2009 DODGE New Car Model Guide

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With a hunker V10 spewing 600 horsepower, the outrageously exotic Viper SRT10 sports car sets the pace for Dodge's newest line of sporty cars. This year, there's a large-scale sports tourer Magnum wagon and its high-octane SRT8 performance variation, along with a four-door sports coupe Charger, which also has a SRT8 version. The line also features Dodge's new price-leader, a mid-size Avenger sedan.

SRT
"Street and Racing Technology" — signifies high-octane performance cars for the Dodge line of 2009. Exotic Viper SRT10 sets the swift pace among all of Dodge's sporty cars, thanks to a hunker V10 spewing 600 hp. But new Challenger SRT8 joins Dodge's Class of 2009 nearly four decades after the debut of the original Challenger. A four-door sports coupe named Charger also shows the SRT8 high-performance treatment, while Dodge's price-leader, a mid-size sedan labeled Avenger, carries a racy nameplate.

Avenger
The NASCAR nameplate applies to a street-legal version in a four-door sedan with bold styling and clever accessories. Avenger fits in the mid-size class and comes in three flavors — entry-model Avenger SE, upscale Avenger SXT and sporty Avenger R/T. There's a different engine for every trim. Avenger SE totes a 2.4-liter four-in-line for 173 hp. Avenger SXT stocks a 2.7-liter V6 engine worth 186 hp, but Avenger R/T has a 3.5-liter V6 producing 235 hp. Avenger also offers lots of cabin equipment, such as Chill Zone, a cooler bin which holds four 12-ounce cans of beverage.

Charger
Dodge's modern muscle car splits into trims of SE, luxurious SXT and racy R/T. Rear-wheel-drive (RWD) traction is the norm, but all-wheel-drive (AWD) is available. AWD models gain Chrysler's Active Transfer Case and Front-axle Disconnect for seamless transitions between RWD and AWD. Base engine is a 2.7-liter V6 with 178 hp, but a 3.5-liter V6 for 250 hp is optional. Charger R/T stocks a new 370-hp HEMI 5.7-liter V8 with a multi-displacement system (MDS) to conserve fuel by clipping cylinders when boosted power is not needed. Special issue Charger Daytona R/T carries performance equipment and the HEMI V8.

Charger SRT8
Dodge transforms Charger into a high-performance muscle machine dubbed SRT8. Core component is a massive 6.1-liter HEMI V8 that develops 425 hp. The suspension drops half an inch and tunes tightly for performance with tailored spring rates and bushings, big anti-sway bars and skid control from an electronic stability program (ESP). Forged aluminum wheels measure up to 20 inches in diameter. Body modifications consist of front fascia with brake-cooling ducts and air dam added and a rear fascia with wake modifier and exhaust-tip cutouts. Latest SRT8 paint shade is Deep Water Blue Clear Coat.

Challenger
This is a slick two-door coupe riding on the RWD platform of Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. Body styling appears retro-cool and duplicates the stubby recessed prow of the original Challenger muscle car. There are two versions — SE and R/T — each with a different powertrain. Challenger SE has a 3.5-liter high-output V6 to develop 250 hp and fuel economy numbers up to 25 mpg. Challenger R/T gets the new 5.7-liter HEMI V8. It achieves 376 hp when connected to a Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission, or 372 hp with the optional Chrysler five-speed automatic.

Challenger SRT8
Black hood stripes and functional dual scoops mark the swift SRT8 version of Dodge's new Challenger coupe muscle car. The SRT8 treatment means a limited-slip differential on tap with a new six-speed manual shifter (the Tremec TR-6060) and that 6.1-liter HEMI V8 driving 425 hp to the 20-inch forged aluminum wheels. Brakes consist of huge discs with red painted Brembo calipers. Challenger's cockpit carries leather-clad buckets with red accent stripes and the instrument panel is dotted with four-bomb gauges. New gear on the 2009 Challenger SRT8 includes a pistol-grip shifter that's reminiscent of the original Challenger shifter.

Viper SRT10
Long at the prow and slinky low for a two-seat cockpit with a 10-cylinder engine pushing all torque to enormous rear wheels, Dodge's Viper SRT10 delivers 600 hp from its 8.4-liter V10 engine. Models include a roadster convertible and hardtop coupe with double-bubble roofline. A heavy-duty six-speed manual transmission is standard for both coupe and roadster, along with aluminum components for the four-wheel independent suspension plus Brembo disc brakes tied to a four-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS). Optional new six-spoke aluminum wheels — 18-inch up front and 19-inch in back — support Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires.

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