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Test drive: 2009 Dodge Challenger SE

admin — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:03:36 +0000

First, a quick and heartfelt thanks to all who offered condolences via comments and email. We’re still in Chicago doing the family thing. BUT… today is the first day I can talk about the 2009 Challenger, and there’s no way I’m gonna keep you waiting.

As you probably know, Dodge introduced three new Challengers for 2009: The stick-shift SRT8, the 5.7 liter R/T, and the V6-powered SE. I’m sure you’ll see a lot of articles about the first two, but it was the base model that fascinated me. I wanted to know how much Challenger you could get for $22,000, and after an extended test drive, I found out. And now you can find out too — check out my 2009 Dodge Challenger SE test drive and review. (Want pictures? You’ll find ‘em here. And if you missed it the first time around, read my 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 test drive.)

But wait, there’s more: The day after the press preview, the Chrysler folks were kind enough to hand me the keys to a beautiful red Challenger R/T with a 6-speed manual transmission. I’ll be posting my 2009 Challenger R/T test drive in a few days

2009 Dodge Challenger Brochure car news and reviews

admin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:36:16 +0000

Dodge is offering an official brochure for its 2009 Challenger. And even if you won’t find out as much as from the pres release, the brochure offers pretty good stuff.

For example, you will learn that the R/T Classic is being offered with a coat of B5 Blue, 20″ torq-thrust lookalikes, T/A-style stripes, and the old-school script Challenger badge on the front fender

2009 Dodge Challenger gets supercharger Car news and reviews

admin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:15:42 +0000

The 2009 Dodge Challenger will get even more power. With the help of a supercharger from Mopar. The updated vehicle will be unveiled in November at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

With 2 stages of modification, the power of the 6.1-liter Hemi V8’s engine will grow from 425 hp to 630 hp.

Along with the blower, the ’09 Challenger will get the typical SEMA treatment: a cold-air intake, a high-flow cat-back exhaust system and, of course, a few different sets of rims.

2009 Dodge Ram with Hemi V8 could top segment in fuel economy

admin — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 09:18:08 +0000

Dodge may be having trouble moving the ‘08 Rams off dealers’ lots, but the all-new 2009 model will likely grab more pickup truck buyers’ attention thanks to a significant bump in fuel economy. The 2009 model will net as much as a 20 percent fuel economy improvement over the outgoing model.

The fuel economy gains have been made through improvements to the truck itself, as well as improvements to Dodge’s 5.7L Hemi V8.

Dodge engineers worked diligently to make the 2009 Ram more aerodynamic, and even managed to shave 80 pounds off the truck’s curb-weight. Despite the Ram’s more powerful 5.7L V8 engine — now producing 380 horsepower and 404 lb-ft or torque — the engine is about 5 percent more efficient than the one found in the 2008 model.

These factors combined will improve the 2009 Ram’s highway fuel economy by as much as 20 percent. “We expect to see a 10 to 20 percent gain in highway efficiency,” Mike Cairns, the Ram’s chief engineer, told The Detroit Free press.

A two-wheel drive 2008 Ram equipped with a Hemi V8 returns about 19 mpg on the highway, meaning the new model could potentially achieve 23 mpg on the highway — a figure that would be tops in the segment.

Dodge sold just under 360,000 Ram pickups in the U.S. last year — taking the number three overall spot — and is hoping the new model will help boost this year’s sales. Through April, Ram sales were down 24 percent.

source from here

Dodge ships first 1,000 2008 Challenger SRT8s

admin — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 09:04:38 +0000

Just about two years and five months after Dodge first introduced us to its reborn muscle car at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, the first 1,000 examples of the 2008 Challenger SRT8 have officially been shipped from Dodge to dealers across the country.

The production run of the 2008 model will only total 6,400 units — all have been spoken for, so eBay or waiting for 2009 model is the only way to get your hands on the latest muscle from Detroit — but the other 5,400 Challenger buyers need not worry about not getting their car until the winter months. Dodge says it will produce every 2008 Challenger “by the first part of July.”

Although the Challenger may not be the type of car Chrysler wants to flaunt right now — especially the SRT8 model which features a 425 horsepower 6.1L HEMI V8 — it’s good to see some positive buzz around the Michigan-based automaker. However, the Challenger hype can only last so long — after all, a new Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro are on the way — so we hope Chrysler can parlay Challenger’s positive vibe into future models.

source from here