SEMA 2008: Mopar Underground Challenger Targa and Blacktop
by Frank Filipponio on Nov 5th 2008 at 3:41PM 
Click above for hi-res gallery of the Challenger Targa
We hope you're loving the Dodge Challengers here at SEMA as much as we are. When you build a car that's a throwback to such an iconic vehicle, it's easy to anticipate that tuners will try to recreate every example that made the Challenger such a legend way back when. While some of the cars here are great examples of that spirit, these two official ones give us a more modern take on the theme. As we told you when we previewed them last week, the Challenger Targa was built to campaign in the Targa Newfoundland enduro race. It features a 540-hp HEMI V8 with 490 lb-ft of torque, a Tremec six-speed manual and a modified rear diff. It wears the same acid green paint you can order on the Viper and also features a KW race-ready suspension with massive Stop-Tech six-piston calipers and rotors. And it looks even better in person than official photos released last week.
The other interpretation here is the Challenger Blacktop. It retains the stock car's 5.7-liter HEMI V8 and uses the six-speed manual gearbox. Most of the modifications focus on style, including the black-on-black racing stripe paint scheme, custom spoilers and front brow. A Mopar coilover kit drops the Blacktop over a set of 22-inch Viper wheels created by Factory Reproductions and wrapped in 265/35/R22 (front) and 305/30/R22 (rear) Dunlop rubber. A Mopar cat-back exhaust and cold air intake are the only modifications to the engine. This car looks just about perfect, but we might opt for some mechanical mods from the Targa to make it move like its looks suggest. Full details on each can be found in the press release after the jump, but you probably want to see the live high-res shots in our gallery below.
Photos copyright ©2008 Brad Wood|Frank Filipponio/ Weblogs
PRESS RELEASE:
Dodge Challenger Targa
The Dodge Challenger Targa is a full-blown competition car that raced and completed the infamous Targa Newfoundland race this year. "Samantha" started life as a Mopar Challenger drag race package car. Many features were borrowed from the Dodge Viper, but the most noticeable is the snakeskin green paint. To keep the front end down, a Mopar chin spoiler "Splats" developed in a full scale wind tunnel, was added to the front of the car. Mopar gauges keep a close eye on the vital signs. The Mopar hood is equipped with a scoop to make room for the 540-horsepower, 490 lb. ft. of torque, 392 HEMI® V-8 Mopar crate motor. Mated to a Tremec six-speed manual gearbox, the engine blasts power to the rear wheels through a production 2009 modified gear ratio in the rear end. An abundance of fade resistant stopping power comes from Stop-Tech brakes. Up front, the six-piston calipers clamp 380-millimetre rotors, while in the rear, four-pot calipers work with 355-mm rotors. Developed by KW, the race suspension and brake upgrades came from a proven hero - the Dodge Viper ACR, which just broke the production car lap record at the world-renown Nurburgring in Germany. With only a few exceptions, the Dodge Challenger Targa was built using parts available through Mopar.
Dodge Challenger Blacktop
A menacing creation from the minds of the Mopar Underground design team. The Dodge Challenger Blacktop began life as a 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T equipped with a 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 and six-speed manual transmission. Mopar Underground added custom-made spoilers and front brow. To finish off the look, a black-on-black racing stripe paint scheme was added. The "in the weeds" stance and superb handling characteristics are accomplished by the Mopar coil-over suspension and strut tower brace. Blacktop rolls on massive 22-inch Dodge Viper wheels from Factory Reproductions wrapped in Dunlop tires measuring 265/35 R22 front and 305/30 R22 rear. To ensure the powertrain can keep up with the suspension, underhood performance is enhanced. The addition of Mopar components, including a cat back dual-exhaust, cold air intake, allow the HEMI V-8 to breathe easy. The interior has been enhanced with Katzkin leather seating finished in bright red plus a Mopar Kicker audio system for premium sound.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tankd0g 3:46PM (11/05/2008)
Nice to see they got the fence bits out of the grill :)
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casey 4:00PM (11/05/2008)
i was sick of the Challenger before they announced it. if i see one more 'special' P.O.S. Challenger i'm going to puke. wtf? it's just a slightly shortened 300/Charger. big deal. it was out of date before they finished the drawings of it. chrysler deserves to go down the tubes if this is what they think the world needs, and every single overgrown teenager that 'builds' one so other overage teenagers can have a masturbatory fantasy over it, well, count me out. i have better things to do with my hands.
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Tim 4:05PM (11/05/2008)
Sorry Casey... the world is very sorry... everything sucks... you're right.
Tom 4:07PM (11/05/2008)
Well, we'll enjoy our Challengers and you continue to enjoy your... whatever it is that excites you. Maybe a nice Aveo or Corolla?
John P. 4:19PM (11/05/2008)
I woke up today after the historic election and logged in to browse autoblog with my cuppa coffee. All of a sudden, like a light switch turning on in my head, cars I used to find cool like this Charger, Vipers, ZR1s, Porsches, GTRs, Ferraris and McLarens are so yesterday.
Now all I want to do is look at Prius, Smart Cars and yes,... comfortable walking shoes.
NOT!
Keep the cool cars coming autoblog!
John P. 4:21PM (11/05/2008)
Sorry, meant challenger, I read too much into casey's entry. LOL
Axis 4:23PM (11/05/2008)
Ignorant troll it's an auto *enthusiast* site, it covers everything in the auto world, you have a choice on whether or not if you like it, but others do too. Respect that, be a little more open minded or GTFO.
Jeremy B 4:35PM (11/05/2008)
Oh everyone just STFU!!! Just because you all are kiss-asses of these kind of cars doesnt mean you have to jump on the first person's back that says something negative!!! Grow some balls and quit making toyota vehicles the butt of your jokes, tom!!!
Casey, what do you hate about the challenger? It is an amazing vehicle? I understand that it is a lowsy chrysler and i guess thats a reason, but what else could it be?
Maybe seeing that older blog about the challenger SRT-10 will change your mind.
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Aki 4:40PM (11/05/2008)
I don't mind seeing different Challengers, but these all look the same, with different variants of Hemi's, a slightly diff lip, or different brakes. Just lump them up into one post.
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Jeremy B 4:45PM (11/05/2008)
Theyre supposed to look the same. Last time i checked, they were the same car.....
Why would a challenger SE and a challenger R/T look different?
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Aki 5:38PM (11/05/2008)
Gee, you know I never realized they were Dodge Challengers, thanks for pointing that out.
Since the point flew right over your head, my point is that the modifications aren't different enough to warrant a new post for every single Challenger tuner car.
paul 5:00PM (11/05/2008)
+10000000000 to the first person to paint a challenger flat/matte black.
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Ohso Clutch 7:12PM (11/05/2008)
The Acid Green is sex on wheels.
....now if we could just get rid of those stickers.
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AZZO45b 12:06PM (11/07/2008)
I should make some crude comment about your sex comment... but I'll pass/
The decals are on there because this car ran in the 2008 Targa Newfoundland road rally & like NASCAR, TNF required contingency decals.
Since the VP of Chrysler Design drove the car you would think they could have organized those fugly decals to compliment the Challenger's paint scheme, but there has been a lot of layoffs in Auburn Hills eh?
S12Dave 7:04PM (11/06/2008)
A Carburettor, WTF?
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