Quote:
Originally Posted by SNS09
I have spent a lot of time on the Challenger forums. From the hints the DCX people are dropping, the 6.1L (435 HP and 420 lb/ft)will be the starter V-8 and the 5.7L will not be offered at all.
There is also a lot of speculation of a 6.4L (392) the following year because of what "people in the know" have been saying and because they've been parading one around for the past year. There is also a blown 392 they've been letting reporters drag (when one reporter asked what would happen if he broke it, the DCX development guy laughed and said that they'd just build another one). The 6.4L would be the converted crate engine. In crate form it makes 525 HP and 510 lb/ft at 10.5:1 compression. Because of emissions and what not it is expected to make 505 HP in production form.
Some of them are already talking about an Indy stroker kit (for the 6.1L) that will take it up to a 7.0L (426) putting out 565 HP and 600 lb/ft.
I love the way they look, but I agree that they will most likely be too heavy (though they are aware of the issue and working to address it). Plus, because of the compression, the Hemi's don't seem to lend themselves to forced induction (of which I am a big fan).
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First off welcome to the site.
I have heard a lot of those same rumors too, and that all sounds great but I am the skeptical type to begin with. So I am also conservative in my guesses about the auto industry will actually produce. An auto industry, that historically caters to the general public rather than the enthusiast simply because the general public vastly outnumbers enthusiasts like us.
I have just seen from two "semi official" sources (I use that statement loosely) now that there will be a 5.7L and 6.1L version, and to me it actually makes sense….but I could be wrong.
Perhaps like you mentioned, in future years we will see the larger displacement variants of the HEMI in the Challenger like a 6.4L, but it isn't too long before the challenger hits the market and Dodge already has the logistics to mass produce the 5.7L and offer the 6.1L as a lower volume upgrade.
As you probably know, the Challenger will be launched in Feb 2008 at the Chicago Auto Show and that is only 6 short months away. I think more leaked information would be out regarding 500hp Challengers if there are going to be any at the time of launch.
I can see a 6.1L HEMI being offered as a only engine option for the launch year, but then I just don't see it being priced under $30K to compete with a Mustang. To me that would undercut the existing SRT-8s out there that have the same powerplant yet cost $36K-$41K. The only option I think that could be priced near the base Mustang GT is a 5.7L...like the Challenger R/T and Chrysler 300C, but I said that already ha ha.
That is my guess and I'm sticking to it....ha ha ha. If I am wrong oh well. It doesn't make me a less of a person.