2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8

2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Quick Facts

Base Price:	$37,320
Price as Tested:	$39,885
Horespower:	425 Hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque:	420 lbs.-ft. @ 4800 rpm
0 to 60:	5 secs
ABS Brakes:	Standard
Side Curtain Airbags:	Standard
EPA Fuel:	13/18 m.p.g. city/highway
Towing Capability:	No
Off-Road Capability:	No
First-Aid Kit:	Not available
Notes/Additional Info.:	: Base price does not include a $675 delivery charge.

I seem to have developed a bad case of attention deficit disorder. Right now, I want to chase down the Lexus IS cresting the hill in front of me. Mission accomplished: I can relax now. Or can I? I seem to be closing on a Mustang GT. I pass him as well, but still feel the need to careen through the decreasing radius turn a tenth of a mile ahead.

My problem began this morning, when I came face-to-face with a bright orange hood, two functional air scoops flanking a set of bumble bee stripes, and a 6.1 liter hemi engine parked underneath. Below sat four sticky F1 performance tires wrapped around a set of twenty-inch rims.

The  car that has liberated Mr. Hyde from my Doctor Jekyll is the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8: a four-thousand pound, 425-horsepower tribute to the classic Mopar launched in 1970.

SRT is Dodge's performance division. In addition to producing halo cars like the Viper and SRT10, the group engineers low volume, high performance versions of the automaker's production vehicles. Usually SRT models roll out after the production cars, but in this case, the SRT model comes out this spring, with the production car following in the fall.

Those readers old enough to remember the original Challenger might recall that it was a good news, bad news story: really fast, really loud and really cool looking, but with crappy tires, and even crappier brakes. The jury on the suspension is still out.

Son of Challenger is a chip off the old block, but with Brembo brakes that go from sixty-to-zero in 110 feet. The four-wheel independent suspension is equally adept on winding two-lane roads and circle tracks. And the optional Goodyear F1 tires do a smoky burnout that would put the original corded nylons to shame.

Something Old, Something New

While the SRT Challenger is a tribute to the muscle car era, it's also a twenty-first century car.  The proportions for the new car are based on the Dodge Magnum and Charger, but with a shorter wheelbase. Designers lowered the roofline to give the car a more muscular look. The beltline that runs from front to rear, and large wheel lips pay tribute to the 1970 model.

A monochromatic front bumper replaces the bright chrome on the original. The recessed grille and headlamps pays tribute to the 1970 model. But a functional air dam and side bevels reduce the coefficient of drag, and enhance down-force to improve performance. The rear spoiler serves a similar purpose, keeping the car's twenty-inch wheels glued to the pavement.

In the back, designers integrated the tail lamps and reverse lamps in a single light bar that extends the width of the car. Like the classic Mopar, the 2008 Challenger has a Dodge emblem in the middle of the light bar.

The 1970 model was a true hardtop: the 2008 model is a two-door coupe made to look like a hardtop, with a very thick rear pillar that creates some large blind spots for the driver.

Inside, the Challenger is more modern than retro. While it has the large, masculine steering wheel of a muscle car, it also has an available downloadable hard drive, redundant steering wheel controls for the performance pages and audio system, and enough large cupholders to make the twenty-first century commuter happy.

The fit and finish is more luxurious than classic muscle cars: bucket front seats with side bolsters and ultra-suede inserts, seat heaters for front row passengers, an optional power sunroof, navigation system, and satellite radio.

The new Challenger is considerably more expensive too. Base price is $37,320: more than the bad boys who drove the 1970 car in “Vanishing Point” probably paid for their houses.

High-tech Drivetrain With a Muscle Car Feel

The 6.1-liter hemi engine under the Challenger's hood is the highest output naturally aspirated engine V-8 engine ever offered by Chrysler: it produces 425 horsepower and 420 pounds-feet of torque. The engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift option. Despite its hefty curb weight, the SRT Challenger accelerates from zero-to-sixty in 4.9 seconds, and zero-to-a hundred in 11.5 seconds. It pulls .88 g on the skid pad, and has no rev limiter.

The rear-wheel drive chassis has a multilink front and five-link independent rear suspension: a configuration that allows engineers to tune camber and toe independently, for a wide variety of road surfaces. Forged aluminum wheels are about six pounds lighter than steel, minimizing unsprung weight. In other words, the car rides on very thin, light racing flats.

Our test drive took us through the streets of Pasadena to the Angeles Crest highway: a two-lane mountain road full of sharp twists, steep climbs and equally sharp descents. Unlike its Mopar namesake, the '08 Challenger loves to corner. Steering is tight and responsive at all speeds. The suspension has enough compliance to keep the ride comfortable, but is remarkably flat in the corners.