Friday, March 18, 2011

Car Of The Day: March 18, 2011


Today's car of the day is Kyosho's 2010 Dodge Challenger.



The Dodge Challenger is the name of three different generations of automobiles marketed by the Dodge division of Chrysler.

The first generation was a pony car built from 1970 to 1974, using the Chrysler E platform and sharing major components with the Plymouth Barracuda. The second generation, from 1978 to 1983, was a badge engineered Mitsubishi Galant Lambda. The third, and current generation, was introduced in 2008 as a rival to the evolved fifth generation Ford Mustang and the reintroduced fifth generation Chevrolet Camaro.



For more information and pictures of the real car please visit: Dodge Challenger



Quite possibly the nicest casting of the new Challenger out there.  Not surprisingly, this car has already had replicas from Hot Wheels, GreenLight, Johnny Lightning, Matchbox, and others.



Production of the limited edition 2008 SRT/8s ended in July 2008, and production of the expanded 2009 line-up started in early August of the same year. The expanded offering was the same as had been unveiled earlier that spring at the 2008 New York Auto Show. Chrysler debuted the full Dodge Challenger line for 2009, with four different trims - SE, R/T, SRT8, and the SXT in Canada only. In addition to the SRT8, which remained unchanged except for the optional 6 speed manual, the line-up included the previously mentioned SE and SXT which offered the 250 HP 3.5-Liter V6. The R/T hosted a 5.7 Hemi sporting 370 hp (276 kW) and 398 lb·ft (540 N·m) of torque when coupled with the 5 speed automatic, and 375 hp (280 kW) with 404 lb·ft (548 N·m) when matched with the same Tremec 6-speed manual transmission as the SRT8.

For 2010, the vehicle cost $515 to $1,010 more than in 2009. The color, HEMI Orange, was initially dropped for the 2010 model year, then re-released later in the model year. Two new color schemes became available for the 2010 model year; Plum Crazy and Detonator Yellow. A third new color, Furious Fuchsia was announced in February 2010. But unlike previous special editions, the Furious Fuchsia version will have significant changes to the interior with white leather instead of the usual black seats. Chrysler also made a late-year addition to the 2010 model year with the limited edition Mopar '10 Challenger R/T. These cars, limited to only 500 examples, were metallic gray in color with three accent colors of stripes to choose from. In addition, these cars were available with black R/T Classic-style rims along with a Hurst aftermarket pistol grip shifter, custom badging, Mopar cold air intake for a 10 horsepower increase, and Katzkin-sourced aftermarket interior.

For the 2011 model, Dodge will outfit the base model Challenger with the new Pentastar V6 engine, which boasts a significant increase in power, now up to 305 bhp (227 kW; 309 PS) and 268 lb·ft (363 N·m). The new engine will also be more efficient than the outdated version, featuring cylinder deactivation and dual variable valve timing. The bottom grille will also be flipped upside down, different from the 2008-10. Chrysler engineers cited airflow as a main reason for the change. For the new SRT8's, the chin spoiler was also reengineered and enlarged to create more downforce. It will resemble the '70 Challenger R/T. Later in the production year, a refreshed SRT8 will enter production, with the new 392-cubic-inch (6.4L) HEMI V8. The new engine will feature Variable Camshaft Timing, as well as the Multiple Displacement System featured on the 5.7L (345 c.i.d.) HEMI V8. The 392 has officially been rated at 470 horsepower (350 kW) and 470 lb·ft (640 N·m) of torque. Dodge engineers said they sacrificed peak horsepower ratings for low-end torque, stating a 90 horsepower (67 kW) increase over the outgoing 6.1-L (370 c.i.d.) Hemi V8 at 2900 rpm. Thanks to the revised engine, Chrysler engineers cited a quarter mile (~400 m) time of 12.4 seconds at 110 mph (180 km/h) - bettering the outgoing 6.1-Liter Hemi by 0.8 seconds, although that figure has varied wildly between automotive magazines. Car and Driver tested the 392 at 12.9 seconds at 114 mph (183 km/h) while Motor Trend's tester clocked in at 13.0 seconds at 111.3 mph (179.1 km/h) and Edmunds' number was far closer to Chrysler's claimed numbers at 12.6 seconds at 112.1 mph (180.4 km/h). Nevertheless, the new engine shows significant improvements over the 2008-2010 cars in trap speed and quarter mile times.

No comments:

Post a Comment