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In a bid to stay competitive in the ever-constant muscle car horsepower wars, the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is set to get a big increase in power. We’ve already heard numerous rumors of a new 6.4-liter V8 replacing the current 6.1-liter unit, but now comes word that along with improved efficiency, the new engine will boast 480-hp and 460 ft-lbs of torque – increases of 55-hp and 40 ft-lbs respectively. The new engine is also touted to get ZF’s new 8-speed automatic transmission for improved performance and fuel economy.

As for the R/T models, they will retain the same engine and output levels, while the base SE will see significant improvements thanks to the use of a new Pentastar V6 engine, which just launched in the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. That new powerplant will bump output by 40-hp and 20 ft-lbs for a total of 290-hp and 270 ft-lbs of torque. Fuel economy should also get a boost, up from 18/25-mpg (city/highway) to 20/26-mpg.

A host of other changes are also set to debut on the refreshed 2011 model Challenger.

IS350jet

Of the three pony's, the Challenger is my favorite, style wise. Too bad it's built by Chrysler.

jaseman

The question for me becomes, will the Charger get the same 6.4 dropped in to an SRT8 variant? (and how about a manual tranny please)


It's a shame, especially since the Chrysler group may be on it's way out all together in the near future. While most of their offerings are just plain underwhelming, the Charger and Challenger are bonified hits. They just can't carry the corporation on their own....

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

It's best to get it now before CAFE Standards kill this in 6 yrs...

Koz

It needs the extra power to be competitive!

Koz

LexFather

Nice upgrades!

mmarshall

With the Viper gone, this will probably take its place (at least for a while) as the King of the Dodge performance cars.

IS-SV

Best of luck in having that make any significant improvement in sales or profits.

primecut

iTrader: (1)

The muscle car HP war is ON! I'm looking forward to the 2012 Camaro SS with 550hp.

I think the retro design is spot on, and it would have been perfect if only they had made it about 15% smaller. In person it resembles a boat more than a car.

IS-SV

I agree, especially about the tuna boat sizing, no wonder the Mustang is the best-seller.

Mbenz528i

I love this car, more power never hurts.

mmarshall

Enjoy it while it lasts. The Day of Reckoning is coming in 4-5 more years, with new CAFE/emission controls. Fortunately, it will NOT be a complete repeat of the 1970s, because technology today is so much greater (and power can be gotten in other ways than displacement alone), but it seems obvious that the classic HP wars, as we know them today, will come to an end, just like they did after 1970.

True, the Challenger is noticeably larger than the Mustang (and, of course, larger than the original Challenger of 1970-74), but I think that is primarily because the Challenger was designed to appeal to the aging Baby Boomers of today, in their 50s and 60s, who want to relive their high-school days. Many of the Boomers, of course, are considerably larger and heavier today than they were in high school (just like the car itself). Look at me, for example....though not terribly obese, still 6' 2", 275 lb., and with size-15 shoes.

The Mustang, on the other hand, has always been popular, even with Generation X and Generation Y, many of whom lack the beer-bellies of the older Baby-Boomer crowd. So, being smaller, it is aimed at the younger crowds of today (and, of course, thinner Baby Boomers)

IS-SV

IMO, the Challenger is larger primarily because of the platform it was derived from. Yes, it looks a bit obsolete already.

mmarshall

Yes, there is merit to that view. The Challenger's platform was taken from the fairly large, RWD, Charger/Magnum/300 platform, which, of course, itself was at least partly derived from the Mercedes E-Class. The Challenger, being a coupe, got a somewhat shortened-wheelbase version of the platform, but there is still a lot of width to it. Still, most of the Challengers I see around my area seem to be owned by big, heavy Baby Boomers like me (and I saw my first purple one the other day).

IS-SV

Coool, haven't seen a purple one in the flesh around here.