CAR OF THE DAY: Dodge Challenger Concept

Submitted by Kirk Pedersen on Fri, 2009-10-09 13:52

With its two closest pony car competitors prominently featured in SHIFT – the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro – the new Dodge Challenger was an easy choice to put in the game.

   It may be the 'concept' version - which eventually made it into production, one small change you'll notice from this model and the current one is the absence of the Dodge 'crosshair' grill - but there's no concept of modesty in this thoroughbred. Powered by a 6.1-liter HEMI V8 – standard for all SRT models - that has 425 ponies from the factory, the Challenger runs 0-60 in less than five seconds and is capable of a 13-second ¼ mile. It’s shorter, but looks beefier and more imposing than its cousin from the 1970s, even matching the horsepower numbers from the famed 426 HEMI, a $1,200 option in the original 1970 Challenger, which checked in at just under $5,000.   Built on the same platform as the award-winning Chrysler 300C at the Brampton, Ontario assembly plant, the Challenger looks best in its traditional Hemi Orange coloring, but you can pick any color you want in SHIFT. Please don’t paint it pink. 

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