Dodge Unleashes Most Powerful Challenger Ever

[hawk02]

Seems like they one upped the Viper on a few things, not sure why but what this car is offering at probably $50,000 less than a Viper it may be a sales thing as they said Viper sales were way down............,,.Still wanna see numbers vs. the Viper, 0-60, 1/4 mile and top speed........

[hawk02]

Trans will not physically fit into a Viper frame

If the Tremec fits in both there IS a way to make it fit.......IF they want too.

[swexlin]

Its going to make 0-60 and 1/4 mile times very close to a Gen 4 especially with that 8 speed auto. The 6.4s are already damned fast. Hell, my 6.1 ain't slow, so this thing is gonna be hot.

[XSnake]

If the Tremec fits in both there IS a way to make it fit.......IF they want too.

No. It's been stated multiple times by both engineers and Ralph that it will not. They tried.

[hawk02]

No. It's been stated multiple times by both engineers and Ralph that it will not. They tried.

Thanks, did not know that, just seemed that if 1 fit in both the other should, I think they just do not want it too..........

[slitherv10]

If the Viper is a track designed and built auto, then there is no reason for anyone to be ashamed of the Challenger beating he Viper in a drag race if and when it does happen. I am not saying it will but, I know a lot of people were saying how HP does not matter and 640 is enough. Who needs more. Well, this is one situation which most will be biting their tongues if and when it happens.

[Schen]

No tongue biting at all.

In fact I'm still not sure why we still consider the viper a purpose built drag car. It's not. Not saying the Challenger is either, but not a whole lot of guys take their LXs road racing. First Gen LX/LCs are what you'll see at the 1/4 mile. Just like Gen III/IV Vipers, Gen II LXs aren't easily to be able to be tuned.

The only thing I would be biting my tongue about is two models. Alot of folks are going nuts about Hellcat. There is a base SRT. I'll be curious to see how that changes when numbers are released.

--RS

P.S. Fat tires on these cars do not make a lick of difference at the track. Most run small Hoosiers since they have LSD rear ends in them. Half shafts are a common replacement.

[SSGNRDZ_28]

My guess is the Viper is so much lighter it doesn't need to be carrying around the extra weight. We may be talking 1000 lbs extra mass at the end of the day.

why in the hell would SRT not put the same brakes on the Viper? seems crazy.

[Patentlaw]

And not one comment on price. Save the cheering until the price is announced. A steal at 30k more than it should be........

You can make anything.....but for a good price? Of course, most people are just magazine racers anyway, so it really does not matter.....

[rw99]

Those 2 cars are the reason Dodge did this, we'll see on pavement but the SRT on paper should be their killer!!!! Word has it that the 600+=690HP, I had read that they wanted 50 more HP than the Viper and that is without any mods or tuning......... It's still NOT a Viper but will be impressive none the less, my truck's not a Viper either but still impressive......lol

I don't see this number being anything greater than 620 HP. Something close to 7 psi on a 6.2L.

[Lawrenzo]

Any mention of the blower size? Is it a 1.7l like the new ZO6, or a sizeable one like the 2.3 on the Shelby and ZR1?

[hawk02]

Price was rumored at $75,000 and HP was also rumored at 690, something about the 700hp rating and not going over for some reason, don't remember what.

[Murpowa]

2doorrocket - freaking impressive car collection

[IndyRon]

I think the HP won't exceed 639 personally. They just wouldn't upstage the Viper. Can't see them doing that. And anyone who thinks that this car is going to be faster than the viper in the 1/4 is sorely mistaken. Even with an auto and fast shifting, there is NO way. That car is 900lbs heavier than the viper. Even if it came with 700hp, the viper would smoke it. That car will be a high 11 car at 122mph at best.

[swexlin]

I think the HP won't exceed 639 personally. They just wouldn't upstage the Viper. Can't see them doing that. And anyone who thinks that this car is going to be faster than the viper in the 1/4 is sorely mistaken. Even with an auto and fast shifting, there is NO way. That car is 900lbs heavier than the viper. Even if it came with 700hp, the viper would smoke it. That car will be a high 11 car at 122mph at best.

You're probably right. It's worth noting that a current stock 6.4 car, with the old 5-speed auto, gets low 12s in the 1/4, with the 8 speed, I think that car will break into the 11s. The Hellcar will be lower, I think. Just my opinion. In other words, faste to 60 and in the 1/4 than my Gen 3, and probably approaching Gen 4 numbers. We're all just magazine racing here...

[2doorrocket]

2doorrocket - freaking impressive car collection

LOL! That icon was priceless. Thanks!

[Suitejudyblueyes]

Even if it came with 700hp, the viper would smoke it.

No doubt, but that is not its purpose. Even its current 392 format, this gorgeous Challenger and its SRT variants Charger/300C/GC are people+luggage+stuff road tripping muscle machines. Nothing else comes close IMHO.

[Suitejudyblueyes]

I'll be signed up for the SRTTE about 30 seconds after those are added to the stable... if that ever happens.

Very interested to find out how it does on the road course. Yes, it's too heavy. Doesn't mean it can't be a lot of fun.

Ditto. Just did the SRTE last weekend at Daytona and sampled all four SRT products, both track and autocross. Track was great fun, autox and head-to-head not so much. The GC was surprisingly fast, nimble, and stuck to the road. Aside from introducing CF in a lot of places (the sheet metal already is prone to buckling if you look at it wrong), I don't see much opportunity for weight reduction without compromising its purpose as a hauling machine.

[hawk02]

I think the HP won't exceed 639 personally. They just wouldn't upstage the Viper. Can't see them doing that. And anyone who thinks that this car is going to be faster than the viper in the 1/4 is sorely mistaken. Even with an auto and fast shifting, there is NO way. That car is 900lbs heavier than the viper. Even if it came with 700hp, the viper would smoke it. That car will be a high 11 car at 122mph at best.

I think you'll see it with over 662 as this was made to over shadow the gt500's 662, if your not going to surpass it why bother, the numbers will be released soon so we will have to wait and see.

[ohlarikd]

Don't think stating unrivaled performance has anything to do with the V10 of the Viper, I am sure they are denoting a V8 situation , and frankly with the 662 of the GT500 , I am puzzled why said semantics are being used? The fact that the GT500 is out of production is the likely reasoning, but would think other words should have been used , as that little sentence will likely cause some controversy with other manufacturers ,namely Ford.

Logic does seem to make one believe Hellcat will be the final name -- so apparently the rights were purchased? If not I am still going for Heckat, as Underworldpussycat just seems too long?!

Agree... The Dodge Demon did not last very long before all the religious zealots killed it.

[VRYALT3R3D]

I think you'll see it with over 662 as this was made to over shadow the gt500's 662, if your not going to surpass it why bother, the numbers will be released soon so we will have to wait and see.

Chrysler is advertising the hellcat as Chrysler's most powerful v8 engine ever, not the most powerful v8 engine ever. So its safe to say it will probably have less power then the GT500. Impressively, the GT500 avoids the gas guzzler tax.

[hawk02]

They stated before that they wanted it to be more powerful that the ford, I wasn't saying the most powerful one ever, there are one's more powerful they just wanted to top ford and Chevy.

[I Bin Therbefor]

This car/engine was developed before the Viper was merged into Dodge. Second, it was developed before Dodge was given responsibility as the performance group and Chrysler as the people mover group. I think you're going to see some confusion until it is settled exactly what Dodge will sell under its label. Second, Dodge being in competition with SRT is different than Dodge being in competition within Dodge. Some sharing of components will occur in the future that may well result in having the same brakes on the big performance models. Lastly, Dodge is using words like muscle car in its press releases. So it appears some differentiation is taking place right now. Still the dealers that sell Dodge will find it easier to understand and sell this car than a Viper and will put effort in that direction.

[ohlarikd]

The Challenger and Viper are so different that I don't think it really matters which has more power at a given time. The market for each is totally differnt, and the weight of each more than offsets any horsepower advantage the Challenger may temporarily have. I expect the Viper to up the ante at some point now that more money is flowing at FCA. The Challenger, Camaro, and Mustang all have versions with more HP than many Ferraris, but no one is cross shopping them.

[Coloviper]

But the big Ferrari model has the most power inside Ferrari. Reality is for most, he included, I would not buy a new Viper at the prices now if there is a Challenger with more power. Not with the larger price difference; that is just a very bad strategy. They want Viper price for a new one, then provide Viper power. If not, I as will most will just mod their paid for Vipers for the power. You put out a 750 hp or 800 hp car new and suddenly you can't mod your existing Viper easily to achieve that. Much easier decision to make to justify a new one. But that is my opinion.