RE: Higher Horsepower & Torque for the 5.7L HEMI
 

The current 300 hp Mustang GT isn't THAT quick (stock ones, of course). I had an 04 GTO with the 350 hp LS1 and it weighed in at a porky 3800-3900 lbs and I had no problem dusting off plenty of current Mustang GTs all day long, so I have no doubt that a 380 hp Challenger would be able to do the same with ease.

Personally I don't think the Challenger is going to weigh 4200 lbs - I know the concept supposedly did, but my "guesstimation" would be around 3900 or so for the production model. Still way too much, I'll grant you, but you can't expect much lighter in this day of all the required electronics, air bags, smart-suspension systems (or whatever you call them).

I think Ford is going to up the hp on the 4.6 to 350 for 09 (or 010), so the 5.7 Hemi's horsepower boost couldn't have come at a better time. I only hope a hp boost for the 6.1 isn't far behind.

RE: Higher Horsepower & Torque for the 5.7L HEMI
 

As I said in another thread, a friend of mine in Florida just won a dragway season championship in his '06 Magnum. His car is a stock 5.7L 340HP HEMI - except for the addition of a CAI, and the PCM was flashed with a DiabloSport Predator. He was turning 13.7's consistantly, and ran under his 13.65 dial-in time once getting a DQ for that run. That Magnum is 4100 lbs (what they indicated the Challenger would be - kinda hard to believe they'd weigh the same). I would think the addition of the track-pak that's been hinted at being offered on the Challenger with a better suspension and hi-flow exhaust, and the 40HP more in the new 5.7L in front of a 6-speed TREMEC would put us well below the times my friend was turning with his Magnum. Put a set of sticky street slicks/tires on an extra set of rims for the strip......
Keep in mind we're going to be taking final drive from 2.82 in the autosticks down to 3.73 and 3.92 with the 6-speed TREMEC in the R/T and SRT8 respectively. That alone will make a BIG difference.
Obviously you have more experience than most of us, Patrick, and would be able to crunch the numbers better. But I think the only way we'll know for sure is when one of the new 5.7's is bolted up to the TREMEC and running a timed 1/4 mile.

The R/T should be capable of satisfying all of MY needs - including dusting off any Mustangs. Then again, it'll only take one loss for me to decide to plumb in a ZEX wet kit.

RE: Higher Horsepower & Torque for the 5.7L HEMI
 

What happened when you woke up? Go get a 6.0 liter and come talk to me.