I'm not a huge Mopar fan or anything, but you have to give them props for their latest package that will be offered with the 09 Challenger. The Drag Race package allows consumers to get a stripper Challenger that doesn't come with all of the stuff you don't need to go fast.
Starting with a stock, plain white car, Dodge removes roughly 1000 pounds from the stock car's portly 4150. The car will be produced on the same assembly line as regular Challengers, but will have no body sealer, sound deadening, ventilation system, airbags, or rear seats. Mama Mopar also removes the windshield wiper assembly and side and rear impact beams, which means that this ride won't be street legal.
With all of the stuff that's been removed, some things have in fact been added. Included is a lift off composite hood with functional scoop, polycarbonate windows, manual rack and pinion steering, a lightweight brake system, and a cable throttle linkage. The wheelbase has also been shortened a half inch and the engine sits further back for better weight distribution.
Three available engines will power this back to basics blank canvas: a 5.7-liter or 6.1-liter HEMI V-8, or a 360 cubic-inch 'Magnum Wedge' V-8, coupled to either an automatic or manual transmission. No specific horsepower or torque numbers have yet been released.
Dodge plans to build at least 100 examples of the car to qualify it for NHRA's Comp, Super Stock and Stock classes. Pricing will be roughly the same as the current SRT8, in the low to mid $30,000 range.
Now of only Ford would add a drag race package to the thousands of current Mustang packages....
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