Things I Didn't Know
 

I just got done reading the 5/08 on-line issue of Autoweek. It contained interviews from the designers and engineers of the 2008 Challenger SRT 8. Most of the stuff I had already heard in various magazines and video clips, but I learned a few new things. Namely...

* The 6.1 could not have MDS because it has 15.5 millimeters of lift, as opposed to the 14.0 millimeters of the 5.7. In order to use MDS on the 6.1, you would have to design a new (and expensive) lifter package.
* The wheel openings have a little chamfer (beveled edge) in the undercut that relates back to the 1970 Challenger.
* If you use the old J606 horsepower standard (without accessory drives), the 6.1 makes 461 hp.
* All 6.1 engines are certified by an inspector. The only other one certified in the U.S. is the Chevy Z06 engine.
* The shock tuning is designed to produce low-speed rebound on the rears to help the car feel like it has a bigger sway bar than it does on turn-in.

That was interesting stuff.

The coming 6.4L is supposedly an MDS engine but probably only on the automatic. It would take some interesting algorithms to implement it on a manual.

Sorry MDS stands for ??? This relates to the Charger commercial currently running, "Semi Hemi", I think that's what your referring to, right?

MDS = Multiple Displacement System, the engine can go into a gas saver mode by adjusting the displacements.

I actually remembered reading the reason why the 6.1L couldn't have MDS shortly after the 6.1L was introduced. I believe you are right, Jeremiah, that the 6.4L will only have it with the automatic. At this time in the case of Chrysler, it is being used as a crutch for the inferior Mercedes W5A580 transmission. The manual doesn't need it because it has the ability to have both tall gearing for fuel economy and a reasonable shortness for the combined first gear; whereas, the Mercedes W5A580 transmission is geared too closely to where it requires the engineer to choose between fuel economy and acceleration.