Following Hurst's previous packages, the Challenger Series one through five, the newest Competition Plus package promises to offer muscle car meat heads with everything they'll need to take their SRT8 one step further. Included in the $18,495 package is first and foremost, a Hurst shift kit and pearl white knob, a plaque of authenticity, K&N high-flow air filter, Magnaflow stainless-steel exhaust and a fully adjustable Eibach suspension system. Unfortunately, performance numbers have yet to be released, but we're hoping for the 572 HP and 528 lb-ft of torque from the Hurst/HEMI-Challenger SRT8 Series 4. That'd be just fine by us.

The Challenger Competition Plus package will be offered in either red, white, blue or silver and matte black Hurst Performance decals to complement the massive hood scoop, forged aluminum wheels, rear deck spoiler and chromed quad exhaust tips. We're betting on a mid-summer release, but as of yet, there's no official date from Hurst.

[Hurst Performance]

Everything has been blurred out to protect the identities of those involved, but our tipster tells us this is what happened:

"attached are pictures taken at my place of work where a customer dropped off their 2009 Challenger SRT 8 that was "attacked" by a gentlemans soon-to-be-ex wife.

I say this because the Husband drove this car to tell his wife that the marriage is over.

And once she became aware of his Asian girlfriend and his new toy, she flipped and started smashing the car up [with a carpenter's hammer].

She broke the windshield, rear window, damaged almost every body panel, and probably worse of all the sunroof which takes quite some labor to replace. i didn't bother to take pics of the side windows and the scratches where the psycho WIfe tried to break them."

It stinks the Challenger got the brunt of the rage, but considering the way the news was delivered, we can't say we blame her. Walk through the dented Challenger gallery to see the pain inflicted upon a defenseless Challenger.

In a move to help raise the U.S. Air Force recruitment program off the floor, this Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger have been given a heavy-handed once-over by California's Galpin Auto Sports — that's the same shop responsible for MTV's Pimp My Ride as well as building NBC's failed Knight Rider Kitt Mustang.

Galpin Auto Sports was asked to create a couple of military aircraft-inspired customs and as far as we can tell, delivered on that promise. The Mustang 'X-1' exterior features a custom bodykit, carbon-fiber throughout, scissor-doors and custom wheels, but the real magic is when you sit inside. The X-1 has forgone its Mustang interior, replaced with an ejection seat and an advanced jet fighter-inspired instrument panel with a joystick as the control interface.

The Challenger 'Vapor' features a Mad Max-style exterior with a shaker hood, radar-absorbing paint, one-off custom carbon fiber wheels, proximity sensors and a 360-degree targeting camera with a quarter mile range. The interior features two seats, unlike the 'X-1' with a secondary steering wheel for the passenger, aircraft-inspired console throttle control and a grouping of high-res screens to see the import-driving insurgents sneaking up from behind. In a strange mix, the trunk features both nitrous oxide tanks and stinger missiles for when you've live your life a dogfight at a time.

The U.S. Air Force 2009 Supercar Tour can be seen at various high schools throughout the country as well as other Air Force sponsored national custom car events. [via USAF]

Okay, maybe they're not exactly designed to hold your beer, but they were designed to hold nuts and bolts while you're working under the hood of your Challenger. Were they anticipating break downs? (image via chargerforums)

Back To Top Ten Easter Egg Design Features

We drove both the V6 and V8 versions of the 2010 Chevy Camaro on Monday and, while we can't tell you about that till Friday, March 20th at 6pm (EST), we can take a look at how both Camaros stack up against the competition on paper. Will the clear bang-for-your-buck advantage translate to the driving experience? Check back Friday at 6:00 PM to find out.

All the models featured in this comparison are stock, base-spec vehicles. Where possible, manufacturer's official numbers have been used.




Photography credit: Wetzel Tucker

[via John Sibal blog]

The stock 6.1-liter 440 Hemi V8 in the Challenger STR8 is good for a stout 425 horsepower which, for most, is a healthy dose of adrenaline. Consider RDP’s 1000 horsepower twin-supercharged Challenger a healthy dose of adrenaline with some performance enhancing drugs thrown in for good measure. If it could help Barry Bonds, then it could surely help Dodge’s retro ride, right?

RDP Motorsport has installed a one-off Twin Bullet/RDP Harrop Supercharger system as well as a supplemental nitrous kit from Nitrous Express to produce a Bugatti Veyron challenging 1,000 HP. Extensive modifications were made to the car including a new rear end with a custom ½-inch shaft, quaife limited-slip differential and a 3,800rpm high stall converter to allow the beast to launch with more available torque. Throw in new Kooks headers and a custom-built RDP exhaust and you have one slick Dodge.

While we’re unsure what sort of numbers the dual-blown Challenger will run at the track, we’d be safe to bet it’s capable of running sub-ten second passes down the 1320. RDP’s extreme Challenger was unveiled recently at the PRI Show in sunny Florida to the praise of many and makes us drool at the thought of cruising down Woodward next year in one of these bad boys.

[via RDP Motorsport]

Spotted at Meadowbrook Dodge in Rochester Hills, MI. (Hat tip to Rob!)

Mark has always been a fan of Dodge muscle and, until recently, owned a 1973 Plymouth 340 Cuda. After selling that car to an enthusiast in Germany, Mark did what any reasonable person would do and sped off to Vegas with the hopes of buying a four-speed big block. Unable to find the right one, the Londoner with a love of loud pipes headed home. Alas, not a week later this very special Dodge Challenger 440 RT four-speed showed up on eBay UK and Mark quickly took possession of it.

The car itself has a much longer history, having been purchased and restored as a family project by the Stahlhebers of St. Peters Missouri. You can read the full story of the Challenger build here. The Stahlhebers sold the car at auction to a different UK collector who then turned around and listed the car on eBay. And the car itself?

Although it is not a true numbers matching car- It does decode to be an original 440 RT four-speed car. A full rotisserie restoration had been completed a couple of years before and virtually everything had been replaced- with NOS or repro parts etc. The engine is a 1970 440 with a few extra performance parts and dress up pieces- and runs just great!- bodywork is rust free and looks stunning in F4 Rallye Red- This is actually a 1969 Chrsyler colour and is offset with the period RT side stripes. The four speed gearbox is shifted with the Hurst pistol grip shifter - another cool option in my opinion. Since owning her I have driven it as much as the crappy English weather will allow!

When not driving her or racking up trophies, Mark hasn't been shy about parading the car out for the press. Perhaps we should make an effort to go to the London Motor Show this year for the chance to drive Mark's beautiful example of Mopar muscle.

(Thanks to Mark for the info and photos)

Noticeable cuts include the new front spoiler, nasally shaker hood, a fresh rear fascia with pass-through dual exhaust and a set of LED tail lamps. We're shocked they didn't go all the way and weld up a custom widebody. Keep your browsers glued here for our continuing coverage of SEMA 2008. [Carscoop]

Under the skin, the '70 gets custom upper A-arms riding on relocated pickup points, aluminum tie rods, struts with Heim joints, two-inch-drop springs, front and rear way bars, Flowmaster exhaust and Stoptech brakes hiding behind Forgeline wheels riding on a set of Yokohamas. All of it can go back to stock, and we suspect it probably handles a helluva lot better than the wet noodle it started as, but some things should just go undone. Must parts makers always bring the gaudy heat to SEMA? Oh wait, it's SEMA. Press release follows.

NEW MOPAR TRACK BURNERS & SUSPENSION SYSTEMS TO DEBUT AT 2008 HOTCHKIS SEMA BOOTH

Complete High-Performance Handling Systems Now Available for Classic and Modern Dodge Challengers and Other Mopar Muscle Cars

Santa Fe Springs, CA – Hotchkis Performance is set to unveil several new bolt-on Chrysler suspension systems at the upcoming 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Handling expert John Hotchkis and his team of engineers will showcase a full array of Chrysler performance mods on a duo of Mopar muscle cars – a 1970 Challenger T/A and Mr. Norm's Super Cuda: a 2009 Challenger SRT that has been transformed into a hard-charging Barracuda. Both cars will showcase the latest advancements in handling technology.

The 1970 Challenger, codenamed E-MAX, started out as a totally stock '70 Challenger converted by a previous owner to 340 Six-Pack trim. Hotchkis components include new fabricated steel upper a-arms with bolt-in relocation suspension pickup point brackets, fabricated strut rods with Heim joints to eliminate excess front suspension play, bump steer corrected aluminum steering rods with adjustable Heim joint ends, a new balanced front and rear sway bar package, performance springs that lower the car two-inches and fabricated steel subframe connectors for improved rigidity.

These front suspension products create a proper negative camber curve, sufficient positive camber for high speed stability and full bump and droop travel without bumpsteer. Essentially Hotchkis has revised the antiquated front suspension with modern geometry. E-MAX will also feature Stoptech Brakes, Forgeline Wheels, Yokohama Tires, Flowmaster Exhaust, Red Line Oil and engine fluids and power by Optima Batteries. The car will retain its 340 Six Pack powerplant and Hurst Pistol Grip equipped four-speed transmission.

For nearly two decades, Hotchkis Performance has been making muscle and sports cars faster on the track and more fun to drive on the street. The Hotchkis philosophy of engineering bolt-on, no-cutting required performance parts that have been thoroughly track tested and race proven means enthusiasts can modify their car for a dramatically improved, grin-inducing driving experience without permanently altering their car. Simply stash your old parts in the garage, bolt-on a Hotchkis Sport Suspension system and hit the gas. If you ever want to bring your ride back to factory stock, simply pull the old parts out of storage and you're good to go.

"Mr. Norm" Kraus, who rose to fame as the proprietor of Grand Spaulding Dodge and a drag racing icon, will also be talking to fans and signing autographs in the Hotchkis booth from 2:00 – 3:00pm Wednesday, November 5th at the SEMA Show.

[Hotchkis]

Obviously Clarkson grabbed the ZR1, Hammond got the keys to the CTS-V, and of course James May gets the outgunned Challenger SRT8. Pending the results of the show, we're assuming the ZR1 and CTS-V will be getting their just due on the world stage, while May will probably end up with the Challenger doing donuts and catching on fire. We have no idea when this episode will be hitting the airwaves, but when we find out it'll be pinned to our calenders. We eagerly await the metaphoric gymnastics Clarkson will be performing on the ZR1. Wonder how the Top Gear America guys feel about the British crew stealing their product thunder? (Hat tip to Paul!) [FinalGear]

It's recommended that potential buyers have "a current Competition License or sanctioning body affiliation prior to ordering their vehicle." So, n00bs need not apply. That's because Mopar wants to put their best foot forward with the Drag Challenger. They've even specified that the "buyer is encouraged to have the Challenger Drag Pak vehicle in competition within a reasonable amount of time." We're assuming that's also to weed out any speculating collector-types, as the profit margin on the vehicles will likely be slim to none. Besides, nobody should ever take a brand new race car and seal it in a bubble in a locked garage. [Mopar via Allpar]