Showing posts with label Dodge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dodge. Show all posts

Saturday 6 August 2011

2011 Dodge Charger Rallye V6







The year was 1966. The muscle car era, which arguably began two years earlier with the introduction of the Pontiac GTO, was in full swing. In order to have a chance at attracting the young, affluent buyers so craved by American automakers of the day, a car needed to offer equal doses of style and horsepower. Dodge, with its brand new Charger fastback, offered plenty of both.

But it wasn't until 1968 that the Dodge Charger truly hit its stride, earning it legendary status in the annals of automotive history. Coke-bottle styling, a full suite of powerful V8 engines – including the 440 Six Pack and 426 Hemi – and plenty of success on the NASCAR circuit meant that the Dodge Boys had a winner on their hands.

Sadly, the heyday of American muscle was nearly over by the time Dodge figured out the formula, and the car was just a shell of its former muscular self by the end of 1974.

The rest of the 1970s were not kind to the Charger, and sales slowly faded away until the model name was canceled altogether after the 1978 model year. We'll gracefully skip over the front-wheel-drive years from 1983 through 1987 and move straight to the nameplate's reintroduction in 2006. The Hemi was back in action, the new car's styling was aggressive and generally well received and sales took off. But by 2010, yet again the reborn Charger was seriously showing its age, having received nothing in the way of significant interior or exterior updates during its five years back on the market and being saddled with a fully uncompetitive line of V6 engines and even an ancient four-speed automatic transmission in base models.

Dodge has finally given the "new" Charger some attention with an update for 2011 that includes new looks, new engines and the complete absence of a four-speed transmission. Does this mean that Dodge is done letting the Charger nameplate wither on the vine? Without spoiling the rest of the review, let's just say we have some good news to share.



Monday 25 April 2011

Dodge offers sneak peek at 2011 Mopar Charger

http://www.sportscarsfans.com/images/script/image.php?id=69EA_4DB587DA

The 2010 Mopar Challenger arrived last summer to a hero’s welcome. Chrysler only offered 500 copies of the special edition Mopar model, which carried a base sticker price of $38,000. With the all-new 2011 Charger now trolling Dodge dealer parking lots all around the country, you can probably guess which vehicle is next to feature a Mopar makeover.

Fortunately, Chrysler doesn’t plan to disappoint, as the automaker has released the first sketch of its forthcoming special edition model. The rendering reveals a black and blue color scheme similar to that of the Challenger, though the side stripes have been replaced with a stripe that stretches across the hood, roof and trunk. As an added bonus, the Mopar team appears to have gotten rid of the bulbous and unnecessary hood scoop for the 2011 Charger; a move we support 1,000 percent.

Some 2010 Mopar Challenger owners may have been disappointed that Chrysler’s mod team opted for the 5.7 liter V8 as the engine of choice instead of the more powerful 6.1 liter V8. Team Pentastar hasn’t yet announced which engine the Mopar Charger will receive, though the automaker did promise that engineers have “added even more performance.” We’re hoping that “more performance” translates into the new 470-horsepower, 6.4 liter V8, but we’ll have to wait until later this month when Chrysler officially reveals the hot new sedan at an as-yet undisclosed event (New York Auto Show?).

[Source: Chrysler]

PRESS RELEASE:

Auburn Hills, Mich. - Today, Chrysler Group LLC issued a sketch of its new Mopar® ‘11 Charger. The company will release details of the vehicle later this month.

“After the success of our Mopar ‘10 Challenger, we moved on to the iconic Dodge Charger and added even more performance,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “As a new company, we will continue to leverage the heritage of the Mopar brand at every turn.”

Thursday 11 November 2010

SEMA 2010: Dodge Charger Redline Concept




Among Chrysler's homage to the storied past at this year's SEMA Show is this 2011 Dodge Charger Redline Concept – the Charger that Mopar Underground would build if it could. The crimson four-door sits an inch lower to the ground over 22-inch Super Alloy wheels, all the better to keep your eyes on the black roof. Other trim pieces include the black spoilers fore and aft, tinted head- and taillights and a black side scoop to take you back to the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T.

Under the aluminum hood is a 5.7-liter Hemi wearing Mopar headers, as well as a cold-air intake and exhaust. Come shimmy and shake time, things are kept in better check by a Mopar strut tower brace. A black and red interior fills out the theme, aluminum bezels and Katzkin leather keeping it swish and prototype paddle shifters keep it truly conceptual.

Wednesday 10 November 2010

SEMA 2010: Dodge Challenger SRT8 392




One of the 1,492 Challenger SRT8 392s that Dodge says it's going to build next year is menacing the corner of the Mopar booth at this year's SEMA show. With a new 6.4-liter V8 offering 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque under the hood, this muscle machine appears ready to tame the road.

The SRT8 392 should prove to perform significantly better than previous Challengers thanks to quicker steering, revised suspension settings, beefier shocks and added downforce. The wheels are also a treat. Plus, you'll get better gas mileage than in the 2010 Challenger – that is, if you manage to scoop one up before everyone else.