The Mopar mavens over at AllPar.com are reporting that the 2011 Dodge Challenger will receive numerous upgrades, the most important to us involves a 60hp jump for the SRT8 model. With Ford punching the power button with its newest Mustang and Chevy already making hay with the Camaro, it was looking like the heaviest of the trio was going to be the weakest. That may not be the case if the reports are true.
Assuming the AllPar.com report is true, the SRT8 will be packing 480 hp and 460 lb/ft of torque. Despite it’s more than 4,200lb curb weight, those numbers should produce a car that can really haul some ass.
Interestingly, the lower ranking R/T model will keep its 370hp rating for automatic cars and 375hp rating for gear jammers. We’re trying to figure out why there wasn’t even a slight jump, even just small numbers for PR appeal. The one increase the car will see is a single MPG jump for its highway rating, 23 to 24 for auto equipped and 24 to 25 for stick shifters.
One cool thing on the horizon is an 8-speed automatic that ZF and Chrysler have been working on. That trans may debut in the SRT8 models, but not until later in the year or perhaps 2012.
In keeping with the V6 performance revolution which seems to be gaining steam in the pony car realm, the Challenger SE models will jump power from 250 all the way to 290 on the back of the new 3.7L “Pentastar” V6 engine. The report states that the engine could see a 300hp rating with direct injection. Since both Ford and Chevy are treating their V6 cars to the 300hp rating, we’d be shocked is Chrysler does something differently.
Who knows when the other shoe will drop, but it’s one hell of a time to be in the market for a pony car!
Source — AllPar.com — 2011 Dodge Challenger Report
