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Dodge Challenger (2008)

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Dodge Challenger (2008)
Dodge
aka Type aka here, not up there
Production 2008 - present
Class Muscle Car
Body Style 2-door, 4-seat Coupe
Length 197.7 in
Width 75.7 in
Height 57.0 in
Wheelbase 116.0 in
Weight 4140 lb
Transmission Tremec TR-6060 6 Speed Manual, RWD
5 Speed Automatic (W5A580), RWD
Engine SE
3.5 litre V6

R/T
5.7 litre (345 cid) V8

SRT8
6.1 litre (370 cid) V8
Power SE
250 hp @ N/A rpm
250 lb-ft of torque @ N/A rpm

R/T Manual
375 hp @ N/A rpm
404 lb-ft of torque @ N/A rpm

R/T
370 hp @ N/A rpm
398 lb-ft of torque @ N/A rpm

SRT8
425 hp @ N/A rpm
420 lb-ft of torque @ N/A rpm
Similar Ford Mustang
Chevrolet Camaro
Designer Brian Nielander
Jeff Gale

The Dodge Challenger is a retro-futuristic Pony/Muscle car manufactured by American carmaker Dodge since 2008 as a response to the popularity of the equally retro-futuristic 2005-2009 Ford Mustang. The Challenger competes with the resurrected 2010 Chevrolet Camaro and usher in a new age of muscle cars in America.

See Wikicars' comprehensive Dodge Challenger (2008) Review.

Recent Changes

  • On December 21, 2010, Chrysler releases a Dodge Challenger Sox and Martin Collector Series Hemi Cuda[1]
  • For 2011, Dodge launched the 1492 unit limited edition Challenger SRT8 392. Employing a new 6.4 litre V8 with variable valve timing and cylinder deactivation, power has increased to 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque while fuel efficiency has improved 15-20 percent. But the 392 is more than just a muscle car and Chrysler has taken the effort to improve the car's handling with reworked suspension (ie. firmer shocks), quicker steering ratio, more negative camber than before and unique a chin spoiler up front that helps channel air to the vehicle's radiator and provide additional downforce at higher speeds. [2][3]
  • In commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the Challenger, Dodge has unveiled 400 unit limited edition variations of the R/T and SRT8 muscle car finished in Furious Fuchsia. Other touches include optional set of Pearl White performance seats with Furious Fuchsia stitching and Bright White A-line body-side R/T stripes + functional hood scoop on the R/T Classic. Base price for the 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic in Furious Fuchsia Pearl Coat comes in at $35,140 with the SRT8 model at $45,150 (both prices include $725 destination) and cars will hit dealerships in March.
  • At the end of March 2009, Dodge unveiled the SE Rallye Package for the Challenger. Essentially a base model SE kitted with stripes, an R/T-style chrome fuel door, black-accented 18-inch wheels, and a rear decklid spoiler, the SE Rally package is more significant because it will introduce the the 5-speed AutoStick to the V6 models, eliminating the 4-speed slushbox that came before. Prices for the SE Rallye starts at $26,490. [4]
  • For model year 2009, Dodge has revealed a Drag Race Package for the Challenger. Changes from the stock SRT8 from which it will be based include a crash diet course that sheds 1000 lbs. Up front motivation will come in two forms: the 6.1 litre or 5.7 litre HEMI or 5.9-liter Magnum Wedge in either manual or automatic. Pricing is expected to begin in the mid $30K range.[5]

Styles and Major Options

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The SE Rallye (right, silver) hanging out with its bigger brother, the R/T Classic (left, blue).

The Challenger is currently available in one trim: SRT8. Future trims will be available with a 5-speed automatic transmission and a 6-speed manual. Three different engines will offered, dependent upon trim, and many options are different from level to level. Some of the standout standard features are listed below:

Challenger R/T
  • 5.7L 370hp V8 HEMI Engine
  • 18" Aluminum Wheels
  • SIRIUS Satellite Radio
  • Leather Trimmed Bucket Seats, Steering Wheel, and Shift Knob
  • 8-Way Power Driver's Seat
Challenger SRT8
  • 6.1L 425hp V8 HEMI Engine
  • 20" Aluminum SRT Design Wheels
  • Leather Trimmed Seats w/Preferred Suede
  • Body Color Mirrors, Fascias, and Rear Spoiler
  • High Performance Suspension and Steering
  • Mini Trip Computer and Vehichle Info Center

Pricing

Add more fields as necessary.

MODEL Trims
SE SE Rallye R/T R/T Plus R/T Classic SRT8 392
MSRP
$24,670 $26,670 $29,670 $31,170 $32,970 $42,555
Invoice
$Price1 $Price2 $Price3 $Price4 $Price5 $Price6

Gas Mileage

Add more fields as necessary.

As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Trim
SE R/T SRT8
MPG
17/25 16/25 13/19

Engine and Transmission

Specifications, details, graphs, pictures and other information regarding the powertrain is placed in this section.

Peformance

Add more fields as necessary.

MODEL Trims
SE R/T SRT8
0-60
7.3 sec 5.1 sec 4.6 sec (MT), 4.7 sec (AT)
1/4 Mile
15.6 13.6 sec 13.1 sec(MT), 13.1 (AT)

Reliability

All Dodge Challengers purchased new from a licensed Dodge dealership include the Dodge Lifetime Limited Powertrain Warranty. The warranty covers engine and transmission parts for the life of the vehicle for the first registered owner. It is not transferable.

Safety

The Challenger received 5-star crash ratings for both front and side impact testing by the NHTSA. [6]

Photos

On December 2007, official teaser shots of the production Challenger SRT8 have surfaced on the internet.[7]

R/T Classic

SRT 392

Colors

A complete list of colors for the Challenger can be found on Dodge.com.
Some of the available colors are:

Exterior

  • Bright Black Crystal Pearl
  • Inferno Red Crystal Pearl
  • Bright Silver Metallic
  • High-Performance Red
  • Deep Water Blue Pearl
  • Stone White
  • HEMI Orange Pearl (2008-2009)
  • B5 Blue (2009-present)
  • Detonator Yellow (2010)
  • Plum Crazy Purple (2010)

Interior

  • Dark Slate Gray Cloth
  • Dark Slate Gray Leather
  • Dark Slate Gray two-tone Leather
  • Dark Slate Gray leather-trimmed SRT style

Main Competitors

Hybrid Models

There are no hybrid models of the Challenger.

Unique Attributes

Thanks to its LX-platform basis, the Dodge Challenger is physically a much larger car than the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang or Hyundai Genesis. In the top-of-the-line SRT8 trim, the Challenger is 600 pounds heavier than the comparable Mustang GT and 300 pounds heavier than the 2010 Camaro SS. At 4,140 pounds the Challenger is only 50 pounds lighter than its Charger sibling despite six inches removed from the chassis. Even so, the SRT8 is capable of a 4.8-second 0-60 sprint and quarter mile time of 13.3 seconds at 109 miles per hour, making it a very quick car.

Its chassis is actually borrowed from Chrysler's previous envolvement with Daimler-Benz. It shares many suspension components and geometry from the E-Class Mercedes as well as its Chrysler siblings 300 and 300C, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Magnum.

Interior

This section should include information on the interior's design, build quality, ergonomics, space (head and legroom, front and rear), features, stowage compartments and overall comfortability and livability. Add pictures wherever applicable and keep information in a third-person point of view.

Resale Values

Add more fields as necessary.

<MODEL> Year
Year X Year X-2 Year X-3 Year X-4
Resale Value
$ $ $ $

Criticisms

Please make sure to keep critiques in a third-person point of view. If using criticisms from a reputable automotive source, then please make sure to cite the quote.

Generations

Please make sure NOT to use copyrighted pictures.

Current Generation: (2008–present)

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2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic

2008

After a huge response to the 2006 Challenger concept, the production model debuted in 2008. For the first year, all of the Challengers were released in the top-of-the-line SRT trim with the 6.1-liter Hemi with 425 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. With just 6,400 units released in the U.S. for the 2008 model year, nearly all of that lot was presold after the overwhelming popularity of the 2006 concept. The only colors available for the 2008 model year were Hemi Orange, Brilliant Black, TorRed, and Bright Silver Mettalic. While all LX-platform Challengers, Chargers, 300s, and discontinued Magnums were built in Canada, the country was only alotted a run of 500 cars for the 2008 model year to bring the production total to 6,900.

2009

For 2009, Chrysler filled out the Challenger lineup despite a failing economy. In addition to the existing SRT8, buyers could also have two other flavors of the Challenger, including the mid-range R/T and the SE while Canadians could buy an SXT derivative of the SE package. The R/T featured a 5.7-liter version of the Hemi that was rated at 375 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, budget-minded SE and SXT buyers were given a 3.5-liter High Output V6 rated at 250 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque mated to a four-speed automatic transmissions. Also, SRT8 and R/T owners could also buy a 6-speed manual transmission made by Tremec. Surprisingly, this was the first time a modern Hemi production car was mated to a manual transmission since their debut more than five years earlier.

For 2009, buyers could partake in special edition models, such as the R/T Classic and Spring Special SRT8. The R/T Classic was given 'heritage stripes' package in addition to 20-inch chrome-clad wheels that mimicked classic five-spoke rims from the previous musclecar era. Most R/T Classics were painted in the returning B5 Blue color, a color that was a popular color from Chrysler's heyday in the late 60s and early 1970s. The Spring Special package was a derivative of the R/T Classic in that it was essentially a SRT8 painted in the same B5 Blue color along with blue striping on the seats. Thanks to Chrysler's financial troubles and impending rolling plant shutdowns, the production of 2009 R/T Classics and Spring Specials was extremely limited, with less than 240 examples of Spring Special SRT8s ever made.

2010

Despite pervasive rumors of the contrary, Chrysler returned the mighty Challenger to production after emerging from bankruptcy. For the 2010 model year, the SE got a five-speed transmission in place of an aging four-speed tranny. For the more powerful trim levels, changes to the car were few as colors were the only real differences from the 2009 SRT8 and R/T models. The biggest change was the removal of the iconic Hemi Orange from the Challenger lineup. In its place, B5 Blue was added as a normal production color. Taking B5 Blue's place on the special edition color lineup were two heritage colors: Detonator Yellow and Plum Crazy Purple. Detonator Yellow was limited to the first few months of production while Plum Crazy Purple will be used as the Spring Special option.

First Generation/Origins (1970-1974)

see also Dodge Challenger for more details.

Worldwide

If the vehicle is sold in other markets worldwide, then this is the section to mention that information. Also, mention if the <MODEL> goes by another name in these other markets.

Design quirks and oddities

One Challenger was featured in the Second episode of series 12 of the british motoring show, Top Gear. At first, Chrysler (who own Dodge) refused to lend one to presenter, Richard Hammond, claiming that Top Gear always finds Chryslers as bad cars. In retaliation, Richard had to go out and buy one. During the road trip of San Francisco to Bonneville, while Richard was eating, co-presenter Jeremy Clarkson was able to move the Challenger thanks to the its push-button start from its original parking space to the middle of the road where it held up traffic until a very confused Richard came out and moved it again. On windy mountian roads outside Bonneville, the Challenger did not handle well due to it's sedan-based suspension. On the Bonneville salt flats, Richard Hammond managed to acheive over 140mph in the Challenger at the one-mile mark.

Awards

List out notable awards that the model has recieved while in production. Boldface the company or organization that gives out the award, and Italicize the name of the award.

See Also


08Challenger 009Template.jpg
DODGE

The Fiat Group


Abarth | Alfa Romeo | Autobianchi | Ferrari | Fiat | Lancia | Innocenti | Maserati | Iveco | Chrysler | Dodge | Ram | Jeep


Current

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SRT: Caliber SRT4 · Challenger SRT8 · Charger SRT8 · Magnum SRT8 · Viper SRT10

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Military

WC-54 ·

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Fratzog · Mopar · HEMI · SRT


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