Leaked Documents Reveal Dodge Modernizes 2011 Challenger Lineup With 305HP Pentastar V6, 475HP SRT 392 V8

Thankfully, the 2011 Dodge Challenger has earned itself a boost in technology and performance. The outputs of the new and expected power trains have been revealed, as well as the cars' specific targets through some leaked documents. And we're happy to say the power outputs are a pleasant surprise.

Scroll down for the full details, but here's the gist of it. The base Challenger model gets the new Pentastar V6 that puts out 305 horsepower to truly compete with the other two V6 Pony cars (let's hope Dodge did something about that heft, though).

Power is routed through a 5-speed automatic, one gear down compared to Ford and Chevy's 6-speed auto's. The base model gets a sporty suspension, dual exhaust, rides on 18's, and the car in its sights at the dealership across the street is the Chevy Camaro 1LT.

Also targeting the Camaro 1LT is a Rallye version of the V6-powered Callenger. The Rallye option snags fog lights, standard leather/heated seating, U-Connect/Satellite radio, and a 276-Watt amp pumping power to 6 Boston Acoustics speakers.

Going up against the more powerful yet comparably plain 426-horsepower Camaro SS will be the 379-horsepower / 410 lb-ft Challenger R/T. Power comes from a Hemi 5.7 liter V8, while the rest of the car gets performance-calibrated steering, suspension, and brakes. There's a color-coded spoiler, while inside is a 160-MPH speedo and some carbon trim.

Finally, the big dog: the one and only SRT 392. Packing a 6.4 liter V8, the newest Challenger daddy drops a 475-horse bomb likely through a 6-speed manual transmission. Torque figures sit at 460 lb-ft. The new SRT gets the necessary 392 badging, some carryovers from other models (although in this case there's a 180-MPH speedometer), and Brembo stoppers behind 20-inch rims. Inside is premium leather and a performance display in the dash.

The SRT's target is the new Shelby GT500, meaning that there will have to be something special about the Challenger to make up for its lack in brute force. Hopefully we'll get a more impressive interior to better battle the Mustang's primo seating area and continue to put the Camaro's to shame (before GM's 2012 update).

As soon as Dodge deems it time to officially release the 2011 Challenger, we'll let you know.

By Phil Alex

Source: Ontario Street Car , Via: Autoblog

2011 Dodge Charger Unofficially Shows Off its Rear on Fast & Furious 5 Movie Set

Spied on the set of the next (why, God?) Fast and Furious movie was the 2011 Dodge Charger, all dolled up in a police uniform. Although it's still too soon to critique the final product, these latest pics from Autoblog are revealing enough to hesitantly say that yes, the car's set to get a decent-looking exterior refresh.

The 2011's wide-taillight treatment is a blast from the past; definitely cool with rumored LEDs, but it should have been the taillight layout from the start. The front end is reportedly angrier and gets a new lower fascia (like the rear), and from at least one of the pics it appears that the side could be gaining a styling streak. Oh, and the hood is getting a little more character in the form of those two indentations.

The other big news is that interior. If...IF...that's the final decision on the dash, well...that's a lot of vinyl and silver plastic. As the former owner of a Chrysler with a similar sliced-from-the-inside airbag mechanism (should that be used), let me say this to owners of older cars as a warning: the vinyl may crack through and leave passengers with a nice cut to stare at.

Not too thrilled about that; just because the technology is there to eliminate supplementary restraint system panels doesn't necessarily mean it needs to be done. In this case, I'd rather have an SRS section that would offer some lines to design around instead of that sea of vinyl.

As always, final judgments will come after an official release. For now, we can at least be happy that Dodge is taking its Charger in the right direction.

By Phil Alex

For the rest of the photos, hop over to Autoblog.com

SPIED: 2011 Dodge Durango Ain't Ready to Throw Away its Camouflage Just Yet

Even though Dodge has started playing the striptease photo game with the 2011 Durango, the Detroit carmaker is still keeping test cars under cover for apparent reasons. Forum member GM4Life from 'Cheers and Gears' bagged these photos of a camouflaged prototype of the seven (or eight) seater crossover on the highway somewhere near Denver, Colorado.

The new generation of the Durango, now a unibody crossover model based on the mechanicals and platform of the latest Jeep Grand Cherokee, will be built alongside its sister Jeep model at the Chrysler Group's Jefferson North plant in Detroit. Set to compete against Ford's new Explorer, the Durango will most likely hit showrooms by the end of the year.

Photos: Cheers and Gears

Dodge Lets Out New Teaser Photos of 2011 Durango SUV

Not to be outdone by Ford and its marketing tactics with the 2011 Explorer, the Chrysler Group published a few more teaser shots of the upcoming 2011 Dodge Durango. These new photos come in addition to those released during an earlier announcement today on the launch of a dedicated website on the crossover model which is equipped with three rows of seats.

The new Durango makes the jump from truck-based to car-based crossover as it uses a stretched version of the unibody platform found under the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Though Dodge is keeping most details under wraps, the Durango will most likely be offered with Chrysler's new Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 delivering somewhere around 290-ponies and a 5.7-liter V8 with about 360-horsepower.

We still don't know where the crossover model will make its debut, but it is expected to go on sale in the States as early as the end of the year.

2011 Dodge Durango SUV Teaser Site Goes Live

After much speculation about the name of Dodge's forthcoming SUV model which is heavily based on the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, an official teaser site that just went live confirms the use of the 'Durango' nameplate. The website also offers some new rendered images of the 2011 Durango including a cropped shot of the dashboard revealing the push-button start.

We've added a full set of images from the site after the jump, but for a better look of the SUV, click here for a completely uncloaked 2011 Durango snagged in the factory and here for a very accurate rendering based on the official patent drawings.

Link: Dodge , Via: Autoblog.com

Dodge Fan Renders 2012 Durango SUV from Official Sketches

couple of months ago we broke the story on the official patent drawings of the next Dodge Durango SUV (see here), or whatever else Chrysler LLC bosses decide to name it. Andrew Currie from the 'Cheersandgears' forums took a couple of these sketches and rendered them to offer us a more realistic view of Dodge's full-size SUV.

The Durango's successor is believed to ride on the same or lengthened version of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee platform, which was developed alongside the next generation Mercedes-Benz ML SUV.

Powertrain options will most likely include Chrysler LLC's new 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar with 290-horsepower and a 5.7-liter V8 HEMI with 360 ponies, while an all-wheel-drive option is certain.

Via: Cheersandgears