Apr 21st 2007 11:05PM
#13 That's a great question.Any suitor would need reassurances that Daimler wouldn't pull out the rug with their technological and other long term contributions.
bigFoote @ Apr 22nd 2007 12:17AM
@11 - Wow, I do the exact same thing! I can't wait to get this car. There is no question that I am going to get it the only problem I have is whether I should get it the moment it hits the market or whether I should wait until they produce an upgraded SRT or R/T type. All I can say right now is that I hope Dodge doesn't dumb down the interior. The last thing I want is some stupid plastic knobs with "metallic" accents.