That didn't take long - supercharged Challenger SRT8 hits the dyno

Click above to enlarge this shot and see the dyno graph
Whenever a new performance vehicle makes it into the hands of eager customers, a run to the dyno never seems to be far behind. This has again proven to be the case with the new Dodge Challenger, as a company known as Speedfactory has just done the deed on its new steed. What sets this particular vehicle and its dyno numbers apart from other SRT8s, though, is its Vortech supercharger. Considering that the 6.1 liter HEMI V8 under the Challenger's long, scooped hood is the same one available these last few years in other SRT-branded eight-cylinder vehicles, we're not too surprised to see that the system is pretty mature and posts rather good horsepower and torque numbers right out of the gate.
Coming in at about 495 horses at the rear tires, Speedfactory surmises that its Challenger is making around six hundred ponies at the crank. If owners of the GT500 weren't concerned with the Challenger's performance numbers before, perhaps the addition of a supercharger to the HEMI will bring it more in line with the numbers coming from the Shelby's force-fed mill. Folks, it's muscle car time again, let the games begin!
Gallery: Speedfactory Supercharged Challenger
[Source: LX Forums]






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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Bryan Riddle 3:49PM (6/15/2008)
want
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Michael 3:48PM (6/15/2008)
Nice.
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neoscape 4:03PM (6/15/2008)
nice, but those elbows seem unwieldy
piesior 5:24PM (6/15/2008)
Fantastic !!! Fuel price today ??
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Nick 4:22PM (6/15/2008)
It may have the power, but it's also packing 200 pounds more than the GT500, which is already itself a fat-assed cow of a car.
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Shawn 4:44PM (6/15/2008)
As compared to what Nick? GT500 is 3920 lbs. BMW M6 is 3909 lbs. A Ferrari 612 Scaglietti weights in at 4056 lbs. A MB SLR McLaren is 4023 lbs. It's reasonable weight for this level of performance at the price range.
Nick 10:51PM (6/15/2008)
lol, you're comparing a GT500 to an M6, SLR, and a 599? Are you high? The GT500 can't even beat out an LS3 C6 Vette. You're comparing uber-luxury cars filled to the brim with extremely fine materials and technology to a tarted up $20,000 plastic pony car. If you want to compare the GT500 to anything, compare it to things like the Z06, SRT-10, and even the M3, all of which weigh -significantly- less.
That One Person 6:23PM (6/16/2008)
All he is doing is comparing the weights. If those cars were so AWESOME, then those companies would have figured out a way to cut off a couple pounds.
As far as tech and refinement go, there is definitely NO comparison.
As a side note, I am sure with some tweaking, Ford's blown 5.4L can put out more than 600hp...oh wait.
Stuka 4:27PM (6/15/2008)
Are they really saying that they are losing 105hp through the drive train? I know automatics are inefficient, but thats nuts.
And no real reason for a GT500 owner to be concerned. Their car weighs less (although still a pig), and a quick swap of the super charger pulley, headers, exhaust, and they have another 75-100hp to play with.
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Michael Hall 7:08PM (6/15/2008)
Losing 105 hp out of (the estimated) 600 is a 17.5% loss. I'm not an expert on such losses, but isn't that a fairly normal drivetrain loss?
Stuka 7:20PM (6/15/2008)
Well here is the thing I am not sure of. That amount of loss (percentage) is average for smaller displacement cars. But as the power goes up, is that kind of loss still normal? For instance, if somebody put a Veyron on a dyno, would it only show ~800hp at the wheels? I just don't see the rotational drag of the drivetrain taking up that kind of power.
Michael Hall 7:33PM (6/15/2008)
Hmmmm, I don't know.
Anyone? Anyone? Anyone?
pmiddle5 8:24PM (6/15/2008)
yes. A 15-20% drivetrain is common.
Za 9:19PM (6/15/2008)
Actually, those are surprisingly high efficiency numbers. I would have expected less, frankly.
RJ 12:55AM (6/16/2008)
Stuka,
Yes, the loss is always on a percentage basis, and scales fairly linearly with an increase in input power.
The reason is that the gear mesh friction increases linearly with applied torque (and therefore normal force on the gear tooth surface). The applied torque increases linearly with applied horsepower, holding rpm constant.
If you hold torque constant, and increase rpm (i.e. F1 engine style), the the parasitic power loss might even be higher, due to an increase in viscous friction (which scales exponentially).
ML 4:31PM (6/15/2008)
That's cool, but I'm still waiting for the Camaro. I prefer it to both the long-in-tooth Mustang and the too-big, too-heavy Challenger. Once the Camaro comes to market and once after market tuners get their hands on it, it'll be more than a competitor to the Ford and Dodge.
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psarhjinian 5:38PM (6/15/2008)
The Camaro is probably going to weigh in only slightly less than the Challenger. Zeta cars have proven awfully heavy--agile for their size, mind you--but still heavy.
I'll take the Mustang. It's smaller than either, likely much cheaper and significantly lighter. And really, in this class, that live rear axle really doesn't mean much.
TwinTurboVR4 4:35PM (6/15/2008)
im happy to see that all the nannying CAFE crap isnt scaring everyone away from making cars for enthusiests.
as bryan said..."want"
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Torrent 4:34PM (6/15/2008)
lol cute. Can't wait for the Camaro.
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arturo 5:03PM (6/15/2008)
have you guys seen the new 2010 mustang on car and driver magazine website.
it looks really nice, it reminds me of the 04 svt cobra. i just hope gas prices go down or a lot more people driving green cars to decrease consumption.
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