Motor Authority - blog Category: Challenger

The modern muscle car revival was brought with it a rebirth of factory drag-race accessories from the major manufacturers, like the FR500 Cobra Jet Mustang from Ford. For the Dodge Challenger, the Mopar Drag Pak offers a light-weight, race-only version of the street car for special order. This year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show will offer an even more potent yet street-legal version of the car, packed with accessories from the Mopar catalog.

Called the Moparized Dodge Challenger, the fully enhanced muscle car features a custom designed matte black rear wing, 20 inch wheels, a black engine cover, a cold air intake,...

The modern muscle car revival was brought with it a rebirth of factory drag-race accessories from the major manufacturers, like the FR500 Cobra Jet Mustang from Ford. For the Dodge Challenger, the Mopar Drag Pak offers a light-weight, race-only version of the street car for special order. This year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show will offer an even more potent yet street-legal version of the car, packed with accessories from the Mopar catalog. Called the Moparized Dodge Challenger, the fully enhanced muscle car features a custom designed matte black rear wing, 20 inch wheels, a black engine cover, a cold air intake, front and rear splash guards, and plenty of aluminum accents. The only performance modifications are a stainless-steel cat-back exhaust, which provides gains in horsepower and torque in addition to improved fuel economy and a deep-toned exhaust note, and a suspension upgrade kit with new coilovers and strut braces. Step inside and you’ll find a Kicker sound system, LED elements and a chromed T-handle shifter. Also on show will be a 556 horsepower Dodge Challenger called the ‘1320’, which you can read about by clicking here. The 2009 SEMA Auto Show kicks off on November 3. [Chrysler] Read More

In a throwback design that takes the best ideas of yesteryear--there is no replacement for displacement, after all--and builds on the modern 6.1-liter Hemi block with a 7.2-liter all-aluminum spec, the SpeedFactory 440 Hemi-Powered Dodge Challenger coming to this year's SEMA show promises to deliver serious performance for the muscle car enthusiast.

With CNC ported Mopar aluminum heads, all-forged rotating internals and a Vortech V3 centrifugal supercharger helping extract the full potential of the engine, it's expected to deliver 700 horsepower on 91 octane pump gas.

That's not the end of the build sheet, though--a Mopar Performance NAG 1...

In a throwback design that takes the best ideas of yesteryear--there is no replacement for displacement, after all--and builds on the modern 6.1-liter Hemi block with a 7.2-liter all-aluminum spec, the SpeedFactory 440 Hemi-Powered Dodge Challenger coming to this year's SEMA show promises to deliver serious performance for the muscle car enthusiast. With CNC ported Mopar aluminum heads, all-forged rotating internals and a Vortech V3 centrifugal supercharger helping extract the full potential of the engine, it's expected to deliver 700 horsepower on 91 octane pump gas. That's not the end of the build sheet, though--a Mopar Performance NAG 1 transmission, Mopar Performance fuel rails, Moroso coolant tank and oil pan, Getrag independent rear suspension with 1000-horsepower-rated half-shafts, Corsa cat-back exhaust, performance springs, sway bars and strut braces plus 15-inch Brembo six-pot front brakes and Bridgestone R-Compound tires on black 20-inch BBS Black Edition CH-R wheels. Inside, the Signature interior package delivers embossed seat backs, a color-matched door-panel stripe with logo, custom floor mats, Mopar sills and a T-handle shifter. On the outside, the car gets a matte-finish paint job, carbon fiber hood and a rear deck spoiler plus SpeedFactory badges and graphics. All of this muscle car insanity is part of a package the company plans to offer for retail purchase on customer cars. [SpeedFactory] Read More

The modern muscle car revival was brought with it a rebirth of factory drag-race accessories from the major manufacturers, like the FR500 Cobra Jet Mustang from Ford. For the Dodge Challenger, the Mopar Drag Pak offers a light-weight, race-only version of the street car for special order. This year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show will offer an even more potent yet street-legal version of the car, called the 1320.

The Mopar Dodge Challenger 1320 is what the company calls an "image vehicle," meaning it builds the image on Sunday that sells cars on Monday. The "1320" in the name is a very familiar number for straight-line...

The modern muscle car revival was brought with it a rebirth of factory drag-race accessories from the major manufacturers, like the FR500 Cobra Jet Mustang from Ford. For the Dodge Challenger, the Mopar Drag Pak offers a light-weight, race-only version of the street car for special order. This year's Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show will offer an even more potent yet street-legal version of the car, called the 1320. The Mopar Dodge Challenger 1320 is what the company calls an "image vehicle," meaning it builds the image on Sunday that sells cars on Monday. The "1320" in the name is a very familiar number for straight-line enthusiasts, as that's the exact number of feet in a quarter-mile drag strip. The point behind the car is to explore new possibilities for Mopar additions to the standard production Challenger. "We will gauge reaction to these vehicles and explore new directions as we develop Mopar performance parts and accessories for our vehicles," said Pietro Gorlier, president and CEO of Mopar Service, Parts and Customer Care. Ralph Gilles, president and CEO of the Dodge Car Brand, hinted at possible production reality for some of the 1320's goodies, saying, "Our vehicles are designed and built by the same passionate automotive enthusiasts within our company who are designing and engineering new Mopar parts and accessories for vehicles in our product pipeline." To take the stripped-down Drag Pak Challenger and bring it back to street-legality, the team started with an all-aluminum Mopar 426 cubic-inch crate engine rated at 556 horsepower, complete with a Mopar-designed valve cover and dress-up kit. Long-tube headers and a new exhaust system let the big engine pump the air it needs to create all that power, which is sent to the ground through a six-speed manual transmission and a Dynatrac rear housing with Mopar Dana 60 internals and a locking differential. The list of mods doesn't stop there, including custom Mopar police wheels, an adjustable coil-over kit, and an electric cutout system to bypass the mufflers completely are also available. The street-legal drag-race hot rod also gets a Seibon carbon fiber HEMI scoop hood, front spoiler and grille panel/headlight surround to make it easy to spot from the outside--as if the Acidic Hue bright yellow paint and matte black graphics wouldn't do the trick. Inside, the car gets Dodge Viper seats, a sport steering wheel and a Hurst shifter. The 2009 SEMA show starts Tuesday, November 3 and runs through November 6, with press days running from October 30 to November 1. [Chrysler] Read More

So it's not a new engine, or even a new navigation package, but for car lovers, colors are often as important as displacement, especially when they're unique factory colors. The latest color revealed for the 2010 Dodge Challenger, Plum Crazy, is one of those that's almost sure to drive future collectors wild.

Even with modern paint booths and high-tech paints themselves, factory jobs are still better, and collectors know it. While the latest Challengers might not be collectible quite yet, many people purchasing them now are doing so with an eye toward the future as much as toward the past, and the Plum Crazy purple color is one option that...

So it's not a new engine, or even a new navigation package, but for car lovers, colors are often as important as displacement, especially when they're unique factory colors. The latest color revealed for the 2010 Dodge Challenger, Plum Crazy, is one of those that's almost sure to drive future collectors wild. Even with modern paint booths and high-tech paints themselves, factory jobs are still better, and collectors know it. While the latest Challengers might not be collectible quite yet, many people purchasing them now are doing so with an eye toward the future as much as toward the past, and the Plum Crazy purple color is one option that just screams "Barrett Jackson" or "Mecum," come 2050. The new color is available only on the Dodge Challenger R/T and SRT8, meaning it's inherently limited in availability and therefore volume. It's also available with a choice of white or black dual side stripes, and to sweeten the deal, Mopar has treated the interior to a factory upgrade as well. Two-row deluxe seats get Katskin leather upholstery, available in a range of colors with different piping and stitching choices to further customize the car straight from the factory. To get your Plum Crazy Challenger, head on down to your local dealership--it's available for order now. Read More

Legendary Dodge dealer and tuner Mr. Norm has already shown off its 'Super' Challenger and Cuda models earlier this year, but now the firm is back with some new Dodge Challengers and Cuda models on offer. Titled the 2009 426 Hemi Challenger and 426 Hemi Cuda Convertible, both vehicles are based on the 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 but have been modified to echo the styling and performance of the original Mr. Norm muscle cars from the past.

In the performance department, Mr. Norm’s 426 Hemi Challenger and Cuda Convertible have both had their engines equipped with a new reciprocating assembly that includes a forged crank, rods and pistons... Legendary Dodge dealer and tuner Mr. Norm has already shown off its 'Super' Challenger and Cuda models earlier this year, but now the firm is back with some new Dodge Challengers and Cuda models on offer. Titled the 2009 426 Hemi Challenger and 426 Hemi Cuda Convertible, both vehicles are based on the 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 but have been modified to echo the styling and performance of the original Mr. Norm muscle cars from the past. In the performance department, Mr. Norm’s 426 Hemi Challenger and Cuda Convertible have both had their engines equipped with a new reciprocating assembly that includes a forged crank, rods and pistons that increase engine displacement to a hefty 7.0-liters. The new assembly is needed to handle the Mr. Norm Signature Kenne Bell 2.8L twin-screw supercharger that whips the final power output to a tire-shredding 725hp. A new low restriction cat back dual-exhaust is also on offer to give the car a unique sounding growl, and both vehicles also get a new rear suspension system from Mr. Norm to handle all that extra power. Incidentally, the suspension system uses the same differential from the mighty Dodge Viper SRT-10 model. In terms of appearance, both vehicles feature a set of Mr. Norm 'Thrust' custom wheels, apparently inspired by the mag wheels that were popular when the first Hemi Challengers and Hemi Cuda's appeared on the muscle car scene. At 20-inches in diameter, the wheels are shod with high-performance Pirelli - just as well considering how much torture they will eventually be going through. At the front of the car is a 1971 Hemi Cuda-inspired grille, with other throwbacks to the original Mr. Norm cars seen throughout such as a custom tail panel with genuine 1971 Cuda-style writing, and actual 1971 Hemi Cuda tail light assemblies.2009 Mr. Norm 426 Hemi Cuda Convertible2009 Mr. Norm 426 Hemi Challenger Convertible Read More

The Dodge Challenger has been a welcome arrival for many muscle-car fans. Willing to overlook its hefty weight for the old-school looks and meaty Hemi power, they've already purchased just about every car scheduled to be made for the next year. But Hurst wasn't content to leave the Challenger alone, and has decided to prep a high-powered version complete with a collection of Hurst accessories available soon through Dodge dealers.

Joining the tuning firm’s previous Challenger Series 2 R/T and Dodge Challenger SRT8 packages, comes a new Competition/Plus Challenger that gives a nod to the company's most popular shifter of the same name... The Dodge Challenger has been a welcome arrival for many muscle-car fans. Willing to overlook its hefty weight for the old-school looks and meaty Hemi power, they've already purchased just about every car scheduled to be made for the next year. But Hurst wasn't content to leave the Challenger alone, and has decided to prep a high-powered version complete with a collection of Hurst accessories available soon through Dodge dealers. Joining the tuning firm’s previous Challenger Series 2 R/T and Dodge Challenger SRT8 packages, comes a new Competition/Plus Challenger that gives a nod to the company's most popular shifter of the same name – one million of which have been sold to date. The Competition/Plus Challenger is an $18,495 package and includes a number of accessories, both performance and style related. The cars are available in red, white, silver and blue, and all come with matte black Hurst graphics. The final exterior touch is a set of forged aluminum wheels shod with BF Goodrich KDW tires. Inside, the cars get a black shift knob as well as a plaque of authenticity located on the dash. For the performance nuts, Hurst also offers a K&N high-flow air filter, a Magnaflow stainless-steel exhaust, and an Eibach suspension system with coil-over adjustable shocks, springs, and a sway bar.Hurst Performance Competition/Plus Dodge Challenger Read More