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Chrysler & Chrysler Canada are more then happy to promote as many variations on their 2009 – 2010 Dodge challenger. The 09 Challenger SRT8 ($45,995 ) obviously takes the cake for drag-strip icon, with an optional six-speed manual transmission, limited-slip differential, and carbon fiber hood can be complimented with a variety of colors, including “General Lee” orange, Silver/Black Hurst coloring or, my personal fav, metallic blue.

You can also pick up the $34,995 R/T ‘09 model with the familiar 5.7 L V8, or even a bare-bones SE for $24,995. Just don’t expect to blow anyone away at the track. Regardless of horse power, all versions look fantastic speeding around Englishtown’s course. If you’re ever in the area, we highly suggest check out Raceway Park. As for the 2009 Dodge Challenger SXT, here are more realistic options/calculations:

PRICE: $26,995

WORST: Big car feel

This may be one of the saddest pictures I’ve seen all week…ok, that’s a little bit exaggerated, although I’d never wish this fate on any car or it’s driver/passengers. Jalopnik snagged this photo outside a Massachusetts auto body shop of what used to be a 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8. If it’s at a body shop, perhaps there’s still hope for this sad little Dodge. We’ll keep our fingers crossed!

2008 Fiat Idea

Now, I don’t mean to trash Fiat, especially since they look to be the only lifeline Chrysler has left. But can their cars look ANY more foreign? If you purchase a Fiat you should get a bottle of Merlot, a baguette and some friggin pasta sauce with it! And people have accused Chrysler of uninspired design. But we get it, Fiats aren’t exactly built with Audi styling – they are meant to be functional in a city setting – needed to travel down narrow, crowded Italian streets, with windows that come down fast enough so you can inappropriately whistle as a female’s behind.

So now, with the Chapter 11/Fiat merger announcements at Chrysler this morning, and the idling of ALL plants in North America (12 total, we fear our favorite Dodge vehicles (Charger, Challenger, you get the picture) will be erased from existence. I know, for now all they can focus on it the survival of a brand, they’ll worry about design later. But there’s a niche market for American muscle still, and fans (ie: car buyers) may turn their noses up at what’s to come. Can a company like Dodge still produce a little bit of muscle after all the eco-friendly, compact cars are done? This may be a narrow mindset, I’ll admit. We where at Dodgepedia want Chrysler and its parent company to flourish, obviously…maybe we’re feeling a bit nostalgic. Or nervous.

These vehicles are combined with 5.7 liter HEMI engine – giving an output of anywhere from 570 to 700 hp – with improved suspension and aerodynamic design. Price ranges from $60,000 USD for the SMS 570 and $70,000 for 570X – both are available for order at your local Chrysler Dodge Jeep dealerships. Check out more in the official press release below. And thanks to Saleen for a nod to our previous Saleen Supercharged Challenger post!

Steve Saleen and his company SMS are well on the way to production with the first vehicle in the line of Signature Series ultra-high performance vehicles. The SMS 570 Challenger will be the first vehicle with a host of aesthetic and functional innovations including the patented SMS Red Butterfly Induction™ hood and a full compliment of SMS ultra-high performance components including: drivetrain, suspension, aerodynamics, tires, wheels and interior.

“When you combine Steve Saleen and Dodge Challenger you get the pairing of two powerhouse automotive icons.” – Edmunds/Inside Line

Steve Saleen presents the SMS 570 Challenger

The fully certified and street legal SMS 570 Challenger and SMS 570X Challenger will be based off the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T platform and will feature a SMS designed and engineered SMS 296 Supercharger atop the 5.7L Hemi, with power ratings from 500 to over 700 horsepower respectively.

Steve Saleen presents the SMS 296 Supercharger

“Who wants a Steve Saleen Supercharged Challenger? We Do!” – Dodgepedia.org

The MSRP’s for the 2009 SMS 570 Challenger and SMS 570X Challenger are targeted to start at $60,000 to $70,000 respectively with production commencing in 2008. Both models will carry a bumper-to-bumper factory warranty.

This is an exciting opportunity for the Mopar community to finally take part in the ultra-high performance niche production vehicle market! So act now to reserve yours.

“We’re big fans of Steve Saleen. He’s created some pretty incredible Mustangs over the last 25 years, and any guy that successfully builds his own supercar gets major props in our book.” – Autoblog

Steve Saleen presents the SMS 570 Challenger

Each of these limited edition vehicles will be personally signed by Steve Saleen as part of the Signature Series product line, complete with unique badges and graphics. Production numbers will be limited per year depending on the model, so the opportunity to be one of the few owners is limited to a first come first served basis. So act now, by placing your pre-production orders though any Dodge dealer in the US. Or call us directly for more details.

We are a niche manufacturer of lifestyle ultra-high performance vehicles, technical performance parts, lifestyle accessories and apparel. We design, engineer, test, certify, manufacture and assemble all our own products and vehicles.

“I am drawing upon 25 years of rich experience in the automotive industry to address the rapidly expanding global market of automotive lifestyle vehicles, technical performance parts, accessories and apparel” explains Steve Saleen, Chairman and
CEO of SMS.

German Tuner Essen’s Dodge Challenger

First up we have a green-machine ready to take on any Incredible Hulk you have under the hood. This Essen ready Challenger was enhanced by German Tuners GeigerCars – with a top rated 6.1 liter V8 engine, capable of exceeding 569 horsepower and 678Nm of torque.

2009 MOPAR Drfit Dodge Challenger

We’ve talked about the 2009 Dodge Challenger MOPAR Drifter before – and about what a touch job the crew at NuFormz Racing in Ontario, California had lightening up this heavy muscle car. But trust us – this puppy can drift like any Japanese made roadster. The car come equipped with roller blade wheels on every corner, just in case you have to “ride the wall.” But don’t take our word for it:

Classic Design’s Widebody Challenger

Classic Design Concepts didn’t want to be left in the dust when it came to personalized Challengers, so they brought out a refurbished Widebody model. The frame is wider, the fenders are wider, the tires are wider…well, you get the idea. This Widebody comes with its very own Vortec Supercharged 560 horsepower engine.

SEMA’s Blacktop Dodge Challenger

Pop on some lowered 22 inch rims and strap in to the power of a HEMI V8 with this SEMA Special Edition “Blacktop” Challenger built by Dodge. The mighty Ram has given this Challenger a black coating, seductive tripes with red enhancements, including a red leather interior.

Mr. Norm Super Challenger

Engine experts at Mr. Norm wanted to put Dodge horsepower to the test – so they experimented with two (yes, 2!) HEMI V8′s to later produce upwards of 1800 horsepower! Yikes! Better cover your ears.

Dodge Challenger Targa

Dodge and Chrysler came together and ripped apart the race track at Targa Rally Newfoundland with their Challenger Targa racer. A 540-horsepower, 490 ft-lb 392 HEMI lies under its hood, accompanied by a six-speed Tremec manual transmission. Want to go for a ride:

Dodge Challenger Drag Racer

MOPAR and Dodge created not one but TWO Challenger Drag Race Packages for the 29th annual Mopar Mile-High Speedway event in Morrison, Colorado. Three different engines will be available for Dodge’s consumer versions of these dragsters – 6.1-liter or 5.7-liter HEMI or 5.9-liter Magnum, both in either manual or automatic transmission.

Jay Leno’s Dodge Challenger

When your Jay Leno one vintage Dodge Challenger just isn’t enough. Watch as the famous talk show host responds to his brand new 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8.

Mopar® Unveils 2009 Mopar Drift Dodge Challenger at SEMA -Reveal illustrates “if you can dream it, you can build it with Mopar®” – Shaun Carlson and Samuel Hübinette on the 2009 Mopar Drift Challenger

Mopar®, Chrysler LLC’s global service and parts division, is bringing the all-new Dodge Challenger to the next generation of motorsports enthusiasts. Mopar will unveil the much-anticipated 2009 Mopar Drift Dodge Challenger today at the 2008 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas.

Team Mopar driver and two-time Formula Drift (FD) champion Samuel Hübinette, who will steer the Mopar Drift Dodge Challenger during the 2009 season, participated in the reveal. Hübinette’s team owner Shaun Carlson, owner of NuFormz Racing, was also in attendance. Carlson spearheaded the build of the Mopar Drift Dodge Challenger at his NuFormz Racing shop in Ontario, Calif.

The unveiling of the Mopar Drift Dodge Challenger at SEMA continues Mopar’s long commitment to the rising motorsport of drifting. Mopar and Hübinette teamed up to capture the inaugural FD championship in 2004, with Hübinette also taking the 2006 FD title. Hübinette has claimed nine career FD victories, a series high, spreading the word about Mopar power to the younger demographic of race fans that follow drifting.

“The debut of the Mopar Drift Dodge Challenger solidifies the Mopar theme – if you can dream it, you can build it with Mopar,” said Steve Shugg, Director of Sales and Marketing – Mopar, Chrysler LLC. “Mopar is reaching out to today’s car enthusiast by combining its storied racing heritage with a variety of performance and accessory products that allow customers to make a personal statement with their vehicle.”

Shaun Carlson and Samuel Hübinette on the 2009 Mopar Drift Dodge Challenger

The creation of the Mopar Drift Dodge Challenger was no easy task for Carlson and his NuFormz Racing crew.

“We learned a lot from building the Mopar Drift Dodge Charger, which Sam drove during the 2007 season, and transferred that knowledge to the Mopar Drift Dodge Challenger,” said Carlson. “When we decided to bring out a new competition drift car, what better platform than the new Dodge Challenger. It has cool styling, great aerodynamics and it’s a car that we feel is going to create a lot of buzz among fans of the FD Series.”

“One of the biggest modifications was making the car light,” Carlson remarked. “Much of the body is now carbon-fiber, which cut quite a bit of weight. We’ve been able to put a lot of time, effort and hard work into this car. It’s going to be strong.”

“This is going to be an exciting time, bringing out another car and another platform,” said Hübinette, who in 2009 will mark his sixth year as a member of Team Mopar. “All that we learned from building the Dodge Charger drift car is transformed into this car and really makes it competitive. The Dodge Challenger is definitely the hot vehicle right now – everybody’s talking about it. Having the vehicle built as a competition drift car is just going to add even more excitement. We’re pumped up about launching this car, doing some testing over the winter and getting it ready to rock, and then taking home some victories next year.”

These Challenger SRT8 prototypes have been modified to lose about 1000 pounds each, sound blockers, gutted components and roll bars with race seats/restraints. WorldCarFans reports: Reducing weight even more, they also fitted composite, polycarbonate and light weight components. For the driveline and chassis they repositioned the engine for improved driveline angle and weight distribution, shortened the wheelbase by 0.5-inch, added a front suspension cradle with bolt-in crossmember for easier access and added solid engine mounts.

Built at Chrysler’s Brampton, Ontario plant in Canada, Mopar will build at least 100 Challenger Drag Race Cars. Depending on the configuration selected, MSRP will begin about low to mid $30,000 range. Each car will carry an identification plate with sequential serial number. Get in line race fans!

A Plush Interior

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I can haz skid-marks?

Gorgeous Grill!

Photos from the 2008 Chicago Auto Show & Dodge