Automobile Trends: dodge challenger blacktop and challenger targa

Tuesday 19 July 2011

dodge challenger blacktop and challenger targa

The Dodge Challenger Blacktop started life as a 2009 Challenger R/T with a 5.7L V-8 and a six-speed manual transmission. The big Hemi now breathes easier thanks to a Mopar cold-air intake and cat-back exhaust, and the Blacktop now rides on a Mopar coil-over suspension with a strut-tower brace for extra rigidity. Putting the power down are massive 22-in. Dodge Viper replica wheels from Factory Reproductions wrapped in 265/35R22 Dunlop rubber up front and 305/30R22 out back. The car also gets a custom front spoiler and a black-on-black paint scheme to complete the look. Inside, it gets bright-red Katzkin leather seats and a Mopar Kicker premium audio system.
The Dodge Challenger Targa, nicknamed "Samantha," competed in this year's Targa Newfoundland race. What started as a Mopar Challenger drag race package has become a full-blown road racer with a big engine and custom suspension and brakes. Under the Mopar hood is a 6.4L Hemi crate engine making 540 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque. Power reaches the ground through a Tremec six-speed manual transmission and a 2009 production rearend with revised gear ratios. Hauling it all to a stop are massive brakes from Stop-Tech featuring 15-in. rotors with six-piston calipers up front while four-piston calipers clamp down on 14-in. rotors in the back. Getting the big car around corners is a race suspension, which KW developed along with the brake package, both originally developed for the Dodge Viper ACR. Outside, the car picks up a Mopar front spoiler and Snakeskin Green paint from the Viper, while inside the driver gets a full set of Mopar gauges to keep an eye on the vitals. With a few exceptions, all of the parts on the Targa are available through Mopar.