CHICAGO — From the reading-between-the-lines department comes this little nugget: Dodge will unveil the R/T and V6 versions of its Challenger muscle car at the 2008 New York Auto Show in mid-March.

Asked repeatedly at the debut of the 425-horsepower Challenger SRT8 model at the Chicago auto show when we would see other variations on the Challenger theme, Chrysler Vice Chairman and President Jim Press said, "Just wait until New York."

We expect the R/T to come with a 340- or 350-hp 5.7-liter version of the company's Hemi V8 and a five-speed automatic transmission, just as R/T versions of Chargers and Magnums do. The V6 version will likely carry the 250-hp 3.5-liter six-cylinder and, if Dodge follows its own naming convention, will be dubbed the SXT.

One would hope that both will come to market without the "carbon fiber" stickers applied to the hood of the Challenger SRT8.

The SRT8 model starts at $37,995.

What this means to you: You'll soon be able to get the look without all the cost. — Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit

 

Less than a month, we should have all of the info that we need.

 

Hopefully those models will secure the Challenger's longevity for at least 3 years or more.

 

Not sure who Daniel Pund is or who he writes for, but the "word" is that the R/T will have a comparably refreshed 5.7L HEMI as will be in the 2009 RAM P/U, which with VVT is now rated at 380 HP and 404 lb-ft of torque, not the previous version putting out 340/350 HP and 390 tqe.
Not sure why Danny doesn't like the carbon fiber stripes on the '08 SRT8. Maybe Mama regularly beat him with a fly-swatter (with a similar weave/pattern embossed into it) when he was a young child trying to grow up? Who knows? Who cares?

 

the article come from edmunds, my guess he would have prefered an actual carbon fiber hood. but he could have been beaten like you so elegantly mentioned. [sm=icon_beat.gif]

 

Lord knows I was fleet of foot when mama grabbed the fly swater!

 

That's exciting news about the V6 models!

 

[sm=icon_rofl.gif]. Thats so not good. Running only made it worse.

 

True, then if she didn't catch ya, she'd send in the heavy....AND...you don't run from him!

 

Thank God the V-6 is coming. That means the Challenger will have some longevity!

Hmmmm ... and I still keep thinking: Whate if the V-6s enter the rental-car market and I can eventually pick one up at a reasonable price to use as a daily driver while the R/T stays safe and snug in the garage ...