Autoblog

Click either image for exclusive pics of Inside Line's road trip

Seems like you can't revive a modern day muscle car these days without having a classic movie tie-in. The Ford Mustang has got Steve McQueen's classic Bullitt, and the Dodge Challenger has got Vanishing Point. In fact, we've already seen one Vanishing Point-inspired Challenger meet its maker on Turn 2 at Road America. Inside Line recently had its first turn behind the wheel of a 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 and also decided to pay its respects to Kowalski's opus. They took the brand new Challenger on a little road trip following the fateful path of Kowalski in the movie from Denver, Colorado to San Francisco, California. Just for kicks, they brought along a vintage 1970 Dodge Challenger that's a near perfect copy of the one used in Vanishing Point. The classic iron was, however, packing a slightly modified motor putting out 607 horsepower, but details, details... The article is definitely worth a read if only to vicariously absorb what it feels like to go 170 mph in a new Challenger, and the Inside Line team was also kind enough to supply us with a few of their spare high-res images for an Autoblog exclusive gallery below.


[Source: Inside Line]

We've seen the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 in Orange, Black and Silver now, but the most sought after color for the car's first model year will undoubtedly be Blue, or rather B5 Blue if you want to get technical. That's the color that adorns Challenger #43, a rolling tribute to Richard Petty that is currently up for auction on eBay Motors until Friday, February 22nd. The Smurfy hue is meant to replicate the Petty Blue, or Corporate Blue, that covered The King's race cars during his stock car racing career.

Challenger #1 already sold for $400,000 at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, AZ last month, while Challenger #2 was sold off in a closed auction for dealers only. We're betting that this one-of-a-kind Challenger beats them both on the block, because not only do you get the car, but Dodge is throwing in two VIP passes to the May 2008 Dodge Challenger 500 NASCAR race at Darlington Raceway, travel and lodging for the event, and a meet-and-greet with Kyle Petty. The auction began with a starting bid of $25,000 and has grown to $52,100 in just a couple of days.

All the proceeds are going to the Victory Junction Gang, which is a charity founded by Kyle Petty in honor of his son, Adam, that works to improve the lives of children with chronic illnesses. Thanks for the tip, everyone!



[Source: eBay Motors]

click above for more high-res live shots of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8

If you're still jonesing for a 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, there may still be time to buy one. Frank Klegon, VP of product development for Chrysler, told Kicking Tires at the Chicago Auto Show this week that 4,300 Challengers have been sold so far. We take that to be the number of folks who have advanced beyond putting down a deposit and actually proceeded to buy the cars.

Klegon also revealed that an additional 10,000 orders have been placed by dealers for the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. Since only 6,400 will be built for the 2008 model year, some simple math tells us that there are 2,100 Challengers headed to dealerships with no customer name on the order. Dealers will no doubt find a use for them as display vehicles if they're not sold (unlikely), but expect to pay a premium for absconding with a dealership's number one window dressing.

Kicking Tires also reports that 2009 Challengers will be available with a 380-hp, 5.7L HEMI V8 sporting cylinder deactivation technology, which we may see at the New York Auto Show in late March. A base model with a V6, however, seems unlikely to appear from what we hear.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

UPDATE: video of the Challenger live reveal is available after the jump

Click image for hi-res live gallery of the Challenger SRT8

It's finally here. No, not here's-a-few-more-official-press-pics, but the actual latest challenger to the modern day retro muscle car. It was presented by Jim Press, who even made a Prius joke before launching into a passionate pitch for the orange-and-black-striped car. And even though you're drowning in info on a car you still can't buy, there were some specifics added: 0-60 in 4.9 seconds and a 170-MPH top speed; the quarter mile goes by in 13.9 seconds; 4-pot Brembo brakes go on 14.2-inch rotors up front and 13.8-inch rotors in back, and will stop you from 60 in 110 feet; performance and braking together adds up to 0-100-0 in 16.5 seconds; and the skidpad number: 0.9 g's.

click above to view more shots of the Silver and Black Challengers

So how's it really look? Just as good as in the photos. Better even. The lines are so simple that you realize you haven't missed anything when you get up next to it. As for the orange and striped car, however, when a black and a silver one showed up with the guys from Orange County Choppers... well, sign us up for the black.

Check out Dodge's official press release after the jump and tons of high-res shots of the live reveal in our gallery below.

click above for 89 high-res pics of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8

Just over two years after debuting as a concept at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, the Dodge Challenger is now ready to hit the streets for real. The Challenger is reviving a name last used in the late '70s and early '80s on a compact, four-cylinder Mitsubishi-built coupe. This time, though, Chrysler is going back to the roots of the brand with a big muscular rear-wheel-drive coupe, initially available exclusively with a 6.1L HEMI V8 that will power the new Challenger 60 mph in the low 5-second range, according to a very conservative Chrysler. It shares the automaker's LX platform with the Charger and Chrysler 300, and in final form, the car has changed remarkably little from the concept. The most noticeable differences are up front and include the loss of the cross-hair grille and a slim black air dam at the bottom of the bumper. Other changes are pretty subtle, such as some reshaping of the lower air intake.

Out back, the rear bumper is now more prominent and the detailing of the taillights has been revised. A flat black lip spoiler is now mounted on the trailing edge of the deck lid while the Challenger badges on the rear fenders have been dumped. The rear driver side fender now also features a prominent chrome fuel filler cap. The wheelbase of the LX platform has been shrunk from a gargantuan 120 inches for the sedans to a merely large 116 inches for the Challenger. That puts the span between the axles at 9 inches longer the Mustang, which aids interior volume. Read on after the jump for more.

[Source: Chrysler]

click above to enlarge and view more official '08 Dodge Challenger images

None of us happen to subscribe to AutoWeek anymore, so we have to take Inside Line Senior Editor Ed Hellwig at his word that the latest issue of the weekly car rag includes another embargoed image of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 that you're not supposed to see until next week. It's a good one, though, being the first official pic to get out that shows the production derriere of the Challenger.

Obvious changes include a different light bar across the back that's comprised of traditional lamps instead of the slick set up on the concept car. The rear back up lights have been combined into a single unit that now sits in the middle of the taillamp assembly, and light markers on the rear fenders have been moved down, as well. There's the new black spoiler perched on the Challenger's deck lid, which, combined with the black front lip spoiler, is a perfect retro touch. Finally, the concept's dual split exhaust outlets are now more traditional dual rectangular ones. All changes for the better, if you ask us.

Look for our live coverage of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8's debut at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show early next week.

[Source: Inside Line]

click above for more shots of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8

We're definitely geared up for the official unveiling of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 at the Chicago Auto Show next week. But for those who don't live near the Windy City, you can check out Chrysler's modern day muscle car in person at the 2008 Philadelphia Auto Show where it will debut simultaneously. The interesting thing is that the Challenger will debut on Wednesday, February 6th during the press preview days of the Chicago Auto Show. Chicagoans not accredited with a media badge will have to wait until the weekend to see the car in person. Philadelphians, however, will be able to view the car the very same day since the Philly show is already open to the public at that point. Considering the Royal Rumble we expect to ensue in Chicago after Chrysler invites the media up on stage to view the car, perhaps we'll have a blogger on hand in Philadelphia to catch the other unveiling. Any volunteers? Thanks for the tip, caddy dave!

[Source: phillyautoshow.com]

click above for more pics of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8

With all of the spy shots, leaked covers and embargoed images of the 2008 Dodge Challenger on the web already, we're not sure how Chrysler feels about any more information getting out on its modern muscle car. Some information, however, is public access, like fuel economy ratings and other specs that are posted by the EPA on its website, fueleconomy.gov. The 2008 Dodge Challenger has already been added to the site and is reported to get 13 mpg city and 18 mpg on the highway. Since the 2008 MY Challenger will be just the SRT8 model with the five-speed automatic, these figures are for the familiar 6.1L HEMI V8 used in other SRT products like the Dodge Charger SRT8 and Chrysler 300 SRT8, both of which also achieve the same fuel economy numbers. According to the EPA, driving the Challenger SRT8 a distance of 25 miles will cost you around $5.50, and you'll be spending around $3,302 per year on gas.

The fueleconomy.gov page for the 2008 Dodge Challenger also reveals that its interior volume will be 94 cubic feet and that the trunk will swallow 16 cubic feet of air. Just for comparison's sake, the 2007 Ford Mustang has 85 cubic feet of space in its passenger compartment and 13 cubic feet in the trunk. If you're on the fence about these two pony cars, this information might make a difference. Thanks for the tip, Mohamed!

[Source: fueleconomy.gov]

It's no secret to what the 2008 Dodge Challenger will look like. We've seen dozens of spy photos, reader-submitted photos of a production Challenger cruising the streets, and more recently we've seen it in on the cover of Car and Driver's April issue. That was enough for Autoweek to decide to post a few official shots on their web site, who didn't want to get left behind. More official photos and information will surely come shortly. Whether or not it's before the Challenger's introduction at the Chicago Auto Show is the question.

[Source: Auto Week]

Click image to enlarge

While the rights to the first 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 brought $400K at Barrett-Jackson last weekend, we'd rather have the 43rd car built, which will go up on eBay's virtual auction block from February 12 to February 22. Chrysler is working the numerology angle, linking the 43rd Challenger to living legend Richard Petty and the #43 he made famous while driving Mopar stock cars to victory over his long racing career. Pre-qualified bidders will have the opportunity to take home the 43rd Challenger built, which will be the only one finished in B5 Blue in a nod to the Petty Blue (or Corporate Blue) finish that adorned The King's racers. Carbon fiber-look hood stripes, a chrome fuel filler lid and a numbered dash plaque finish this particular one-off appearance package, and the auction winner also gets a VIP Package to this May's Dodge Challenger 500 NASCAR race at Darlington. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Petty family's Victory Junction Gang Camp, so it's for a good cause. Wanna bid? Go here to get pre-registered.

[Source: Chrysler]