Tuesday 26th October 2010

Dodge Reveals Hardcore Challenger

Faster, fleeter 'SRT8 392' set for debut at SEMA show

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Dodge is set to reveal a limited-edition go-faster version of its Challenger muscle car - the SRT8 392 - at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

There are all sorts of yawn-tastic tweaks happening to the Dodge Challenger for the 2011 model year (a revised front bumper, new 305hp 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 and - oooh - new door handles), but this is not one of them.

Based on the 'standard' SRT8, the 392 gets a new Hemi V8 that's been massaged out by 300cc to 6.4 litres (or 392 cubic inches - hence the name). This takes power up by 75hp to 470hp, and torque up by 90lb ft to 470lb ft.

Tweaked suspension geometry, new dampers and a quicker steering rack, meanwhile, help to make the Challenger lighter on its feet.

Dodge even goes so far as to say that the Challenger SRT8 392 "is now more nimble and playfully 'tossable' while still capable of an incredible .93g of lateral acceleration on the skid pad - the most of any production Challenger." Big words...

Buyers of the 1492 SRT8 392s will be able to choose either white with blue stripes or blue with white stripes, while other cosmetic finery comes in the form of '392 Hemi' badges, a boot spoiler and chunky front splitter, quad exhausts and 20-inch alloys.

The Challenger 392 should arrive in US dealers before the end of the year.

[Smartass]

Will it run on LPG?

[TheOrangePeril]

Rawr! Want.

[WhiteBaron]

article said said:

playfully 'tossable'

:snigger:

[Riggers]

WhiteBaron said:

article said said:

playfully 'tossable'

:snigger:

I hoped that would elicit a childish giggle or two - it certainly did from this end .

[Rawwr]

Riggers said:

I hoped that would elicit a childish giggle or two - it certainly did from this end .

I could write a whole article about something else that's playfully tossable. What address would you like me to email it to?

[Fire99]

Now that looks like a bit of good old fashioned sillyness in this techno-gadgetry world.

[Riggers]

Rawwr said:

Riggers said:

I hoped that would elicit a childish giggle or two - it certainly did from this end .

I could write a whole article about something else that's playfully tossable. What address would you like me to email it to?

Ummm... I think that's perhaps not quite the type of website we are. but thank you for your - er - enthusiasm....

[Rawwr]

Shunned

[300bhp/ton]

Smartass said:

Will it run on LPG?

Yes.

[waldershelf]

I don't usually like modern American cars but this really hits the mark for me. I bet the interior is still rubbish though, recycled wheely bins and Amstrad spares.

[ringram]

Its a proper sized coupe. Based on the 300C platform, she is a big girl with room for 3 across the back and shed loads of leg room plus large boot.
I like them!
Too many coupes have useless rear seats.

[Fleckers]

mmmm yes please

I wonder how much when they get over here, got to be in the high £50K's

[V88Dicky]

Blue please, stripe delete

[LuS1fer]

It will still come down to price. Though the 5.0 Mustang has 412hp, it's waaaaaay lighter and better handling. Still waiting for that Camaro Z28 though aren't we....

[JonRB]

Article said:

20-iinch alloys

Is this a sort of phonetic spelling for a Redneck accent? If so it should be "20 Aiiyainch alloys, boiiii"

[Dunk1982]

Another one added to the list!

[nobby9000000]

i'd sell the grandma for one of these.

[annodomini2]

Article said:

while still capable of an incredible .93g of lateral acceleration on the skid pad

What did they run into?

[geoffracing]

Very good-looking, especially compared to the dull and/or horrid today's shapes.

[kbee540]

"while still capable of an incredible .93g of lateral acceleration on the skid pad"

Sadly our American friends regularly confuse skid pad numbers with 'handling', i.e. high lateral g = good handling.

They are of course wrong, but no more so than bores who argue that .2 seconds around the 'Ring somehow make one car better than another...(I'm talking to you GTR v 911 nerds)