2009 Dodge Viper SRT-10

The new 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 boasts more of what performance aficionados crave: kick-in-the-pants, throw-back-in-the-seat power, combined with benchmark braking, world-class ride and handling, a race-inspired interior and bold exterior styling. While every SRT vehicle offers balanced, overall performance, the heart and soul of the new 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 is its standout powertrain. For 2009, SRT ups the ante with a new, 8.4-liter aluminum V-10 engine that produces an astounding 600 horsepower and 560 lb.-ft. of torque. The new 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 will arrive in Dodge showrooms in North America this summer with a new level of customization options, including five new exterior colors, four new interior color combinations and a new wheel design.

When SRT powertrain engineers set out to get more venom from the 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10’s powerplant, their objectives included not only increasing performance, but also complying with stringent regulatory requirements, such as federal Tier 2, Bin 5 and California’s Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) 2 mandates. Working with specialists from McLaren Performance Technologies and Ricardo, Inc., SRT engineers began by following the racer’s basic formula for more power: bigger displacement, more efficient breathing and higher engine speed. The new Dodge Viper SRT10’s deep-skirted V-10 aluminum engine block was revised for a 1-millimeter larger bore, raising the displacement to 8.4 liters from 8.3 liters. With strengthened bulkheads and improved water jackets for better cooling, the block includes pressed-in iron cylinder liners and cross-bolted main bearing caps for strength and durability.

The Viper SRT10’s 8.4-liter engine breathes through new cylinder heads equipped with Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC)-shaped combustion chambers, larger valves and Variable Valve Timing (VVT). VVT electronically adjusts when the exhaust valves are open and closed according to engine speed and load, allowing the engine to ''breathe'' cleaner and more efficiently. The 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 V-10’s two-piece intake manifold combines a cast aluminum lower with smooth runners for better air flow, bolted to a die-cast aluminum upper plenum. A revised air-cleaner box with a low-restriction filter sends air through a dual electronic throttle control into the intake module. The air-fuel mixture in the cylinders is ignited by platinum-tip spark plugs fired by new individual plug coils mounted on the cylinder-head covers.

Within the cylinders, pistons are equipped with larger-diameter floating pins with bronze bushings for high-load capability. Forged powder-metal connecting rods are secured with aircraft-quality fasteners for increased fatigue strength. Engine lubrication is managed by a larger oil pump and a swinging oil pickup adapted from Viper competition engines, to improve oil pressure in high-rpm and hard-cornering conditions. Spent gases exit through tubular air-gap headers, which not only improve exhaust flow, but also ensure quick catalyst light-off for improved emission control. The headers’ stamped stainless-steel outer shell acts as a thermal heat shield for the individual stainless-steel runners that contribute to better flow separation and exhaust tuning. SRT engineers didn’t stop there. Upgrades were developed to handle the 8.4-liter V-10’s increased horsepower and torque levels, while improving traction, driveability – and durability.

The 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10’s V-10 channels its power through a new, smaller-diameter, twin-disc clutch (a change from the previous larger-diameter, single-disc setup). The new clutch reduces rotating inertia by 18 percent, resulting in reduced clutch-pedal effort and improved engagement feel. The transmission is the latest evolution of the Tremec T56 six-speed manual, known as the TR6060. It features 10 percent wider gears for higher torque capacity and a new synchronizer package. A new shifter system results in reduced shifter travel. Club racers will applaud a new provision for adding an external transmission cooler.

Stopping power is another key attribute of the Dodge Viper SRT10 formula, with 14-inch brake rotors gripped by Brembo 44/40 dual opposing piston calipers in the front and Brembo 42/38 dual opposing calipers in the rear. An anti-lock braking system (ABS) prevents lockup during hard braking. This system results in a benchmark braking performance of 60-to-0 mph in less than 100 feet.

The ride and handling of the 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 is defined by a race-bred, fully independent, four-wheel suspension featuring lightweight, high-performance aluminum control arms and knuckles, damped by lightweight coil-over shock absorbers. Where the power goes right to the road, SRT engineers retained the tried-and-true Dana M44-4 rear axle and outfitted it with a new GKN Visco-Lok speed-sensing limited-slip differential for improved traction. The Dodge Viper SRT10 rides on polished, forged aluminum, 18 x 10-inch front and 19 x 13-inch rear wheels now available in three styles: the five-spoke, the H-spoke and the all-new Razor wheel with five U-shaped spokes. The wheels are clad in Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires. The four-groove tread-design tires provide maximum grip, reduced road noise and superior handling in both wet and dry conditions.

The 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 remains available in two body styles – Roadster and Coupe. Both feature a dramatic new hood with a larger, more efficient hood scoop for air induction and larger, functional hood louvers to facilitate a greater cooling effect for the more powerful 8.4-liter, 600-horsepower V-10 engine underneath. Eight exterior colors will be introduced throughout the model year – five of which are all-new including Venom Red, Snakeskin Green, Viper Violet, Viper Orange and Bright Blue. Racing stripes continue to be an option with six dual painted stripe colors available: white, black, silver, graphite, blue and red. Several exterior differences exist between the 2009 Dodge Viper SRT10 Roadster and Coupe. In fact, the only body panels they share are front fascia and fenders, hood and doors. However, all of the iconic Viper SRT10 design cues have been maintained including the signature crosshair grille, deep-cut side scallops, swept-back fenders and lowered hood lines.

The Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe’s hard top with its ''double bubble'' styling makes it even more torsionally stiff than the Roadster. The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe offers increased downforce and high-speed stability with its sloping roofline and deck-lid spoiler. Plus, the Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe has an additional 6.25 cubic feet of trunk space than the Viper SRT10 Roadster, for a total of 14.65 cubic feet. The roof and headliner structure offer more room to accommodate a safety cage, while maintaining as much headroom as possible.

The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 Roadster and Coupe cockpit retains its characteristic red push-button starter and performance-oriented, highly functional instrument panel with center-mounted tachometer and 220-mph speedometer. Five interior colors will be available in 2008: black, and four new color combinations in black/red, black/blue, black/slate or black/natural tan. A choice of bezel finishes on the center instrument panel and console adds to the increased level of customization.

Story by DaimlerChrysler

2009 Dodge Challenger SRT-8

The return of the iconic Dodge Challenger brings what pony car fanatics crave: ground shaking performance and unmistakable design cues from of the original Challenger. On top of that it features a wide variety of modern amenities and technology designed for driving enthusiasts.

The Dodge Challenger made its debut in the fall of 1969 as a 1970 model. While it shared Chrysler’s E-body platform with the Plymouth Barracuda, Dodge Challenger’s wheelbase was two inches longer, creating more interior space. The all-new SRT8 rear-wheel drive coupe is based on the successful Dodge Charger sedan platform. Sporting a 116-inch wheelbase, the Challenger coupe is four inches shorter than the Charger sedan.

Consumers will enjoy outstanding performance on the street or on the track with a low ride height, a brake-lock differential, SRT-tailored suspension and a uniquely-tuned Electronic Stability Program (ESP).

The all-new Dodge Challenger SRT8 is engineered to give customers everything they want. Developed by Chrysler’s in-house performance engineering organization, the 2008 Challenger was engineered with a focus on the pillars of SRT: bold exterior design, a race-inspired interior, handling across a dynamic range, a standout powertrain and benchmark braking.

Dodge will offer the limited-edition 2008 Challenger in three colors: Hemi Orange, Bright Silver Metallic and Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl. Each two-door, rear-wheel-drive coupe will be produced with a numbered dash plaque, carbon fiberlike hood stripes and will be powered by SRT’s 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine that boasts 425 horsepower.

The normally aspirated V-8 engine is the highest naturally aspirated specific-output V-8 engine ever offered by Chrysler. Its 69.8 horsepower-per-liter rating exceeds even that of the legendary 1966 “Street HEMI.” Challenger SRT8’s transmission is an electronically controlled five-speed automatic, with a lock up torque converter and AutoStick.

Benchmark braking, one of the pillars of SRT, is delivered via a specially designed system for the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 that will slow and stop the car quickly, safely and predictably.

All four wheels are equipped with red, painted Brembo calipers that feature four pistons for even clamping performance. 360 x 32mm vented rotors are found up front and 350 x 26mm vented rotors are in the rear. With a 60–0 mph stopping distance of approximately 110 feet, the all-new Dodge Challenger SRT8 offers customers benchmark braking.

With a U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $37,995 the all-new Challenger arrives in Dodge showrooms this spring.

The 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 vehicles will be manufactured at Chrysler’s Brampton, Ontario, assembly plant in Canada.

Performance targets for the all-new Challenger include a 0–60 mph time in the low 5-second range, a ¼-mile elapsed time of less than 14 seconds, 60–0 mph braking distance of approximately 100 feet, and a skid pad performance of 0.88 g.

2009 Dodge Charger SRT-8

The Dodge Charger - one of the biggest names from the muscle car era - powered its way out of its storied past and onto the stage at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Now, the all-new 2009 Dodge Charger SRT8 provides exactly what performance enthusiasts wanted, more American muscle. Charger SRT8 is capable of 0-60 mph in around 5 seconds, quarter-mile time in the 13-second range and braking distance from 60-0 mph in approximately 110 feet.

Just as the very first Charger, the new SRT8 gets its motivation from a Hemi. In this case, it's a big-bore, having more cubic inches, increased compression, new cylinder heads and new intake/exhaust systems for increased flow. Several features of the new 6.1-liter SRT Hemi recall the legendary Hemi enginesof previous decades, including the namesake hemispherical combustion chambers that provide power and efficiency, orange-painted cylinder block, black valve covers, and even the horsepower rating of 425 bhp.

Chassis improvements on the SRT8 include SRT-tuned dampers, specially tailored spring rates and suspension bushings, large-diameter anti-sway bars. The car rides on unique SRT-developed five-spoke 20-inch forged aluminum wheels attached to a new braking system having Brembo 4-piston calipers.

Race-inspired interior and exterior appointments give the SRT Charger a distinct appearance. At the front an new front fascia includes integrated ducts and the hood is equipped with a scoop to funnel cool air into the engine compartment. Rearwards, a new fascia features aggressive cutouts to accommodate dual 3.5-inch exhaust tips and a dramatic decklid spoiler increases downforce. Inside SRT sports highly bolstered sport seats with contrasting red stitching, a leather trim steering wheel and a 180-mph (300 kph) speedometer.

The 2009 Dodge Charger SRT8 is assembled at Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

Story by DaimlerChrysler, edited by WickedMuscleCars.info