Challenger SRT-8 with 510 HP in the works?
Mopar faithful are speculating that Chrysler’s speed freaks are working on an SRT version of the upcoming Challenger. Since an official green light has not been given for the Challenger Concept that debuted earlier this year at the Detroit auto show, this may be a case of fans attempting to will their dream into reality, but a 510-hp, 6.4L Hemi V8 does sound better than sheep jumping a fence.
Word is that Chrysler’s SRT division was going to debut a Challenger SRT-8 at the New York Auto Show, an event that did not come to pass. SEMA is being pegged as the next most likely debut venue.
With the announcement by Ford that the Mustang Shelby GT500 will produce an SAE-certified 500 horsepower, many readers have questioned how both Dodge and Chevy will respond when their pony cars debut. Will the Challenger SRT-8 materialize as an answer, and will Chevy step up with a 500-hp Camaro SS? And how would that affect the Viper and Vette?
Though the Mustang Shelby GT500’s thunder was stolen by Dodge and Chevy at the Detroit show, it’s apparent the super Stang is raising some eyebrows around the industry.
[Source: SRTMopar]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
iQuack 1:24AM (5/03/2006)
Having seen the concept Challenger, I don't understand what there is to get so excited about.
The Dodge Challenger was a yawner in the 70's when it and the Camaro were late to the party after the Mustang's success. The proposed Challenger is too big. It's a big on the outside, small on the inside klutz that's built on a Chrysler 300 chassis. The Challenger's only purpose is to look fast and old. Well, it does look old.
OK, a few guys will go nuts over the Challenger and after they're done, the cars will rot in the dealers' lots. Just watch and see.
Reply
TriShield 1:26AM (5/03/2006)
This speculation is nothing new. It's been the word of mouth since the Challenger concept was unveiled along with the Mopar 6.4L Hemi engine which makes 510hp and is naturally aspirated.
I'm sure SRT will be massaging the Challenger, let's just hope it's packing the 6.4L Hemi under the hood to make things really interesting.
Reply
Talis 2:22AM (5/03/2006)
It's about time the big three get back to doing what
they do best; building fast sexy well built cars that no Jap or Eurotrash will ever
understand.
I don't think this will affect the 'vette much, back in the 60's Chevy, Pontiac, Olds, and Buick all had cars with engine options that made just as much, if not more, power than the Corvette... but they where also a LOT heavier, the same will happen here. The 'vette will be a lighter sportier car, and the Camaro SS will be the car you drive to work and drag on the weekends.
Reply
Mike from Scarborough 2:42AM (5/03/2006)
What is there to get exited about???Hummmm let's see..The E body is the most saught after muscle car right know.They are a lot more rare than the Camaro.Drive down the street in a big block 70 challenger or cuda and see how many "Yawns" you'll get.With this car you either get it or don't.
Reply
Dodge Challenger 2:49AM (5/03/2006)
I think HemiDakota has been telling stories again!
http://www.challengertalk.com
Hi hemi come join us over here.
Reply
Jake 3:18AM (5/03/2006)
This car just says, "I don't care about the enviroment and I don't about conservation!"
Those gas snorting double pumper days are long gone. Its time for a new and fresh outlook. Todays schools teach kids about the enviroment, the results of using vehicles like these etc.
It is time to start focusing on tomorrows buyers and not todays.
Jake.
Reply
Fooman 3:20AM (5/03/2006)
I do not see a 500hp version of the Camaro, it makes no sense to go against the vette esp at the 45-50k price range you will see the gt500 at. Most likly we will see a LT2 powered 400hp maybe with the vette kicked up to 410-420 for imply some differnce from the models. If I remember correctly the ss camaro had a little less hp then the vette that year. I think that it is a safe bet that the charger will get at the least the 410? hp hemi engine out of the quad srt 8 models (remember the Grand cherokee..)
If this happens then a l2 powered chevy pony car is perfectly placed.
Ford will get stuck though. The gt is around 300 the gt 500 is 500hp. I think we will most likly see a mach 1 or boss edition that will produce in teh neighboorhood of 400hp to fill the gap from the high end pony cars from chevy and dodge.
I think that it is also a safe bet that dodge will not announce untill chevy does. Even though it makes more economic sense for dodge to produce the car. It is still up in the air if chevy will put this into production, i think it is in a wait and see mode on this, since the zeta platform is not done at this time.
Dodge on the other hand needs a pony car, the viper is almost an afterthought now that the zo6 is pulling the same stats at 30k less or 2/3 the price. The hemi powered showcar on the viper frame at 60-70k would be a good idea with minimal research needed. Or they take the lx platform shorten it and go with a pretty much developed platform/engine combo.
Reply
eCom 3:30AM (5/03/2006)
Very interesting...
I would think a Chrysler Cordoba would have a very upright formal roofline - although you say it would be more of a fastback... interesting....
Reply
Rence 4:47AM (5/03/2006)
"3. It's about time the big three get back to doing what
they do best; building fast sexy well built cars that no Jap or Eurotrash will ever understand."
Can I just roll my eyes a bit here? Wow...
Reply
Corey W. 5:55AM (5/03/2006)
"It is time to start focusing on tomorrows buyers and not todays."
Why, because you think everyone wants a hybrid?
Reply
RacetrackOwner 6:55AM (5/03/2006)
"I don't care about the enviroment and I don't about conservation!"
Cry me a river. Not everybody is pining for an eletric Suzuki Zit to putter back and forth between their environmentally-sensitive adobe mud huts and their classes at Marxist Finishing School.
As for the question of what happens to the Vette and the Viper, yesterday GM announced that the 600HP Blue Devil has clearance, and I happen to know that there is a ton of untapped potential in the plain old normally aspirated Viper V10. It's pretty easy to make around 700HP with only a couple grand worth of changes -- and still satisfy emissions requirements, believe it or not, Zit-driver. The observation was salient that these muscle car revivals are really more for straight-line speed anyway, whereas the Viper/Vette line is better associated with GT-style racing.
The real question is whether the straight-line racing crowd (who tend to be a little "downmarket" in the performance vehicle pricing spectrum) are going to be shelling out for muscle cars with gas prices on their current jagged rise. Rejoice hippie losers, a significant segment of American culture is being slowly strangled by Middle Eastern interests.
Reply
Chris 7:05AM (5/03/2006)
Us non-Americans understand these kind of cars Talis, what we don't understand however is how someone could possibly be so stupid as to actually buy one.
Reply
Scott 7:19AM (5/03/2006)
Hmmm . . . Mustang w/ 500hp on sale this fall, or I could wait 3-4 years for a "Challenger" or Camaro that may never exist. Dodge and GM behind in the pony car wars again, same result as last time. Why bother, guys?
And yes, a hemi-powered Charger from the late 60's/early 70's is extremely sought after, but that's because so few were built. Chargers with other powerplants aren't nearly as in-demand.
Reply
hydrOstem 7:29AM (5/03/2006)
Oh yeah right iQuack, you probably drive a Mustang GT, and are whining because Mustangs are the slowest production muscle cars since the 60's. The Challenger looks great, and I'd like to see your P.O.S. go up vs a 6.4 Hemi.
Reply
ramsport47 7:41AM (5/03/2006)
It's a big on the outside, small on the inside klutz that's built on a Chrysler 300 chassis.
The Challenger, if you read the actual article, Iquack, will be built on a shortened NEXT GEN LY platform which will be used for the 300D, Magnum, and Charger. SHORTENED is the key word there
Reply
Peter L. 8:46AM (5/03/2006)
"Oh yeah right iQuack, you probably drive a Mustang GT, and are whining because Mustangs are the slowest production muscle cars since the 60's. The Challenger looks great, and I'd like to see your P.O.S. go up vs a 6.4 Hemi. - hydrOstem"
Oh wait, it's the only production muscle car right now! And i'd take an in the flesh Mustang GT over an engine that may or may not exist for another 3 or 4 years, and enjoy the affordable V8 powered RWD muscle car...
Reply
Alex 9:09AM (5/03/2006)
Dodge is doing it all wrong- If the Blue Devil Vette is going to be 600hp, Dodge should announce a 610hp edition of the Hemi.
Reply
Optimus Prime 9:22AM (5/03/2006)
These 500+ hp Mustangs and Challengers are all about going really fast in a straight line. Yay! Thats awsome.
When did people stop caring about driving dyanmics?
Reply
me 9:35AM (5/03/2006)
I'm Eurpean! And this is smething that I want!!!
Reply
Tankstelle 9:41AM (5/03/2006)
The Challenger, to me, will be one of the most difficult vehicles to forecast (in terms of sales) that I have seen. It shouts niche market and mass market loser to me, but there are so many people that seem to love it. The question is whether there are a significant number of people who love it or just a small number of really vocal people who love it. To be honest, I have no idea right now. It just seems sooo white trash to me.
Reply