Breaking News: 2011 Dodge Challenger Revealed!

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By 1969, Ford's Mustang had plenty of company in the form of sibling Mercury's Cougar and cross-town rivals' Camaro and Firebird. Coming a little late to the party, Dodge's Challenger and Plymouth's 'Cuda finally joined the ranks. Forty years later, the landscape had drastically changed with Mustang the lone wolf thanks to GM F-Bodies taking a seven-year-hiatus in 2003. In 2008, Chrysler resurrected the Challenger, beating out Camaro's return.

Praised for its adherence to the original '70 design and potent 425hp 6.1L HEMI, the Challenger - although limited in production numbers compared to the Mustangs and Camaros - was a hit among car lovers. Now, as GM and Ford raise the stakes, Dodge prepares the Challenger for a good old fashioned showdown for the new year. Carscoop scored these images of what the 2011 Challenger will look like. Look closely, there are a few, small differences.


Pictures: jonisabal

You could be forgiven for glossing over these images and seeing that nothing much has changed. In fact, nothing really has changed save for a few subtle tweaks. For example, the lower air inlet on the front fascia has been flipped upside down, from a “smile” to a “frown.” Chrysler has also removed the once-Dodge “Ram” logo, replaced by the dual hash marks on the upper hood and fenders that act as the new Dodge logo.

Additionally, the '11 Challenger has the Charger’s new door handles. While nowhere near the level of redesign as the '11 Charger (frankly, the Challenger didn't need a whole lot, if anything. - Ed.), and so far as we can see, that is just about it for exterior modifications that is, if this really is the 2011 Challenger (it has not yet been confirmed). However, the Challenger is supposed to get some other important changes. The interior is scheduled for some reworking and redesign for 2011 including better materials and less "plasticy" paneling.



While Dodge takes the "If it ain't broke" attitude with the Challenger's skin, under the hood is a totally different story. We at Street Legal TV have been watching the radar closely for 2011 Challenger news and were quick to report on Fiat's decision to scrap 90% of Chrysler's existing V6 powerplants (there were a reported 8 different engines), and reduce the count down to a solitary all-new Pentastar V6 engine. The entry-level powerplant is expected to produce a minimum 290hp in the base model (as talks of a 300-to-330hp turbo-powered version have bounced around).

Meanwhile, and more importantly, talk is that as competitors step up their game, Dodge is planning to replace the 6.1L HEMI (producing 425hp) with Mopar's available 392ci 6.4L HEMI which in crate form, produces 520hp. The production version, though, is rumored to have the cylinder deactivation found on the 390hp R/T-equipped 5.7L, and produce more in the neighborhood of 480-plus-naturally-aspirated-hp. Oh yeah, and don't forget the ZF-built 8-speed automatic.




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