click above image for more high-res pics of the Dodge Challenger Concept
The Ford Mustang has held court in the modern day muscle car segment long enough. At least that's what Chevy and Dodge would like you to believe, as both brands are prepping their answer to the Mustang as we speak. Dodge's offering will of course be the new Challenger, and Allpar.com has dug up some news on the rear-wheel-drive muscle car's productions specs that was previously unknown. Along with detail information on each of the Challenger's drivetrains, including engines, transmissions and axle ratios, Allpar.com reveals two new features that the Challenger will sport when it goes on sale sometime next year as a 2009 model. The first is the same Hill Start Assist technology used on the Dodge Ram, Jeep Commander, Grand Cherokee and Liberty. Like the name suggests, HSA will hold the car in place on a hill, giving the driver a small amount of time to switch pedals and begin applying throttle. Hopefully it will save a few rear bumpers from some expensive bodywork. The second feature is called the Trak Pak, which is reportedly just a marketing term for a specific combination of transmission, shfiter and gearing. Available on R/T and SRT-8 models, the Tremec 6-speed manual is included, as well as a limited slip differential, though the axle ratio appears to vary between the two models on which the Trak Pak is included.
Follow the jump for more including a complete breakdown of the Dodge Challenger's drivetrains.
[Source: Allpar.com]
Going over the breakdown of each model's drivetrain, the base 2009 Dodge Charger appears to be a bit of a letdown with its 3.5L V6 and 4-speed automatic. Allpar.com reports that the 4.0L Phoenix V6 will replace the 4.5L eventually, but probably not until the 2011 model year.
Also of note is that Allpar.com claims that the first Challengers will actually be 2008 models produced as early as next March. These will only be SRT-8 models with an automatic, and as we reported earlier, will likely number less than 5,000. It sounds like immediately following this initial run, Dodge will begin producing all three variants of the Challenger as 2009 models. Will the Dodge Challenger have the goods to knock the Mustang off its throne? We're guessing it will make a dent in Mustang sales, as will the new Chevy Camaro, but that the Mustang will remain the segment's sales leader.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
mark_welby @ Nov 26th 2007 10:44AM
HSA: Teaching idiots how to drive a stick, one driver at a time.
Chad @ Nov 26th 2007 12:44PM
I agree. If you can't drive a stick then don't buy one.
James @ Nov 26th 2007 2:20PM
I almost wish this car would be expensive because I really want it to be good. i am tired of the cheap interiors and bad handling american cars. i wish they would take a page out of nissans book make it expensive like gt-r but also that good, you know.
Ten Gears http://www.tengears.com
g_david @ Nov 26th 2007 10:49AM
Touché
Edsel @ Nov 26th 2007 11:10AM
This is "deja vu all over again".
Muscle cars, $100/barrel oil, and government environmentalists has me thinking I'm reliving the 1970's.
I'll wager that the new Camaro quickly succumbs to the Chevy Aveo platform - a "SS Avamaro" with racing stripes.
Judy Zik @ Nov 26th 2007 12:18PM
Too true. Mustang sales are fizzling. Just like the 70's by the time the muscle car wars really heat up they are going to be fighting for a dying market.
With Flex manufacturing and platform sharing the Challenger is at least something that can be sustained at low volumes. Something they didn't have in the 70's.
Chizzle @ Nov 26th 2007 11:11AM
So you can't get limited-slip with an automatic? What is it with these manufacturers?! They save $5 at the factory on a part that will cost the consumer $500 to fix themselves later.
Joe K. @ Nov 26th 2007 11:47AM
That, or it is an option and you just can't get the 'Trak-Pak' for an automatic....
VP @ Nov 26th 2007 11:14AM
You get a 4 Spd Auto with the base car? What is this 1995? Or is this car supposed to people a family sedan?
TriShield @ Nov 26th 2007 11:16AM
This car is the real reason the Magnum is going out of production.
Chrysler expects the Challenger to be a big hit and with the Magnum gone that means the plant can produce more Challengers to meet anticipated demand.
There's no question this car is hot. I've also heard they will eventually offer a more poweful HEMI for the SRT-8 in 2009 or later.
psarhjinian @ Nov 26th 2007 1:57PM
The problem is that this car is much less of a long-run contender than the Magnum is. It's (by far) the most ungainly looking of the New Muscle/Pony Car set and, if the Charger is any evidence, will weigh the most.
It bugs me that this is replacing the Magnum. In base form, the Magnum was still being bought in reasonable numbers by normal people and was hamstrung only by it's poor power in base form. Equipped with the diesel from the CRD Liberty, could have solved the power/performance problem that dogged the 2.7L.
This car will be bought by a few enthusiasts at first, fight over a shrinking share of the market with the Camaro and Mustang, then will sit on dealer lots for months, followed by much hand-wringing by execs and analysts.
Meanwhile, the Magnum is departing a niche that it had pretty much all to itself.
howard @ Nov 26th 2007 11:18AM
Shades of our old friend STUDEBAKER! I see where THE 2009 Dodge Challenger is going to offer of all things "A HILL HOLDER." I'm not sure of the first year STUDEBAKER offered their hill holder but I had a 1951 COMMANDER LANDCRUISER that had it and no it wasn't to teach drivers how to drive a stick shift! It came in real handy when you had to stop on a hill to keep the car from rolling back when you shifted from 3rd back to 1st to hold the car in place by slipping the clutch! This was a GOD send and saved a lot of clutches from burn out!
mark_welby @ Nov 26th 2007 12:21PM
I won't pick on you, as an old Stuedebaker is an entirely different beast (literally !), but there's no reason for such a thing on a car like this, it's just another additional expense. Plus you should never use slipping the clutch as a method for holding a car on a hill, unless replacing them often is something you're into, heh heh...
howard @ Nov 26th 2007 3:43PM
I'm refering to the brake sustem! Being a Dodge fan I won't pick on the car since I don't see anything the other people offer that will compare to it! All I was saying is for some people setting on a hill with one foot on the brake and the other one the accelerator it was kind of hard to master the brake to gas timing unless you drove in San Francisco all the time you never really needed the HILL HOLDER but it sure was nice even on a small incline! I'm 77 now and don't own a car with a stick so I don't have the problem any more! The HILL HOLDER is a very simple system anyhow!
amastadon @ Nov 26th 2007 11:27AM
Why would the 3.5 use a four speed auto? Shouldn't it have the same five speed found in the base 300/Charger because all three are on the same platform.
Anti-believer @ Nov 26th 2007 11:31AM
If you need HSA to drive a stick, then you have no business driving one.
MCS05 @ Nov 26th 2007 11:32AM
another stupid car from a stupid company. Oil is about to hit $100 a barrel and here comes a 4000 pound car with a 6.1 liter V8.
WillDaThrill @ Nov 26th 2007 7:55PM
Uh oh, the Hummer is gonna get a break when this comes out. I'm seeing busted windows, dented bodywork and red paint splashed across Challengers.
Hamud @ Nov 26th 2007 11:36AM
3.5L V6 with a 4-speed A/T???? HAHahahhah, they've got to be kidding... Even the base Mustang V6 has a 5-speed A/T. This is completely non-sense...
On the other hand, the car is really hot.
MikeW @ Nov 26th 2007 11:36AM
So it is junky.
4 speed auto & 3.5. I'd like to see if that is going to be as fast the up powered 168hp VW golf 6 speed auto.
Why does the bigger hemi have shorter gearing? Are they catering to the market that doesn't know how to shift gears? [say roll on, 5.7 in 5th, 6.1 in 6th, I'd give the edge to the 5.7. 5.7 in 4th in the auto, 6.1 in 5th, again I'd side with the 5.7]
Well at least they might give you 9" wheels so you can try fitting 275/40 20 tires