Updated: 12 new photos added
Look, there are two ways we can go with this one. The first is that this Viper-powered Dodge Challenger, which first appeared at the 2008 SEMA show in Vegas, is simply one of the finest, loudest ways the Mopar boys could go out to lunch near Chrysler's Auburn Hills headquarters. A little joy ride and nothing else.
Or the fact that this two-year-old concept is out and about on a test route of public roads outside of the confines of Chrysler facilities indicates that maybe there's more to the V10--powered Challenger than met the eye. Could this Challenger SRT10 be Dodge's eventual range-topping muscle-coupe?
Make the jump for more photographs and information.
It makes sense. The Challenger is the heavy-weight of the muscle-coupe triumvirate. And we don't mean it's necessarily the one to beat. No, no, we mean it's fat. And that's why the 6.1-liter Hemi-powered SRT8 is slower than the new Mustang GT 5.0 or the Camaro SS. Without a bunch more firepower, like, say, the 600 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque provided by this V10, the Challenger is just going to get its ass handed to it by a Camaro Z28 or a Shelby GT500. Even the 6.4-liter Hemi that's in the works for future high-performance applications is going to have trouble powering the 11/10ths Challenger to competitive times against the supercharged V8s from its cross-town rivals.
If Dodge ends up doing the performance special, we would certainly hope they'd keep the neo-shaker hood seen on this concept (there's nothing wrong with nostalgia when you're being nostalgic about cool old things). Obviously, the carbon-fiber hood would be a long-shot for even limited production. But that's fine, we'd frankly rather have a regular painted hood anyway If it turns out that this is simply some Mopar engineers getting their kicks during lunch break, be aware that next time our Detroit Editor can clear his lunch schedule for the right opportunity.
jeepsrt says:
07:59 AM, 04/23/10
I think I would have to get this car if it's ever sold.
majin_ssj_eric says:
08:56 AM, 04/23/10
I hate hood scoops of any kind. The CHallenger looks much cleaner without one...
r1chwa1nwr1ght says:
09:13 AM, 04/23/10
This will bridge the gap between the outgoing and incoming Viper models perfectly while throwing the Challenger back into the MuscleCar fight (where the challenger is wrongfully neglected all too often) while Chrysler engineers can build a V6 competative SE (with the new 3.6 liter v6) and improve the v8 RT with the 5.7 to compete with the GT and SS.
Maybe they can engineer some ways to reduce weight while they're at it?
I hope they build it!
smilez says:
09:30 AM, 04/23/10
Suhhhh-weeeeet. My only problem is, yes, it will be more powerful than the other two. However, the Challenger already costs more than the other two, and this thing would be an even higher spread in price.
Not saying it wouldn't be the one I'd pick, just saying they charge too much for less power.
mmman2 says:
09:36 AM, 04/23/10
OMG, this is the ultimate Challenger. I am speechless.
half_ton says:
09:50 AM, 04/23/10
Between the Camaro Mustang and Charger I've always thought the Charger was the one vehicle that blended old and new together the best. I'm not a prospective buyer of either vehicle but I like what I'm seeing here. Add some much needed power to the heaviest and slowest vehicle in the trio and the pony car war just got that much more exciting. I also LOVE the hood scoops!
zoraracer1 says:
09:51 AM, 04/23/10
I think god is speechless!
bankerdanny says:
10:54 AM, 04/23/10
I could never in my life afford this car. Still, BUILD IT BUILD IT BUILD IT. It would be like the return of the 426 hemi and 440 six pack monster cars.
greenpony says:
11:33 AM, 04/23/10
Well, I'm intimidated.
RSdriver says:
11:41 AM, 04/23/10
I like it :) I don't know why they couldn't pull this one out, they put the viper motor in the Ram years ago.
ampeg500 says:
01:13 PM, 04/23/10
Every brute muscle car in the history of man has been equipped with a rumbling V8. Fitting the Challenger with a V10 destroys the muscle car swagger. It's like putting marinara on a cheeseburger! Just doesn't make sense.
ampeg500 says:
01:24 PM, 04/23/10
The muscle car has always had a rumbling V8, not a wailing vacuum cleaner. That's like covering a cheeseburger in marinara.
krankshafted says:
02:51 PM, 04/23/10
I've been a big Mustang fan for a long while, but this Challenger sounds pretty damn good...with the exception of the hood. I don't like that big porker of a hood scoop...
deathtollwrx says:
06:29 PM, 04/23/10
Boy I wish we had some track numbers to check out how fast this thing is.
drivera1981 says:
07:44 PM, 04/23/10
and everyone said Chrysler's best days were behind them. Keep going Mr. Marchionne you doing it right. This Challenger makes the Viper/SLS AMG so last year.
canddmeyer says:
08:53 PM, 04/23/10
So the Camaro can beat the Challenger back to the dealer first! So what. The Mustang otoh appears to be the real deal, but my luck with Fords isn't very good, so I'll probably never own another. I still like the Charger RT models, and almost got an SRT Charger when Chrysler had employee pricing this time last year, but I'll never have a 2-door anything unless I hit the lotto, and even then it would be a Vette. I've seen lots of RT Challengers and a few SRT Challengers locally, so I'd bet a V10 would do well. Detroit iron still sells well where I live.
slickersdrip says:
10:40 PM, 04/23/10
Upon graduating from UT next month I was thinking about selling my SRT-4 and getting a used Ram SRT-10... but this makes me think about hanging onto my Neon for a while until I could get a decent loan to pick one of these up instead.
wrinklebump says:
11:59 PM, 04/23/10
This is awesome
That is all
mikeebear says:
04:33 AM, 04/24/10
Pretty bad-ass, except....
1. This will likely add even MORE weight (bigger motor, bigger wheels and tires, etc.)
2. Handling will be laughable compared to the GT500 or even the base Mustang GT (those tires are not big enough)
3. The price will skyrocket
4. This will still lose any and every comparison test to a GT500: acceleration, handling, value for the price, etc. Except maybe driving compliance....
The good news...
1. Most buyers won't care how it handles
2. A Viper V10 will sound delicious
3. It will still be fast, even with all the added pork.
4. It will set a new benchmark for HP in the class, and that will force the competition to comply. I'd look for Chevy to put its SC 6.2l V8 in the Camaro and Ford to up the HP on the GT500.
empire713 says:
05:53 AM, 04/24/10
I would luv if dodge made this cus dodge is getting man handled by chevy and ford but if they make it i hope they Discontinue the srt8 version and put the new 6.4 engine in the R/T model of there cars that will be a great pony car race
weaksauce says:
06:02 AM, 04/24/10
I'm going to post basically the same thing I did on Autoblog. It seems, though, that there are way fewer trolls on this board.
Basically, the car is already fat. It's a big freaking pig. It gives me the mental picture of a "tugboat in the perfect storm" when it's on any pavement with twists/turns.
By that, I mean backroads, circuit courses, etc.
So the thing is fast in a straight line. Hurray. Everyone's fast in a straight line, when you throw power at them. But this is also throwing more weight at an already overweight pig.
Oh, so you're giving the pig steroids. Sure, it'll be more powerful. But for every steroid shot, you're shoving KFC Double downs into its gullet and making all its joints suffer as a result.
The hemi engine is good enough for the car. The car needs a diet. YES, shoe the V10 in it, because we all want that engine to stay in production...
However consider Colin Chapman's words. "Power makes you fast in a straightline. Lightness makes you faster everywhere else."
The car needs a diet. Not a steroid shot.
lt1boy says:
07:32 AM, 04/24/10
@weaksauce.
Who cares if the Challenger is only fast in a straight line? THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT! If you want a light weight flingmobile, go buy a Miata.
I'm not a Mopar fan, but I'm excited to hear about the SRT10 Challenger. This is Dodge's only chance of competing with the GT500 and the Z28. That hood scoop, duck wing spoiler, and front chin spoiler have got to go though...
Sure, Mustangs are faster and cheaper, but everybody and their mom drives a Mustang! Camaros are sexy, but they're too cartoonish, inside and out. The Challenger is the classic muscle car that true gear heads want.
leviathan81x says:
08:37 AM, 04/24/10
A lot of people on this thread have been commenting about how this will add more weight, but it wont'.
Remember, the current hemis (5.7L and 6.1L) have an iron block.....the Viper V10 has an alluminum block. It actually weighs LESS than the 6.1L V8. Then take into account the use of actual carbon fiber for the hood. If anything, this car we're commenting on actually weighs LESS than the current SRT8, and has better weight distribution.
I really hope they build this car. I mean seriously Chrysler, what else are you going to do with that surplus of V10s now that the Viper will taking a hiatus?
xorbe says:
09:05 AM, 04/24/10
lt1boy said:
> Sure, Mustangs are faster and cheaper, but everybody and their mom
> drives a Mustang! Camaros are sexy, but they're too cartoonish, inside
> and out. The Challenger is the classic muscle car that true gear heads
> want.
Totally agree with the Camaro comment, and everyone has a Mustang because it's a no-brainer choice. But people who can afford a V10 Challenger probably aren't shopping Dodge ... what would they cost possibly? $50K? $60K?
stlaurent says:
05:55 PM, 04/24/10
Here is a car that has a potential of 1000 streetable horsepower [based on three current consumer Vipers with twin-turbos]. If they commit the remaining Viper power trains to the Dodge Challenger, and limited run for that year, they will become collectors items and bring total embarrassment to both Chevy and Ford.
wjtinatl says:
09:21 AM, 04/25/10
Wow... very cool! While I agree that the Dodge is already fat compared with the Mustang and Camaro, so am I and that doesn't keep me from excelling at some things. Not everyone wants a coner carver, lots of people just want a cool ride with bags of torque, great sound and unique charachter. A V-10 Challenger would provide the halo Chrysler desperately needs as well as giving Dodge a good reason to continue producing the V-10. If they could find a way to bring it to market just under 50k, like the GT500 the'd build a ton of showroom traffic and perhaps sell a few more V-6 and Hemi versions. Plus... if you can get the V-10 into the Challenger, you can get it into a SRT 300 which would be absolutely awesome.
wrinklebump says:
11:15 PM, 04/25/10
weaksauce, methinks you've pissed the point by a couple light-years. The big Dodge is as purpose-built as a Wrangler, a Lotus, a space shuttle or a mountain goat. It does exactly as it was intended.
It's not going to dust Evos or Lotuses or whatever at the track. Chrysler never intended to compete with backroadsmobiles. The car looks gorgeous, sounds brilliant, lays stripes, and can get going when duty calls.
If your intent is to chase rich guys in 911s around in the hills, by all means, go ahead. But not in this car. It doesn't know what a twisty is and it doesn't really care.
wrinklebump says:
11:16 PM, 04/25/10
And a 300C SRT10 would be insane
scottyscooter says:
03:38 AM, 04/26/10
Who cares?
They already charge $10,000 more to go from the R/T to the SRT8 to gain a measly 50hp. So how much will they add to the already too high SRT8 price tag in order to step up to a Viper engine that makes almost 200hp more? Since Dodge thinks 50hp is worth 10 grand, we are probably looking at an $80,000 Challenger, lol!
lions208487 says:
07:54 AM, 04/26/10
I've said it before and I will say it proudly again. The Challenger is the best retro looking car in it's class. Fiat needs to somehow incorporate Ferrari technology with this car in order to keep the MPG rating with government regualtions. I know gear heads such as myself don't want to admit it, but as fantastic as this car is, it will die out very soon if it doesn't shed some much needed weight and incorporate a lighter more fuel efficient engine. I love the SRT10, but unless I want it just to drive on the weekends, it's pointless.
5lmiata says:
12:24 PM, 04/26/10
Sorry to burst any bubbles, but a V10 Viper powered Challenger is not going to happen. The Viper is dead and will end production in the next couple of months and the V10 engine that lives under its hood will follow it to the grave.
Not really the end of the world in my mind. The Viper V10 was a huge motor and always kinda sounded like crap in my mind. It never had the sexy exhaust note that the Ford and Chevy V8's offer and the HEMI V8 sounds way better.
Also it would make more sense for Chrysler to stuff a 6.4L HEMI with forced induction to make Viper like power numbers and have those engines produced using much of the same tooling and equipment that is utilized on other high volume HEMI engines. This would also package under hood much easier than the ginormous V10
yellowmiata says:
09:16 AM, 04/27/10
Meh, anyone can put a bigger engine in a vehicle. I want to see a car do more without the "just bore 'er out" philosophy. IMHO.
ihatemyxb says:
08:54 PM, 04/27/10
I know that my statement is far from reality but if BMW can make an SUV like the X5 and X6 to handle amazingly well and the Porche Panamera handle like a coupe then hopefully some German company will buy out Fiat and Dodge and show them how to make an elephant belly dance.
smilez says:
02:59 PM, 05/ 5/10
5lmiata -
Sorry to take away your bubble bursting untensil, but they've already made the statement that Viper will live on.
71hemi says:
07:33 PM, 01/12/11
thank god some one had the balls to bring back the shaker.