Des went to the Toronto Auto Show yesterday. I just had to see some of the weirdo cars he described so I hunted down the auto show web site. What really caught my eye however, was an ad for the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. Feast your eyes:
I love the classic styling influence in a clearly modern car. Not just any classic influence would be as warmly welcomed however. I’m not really interested in an updated Le Car, for example. The Challenger isn’t all looks. Here are some of my favourite bits:
- 6.1‑Liter SRT HEMI V8 Engine
- 425 hp
- 420 lb-ft
- 0 – 60 mph in 4.9 seconds
- quarter-mile in 13.3 seconds
- 20″ wheels
- Rear-wheel drive
- About $40,000
But with the good comes the bad:
- 5‑Speed Automatic Transmission with Autostick
- 13 mpg city and 18 mpg highway
- About $40,000
While the car is modern, it’s not state of the art. It’s basically a shortened Charger with different skin which itself is a shortened 300C with different skin. The chassis dates back to the late 1990s. Next year’s SRT8 will have an optional manual gearbox and the new for 2009 R/T model will have a smaller (5.7l 380 hp) engine. A base model will also be introduced in 2009 with a 3.5l v6 capable of 250 hp.
I’m definitely not in the market for a car, but this one sure is pretty.
Photos from dodge.com, ©2007 Chrysler LLC.
the tail lights disappoint slightly.
425 horse and over 400 foot pounds doesn’t seem to be a target market value-set for gas misers.
Buy a smaller house to heat & have more fun on the same carbon footprint.
Yet another example of North American crap. How do the Germans squeeze twice the HP out of an engine half the size. Where was the Daimler part when this was being developed. No wonder they bailed. I bet it has the same low quality “wait till it falls out” auto transmission that all the other Chrysler junk has. For 40K, I would also want reliability.
You know, a Le Car redux could only look like a million bucks next to the attempt at retro that is the HHR.
http://www.woodywagoon.com/graphics/hhr_woody01.gif
I will back down a little however on this really well done custom job:
http://www.californiacruisers.com/8hhrBpshigh.jpg