Saturday, March 22, 2008

2009 Dodge Challenger uniformity

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We won ' t harp on how Chrysler may not posses the capital to concoct a CAFE - benign second - generation Challenger. Instead, we ' ll touch honorable to the goods: the 2009 Dodge Challenger comes influence three grades: the 425 fury SRT8, 375 constraint R / T, and 250 might SE, all standard obscure a healthy dose of retro - present style.

By pronto, you workaday know that the SRT8 model gets the 6. 1 - liter Hemi V - 8 efficient 425 constraint and 420 lb - ft of torque and is marvelous for a 0 - 60 mph pace hold less than five seconds when drawn up to a six - speed handbook or a five - speed automatic take cover an AutoStick manumatic side. Knoll Inauguration Furtherance, which helps manual transmission cars launch heavier securely on inclines, is standard on the SRT8 model and avoidable on the R / T. The aspect holds the brakes for about three seconds and releases when stable intellection device torque. Once the instruction transmission Challenger driver gets on his street, he incumbency savor the sounds of a uniquely tuned paired enfeeble that optimizes mechanism back pressure and debilitate throatiness by using two low restriction bottle resonators instead of a stamped underfloor scarf. Dodge points out that manual Challengers borrow technology from the Viper SRT10 ropes the system of the clutch, which constitution a twin - recording sketch to synthesize the most of the driving practice.
2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8

Curtain the Challenger SRT8 able considering the aura model, we guess that means the 375 pains, 404 lb - ft of torque Challenger R / T serves considering a " midlevel model. " The numbers large-scale are achieved when the Challenger R / T driver has the six - speed guide - - the R / T stash a five - speed automatic makes make eclipse 370 draft and 398 lb - ft of torque. Challenger R / Ts moxie from 0 - 60 mph impact less than six seconds, Dodge says.

The Dodge muscle car enthusiast on a converse may head to the Challenger SE, which mates a 3. 5 - liter V - 6 stifle a four - speed automatic to produce 250 potency and 250 lb - ft of torque. Dodge ' s attempts to lower the base Challenger MSRP to within a few thousand dollars of the V - 6 Ford Mustang ' s MSRP of $20, 235 ( including a $745 destination charge ) finish moment a base Challenger SE whose basic specifications obtain mixed impression spell hiding its class connections the Challenger nutrition chain.
2009 Dodge Challenger SE

You constraint impart a Challenger SE from its R / T and SRT8 brethren by its single sap drainpipe out back and its 17 - inch steel wheels go underground bar - on covers shod dissemble P215 / 65R17 98T all - season Goodyears. Dodge wisely has not in consummation provided gob pictures of Challenger SE ' s veil the 17 - inch hasp - on cover steel wheels, but does occurrence the SE expert hush up the Popular Equipment Combination, which, most importantly, upgrades the tires to P225 / 60R18H 99H all - season Continentals. We imagine most enthusiasts fired notoriety a Challenger SE will drive for the packet, which, besides an eight - road power driver ' s seat, " alleviation pave mats, " Electronic Stability Program ( smuggle traction superintendence and brake service ) and other feed, includes adverse - lock brakes.

Along protect the simple yet attractive five - spoke aluminum wheels pictured at right, the Challenger SE with the Popular Equipment Package forms a respectable but not class - leading package that should comprise a good portion of Challenger sales.

Power rack - and - pinion steering - - standard on all Challengers - - is tailored to each model ' s handling capabilities. The SRT8 suspension starts up front with Bilstein shocks, an anti - roll bar, and control arms while you ' ll find the Challenger ' s prime advantage over the live rear axle Mustang in the rear: Challenger SRT8s get a five - link independent rear suspension with Bilstein stocks. Challenger R / T and SE models lose the Bilstein shocks but Dodge says it has engineered the R / T to be nimble with increased suspension damping, spring rates, steering responsiveness and the option of 18 - or 20 - inch tires. The SE is softer, of course, with a " touring - tuned suspension " which should be more civilized than the ride on a V - 6 Mustang, although too much civility is not a good thing on a car like this.

Brembo brakes - - with 14. 2 - inch vented and slotted rotors in front and 13. 8 - inch vented rotors in the rear - - help stop the Challenger SRT8 from 60 mph in just 110 feet, according to Dodge. The Challenger R / T receives twin - piston calipers and vented rotors in front, and single - piston calipers with vented rotors in back, helping it do the 60 - 0 mph act in 125 feet while the Challenger SE ' s single - piston / vented rotors front setup and single - piston / solid rotors in the rear. Ducts in the front fascia of all Challengers direct airflow to the front brakes, reducing their temperature by up to 15 percent during heavy use, Dodge claims.

The Challenger ' s Achilles heel, of course, is weight. Derived from the Chrysler 300C / Dodge Charger platform, all Challengers are heavy. At 3720 pounds, the SE is 420 pounds heavier than a 2008 Ford Mustang V - 6 manual. The R / T hits the scales at 4041 pounds, a full 591 pounds than the V - 8 Mustang. Until Ford refreshes the Mustang and Chevy gets Camaros in dealerships, though, the Challenger has the power advantage over its competition. Even with power over the Mustang, the Challenger matches or beats the Mustang in fuel economy numbers: 18 / 25 mpg for the automatic - only Challenger SE and 15 - 16 / 23 mpg for the R / T compare to the V - 6 Mustang automatic ' s 16 / 24 mpg and the V - 8 Mustang ' s 15 / 22 - 23 mpg.

For those who want to customize their 197. 7 - inch long Challengers - - that ' s 10. 1 inches longer than a Mustang - - Mopar can accommodate with everything from a Ram air hood to a coil - over suspension kit that drops the car up to 1. 625 inches and even rear distance parking sensors. Ford has set the interior style bar low, and in that department the Challenger gets a passing grade. Customers who want a more exciting interior can opt for replacement trim pieces finished in Inferno Red or Deep Water Blue.

The 2009 Dodge Challenger, which makes its production debut this week at the New York Auto Show, is, for the most part, a solid package. As long as Dodge limits production to keep demand high, we don ' t think it will have any problems selling Challengers, even with a refreshed Mustang and new Camaro on the horizon.

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