Yes, more power is good.

But is slapping the 6.1 liter Hemi in the new Challenger the wise choice?

Personally, I'd be very happy with the 5.7 Hemi in the new Challenger. It's still a Hemi. It'll still shake the earth as I drive by (a requirement of American Muscle). But with the Multi-Displacement System, I get all the Hemi goodness, while still being able to get decent gas milage. Just look at the Magnum:
5.7 Hemi with MDS = 18 City, 25 Highway
6.1 Hemi (no MDS) = 14 City, 20 Highway

Hell, I get BARELY better fuel economy in my PT Cruiser than the Magnum with 5.7 Hemi! (Don't think for a minute that doesn't burn me)

I'd read someone's comment on another blog/forum that stated that he'd prefer the V6 over either Hemi. While I think that's overstating things, I do believe that the 5.7 liter Hemi is much better choice for the first year of the Challenger. If Chrysler is concerned that a 2-door might not sell well (hence the reason the Charger got the shaft), why couple that concern with crippling gas mileage? Wouldn't they be MORE worried about low sales?

Yes, I'm going to get one no matter what, but I'd be happy as pig in slop if DCX gave me a 5.7 liter Hemi coupled to that 6-speed manual transmission. Maybe offer the 6.1 as an option...?

Thoughts?

 

i also look forward to seeing if they really do insert the 6.1 as the entry level engine. i feel that a 5.7L hemi, and a bump down in price, would make it sell like gangbusters...

now, they shouldnt do what ford does, and make a V6, even if they can get decent HP numbers from a V6...

i see no reason why they cant do this lineup:

Challenger Rallye - 5.7L Hemi with MDS
Challenger R/T - 6.1L Hemi with or without..perhaps an option? i dont know of an actual downfall to the MDS.
Challenger SRT-8 - 6.4L Hemi without MDS.

and do we really have to deal with this "srt8" jazz? im really not feeling it..all of the cars are at the very least respectable, but how about the 6.4L Hemi comes in the Challenger T/A?
anyone?

my stratus RT has over 200hp, and runs well enough for my daily driver, and on the highway, i have gotten 28.XX mpg...on several occassions, and that makes me very happy. around town, i get around 20-22.

 

Hi Mac! I agree with both of you that the 5.7 should be the base engine. With the MDS there really is no need for a V6. I don't know about you guys but I'm just happy to be having a conversation like this about a Dodge vehicle! As far as the SRT designation I think we'd better get used to it because it's part of the brand identity DCX wants out there just like the crosshair grill in the Dodges. That took some getting used to also.

 

i like the crosshair grilles, but i dont understand the need for this "new identity" with the high performance models..i know that a while back, there were rumors of making "dodge" a family/truck brand, making chrysler the luxury brand, and bring back plymouth to be the performance brand, and i think that would be great...it would also allow them to play with names a bit more...

like the plymouth viper?

and yes, deranged, it is great to be discussing a dodge muscle car...[8D]

 

I agree that the SRT8 designation is totally unecessary. Give me designations that make sense... T/A, G/T, R/T... or better yet, give me the old C.I.D. labells! Who wouldn't enjoy driving their new Dodge Challenger 340? That'll make those Mustang fanboys sit up and cry foul!

But back on the topic of engines: If the folks at DCX/Dodge are listening, I vote for the following engine line up:
Rallye: 4.7 liter V8
R/T: 5.7 liter Hemi with MDS
SRT8: 6.1 liter Hemi

If we get the option for the 6-speed manual on all levels, the 4.7 liter V8 (with dual exhaust) would make a very nice choice. It still has enough torque to get up and go, while offering decent gas milage. Plus, Dodge doesn't have to stoop to the useless V6 level.

I'm not apologizing for that comment. I honestly believe that the V6 has no place in a Challenger.

And to quote those wacky Guinness guys: Bringing back the Plymouth brand? BRILLIANT!
The 2010 Plymouths: GTX, Roadrunner, and Barracuda.

 

i agree....no need to apologize.

so you dont want the 6.4L to make its way into a production challenger?

the 4.7 is a good motor..i never thought about that.

back when i still had a flat hood on the mirada, i found an old set of the nascar style "340 CID" decals, and had them on both sides of the hood, nascar style, until i got the fiberglass hood...that would be awesome...

or even the 425 H.P. on both sides of the hood? thats right..keep giving me ideas to mod the car that i dont have...

 

I like the way you're thinking. I can see that 340 on the hood now. As for a V6, please don't say that around here. It makes me nervous.

T/A, GT and R/T = WWWWWWWWOOOOOODDDDDDYYYYYYYYYYY

 

does anyone know how many cubic inches the 5.7 hemi is? it should be around 340 or so..no? 346?

 

Yesh, the 5.7 liter Hemi works out to roughly 346 C.I.D.
The 6.1 is about 372.
The 6.4 is about 392.

When they first made the 5.7 Hemi, I immediately shreiked "340!!!" but it's not. Not like the retired 5.2 truly was the updated (bulletproof) 318. Now there was a great engine... And I digress again. The 5.7 Hemi is a whole new engine, not based on any previous Mopar engine. But I wonder about the 6.4. That's a dead-on match for the venerable 392 Chrysler Hemi. Anyone know if its based on the old Hemi, or if it's all new like the 5.7? At 505 horsepower, I'll forgo gas milage!

Yea, I'd forgotten about that. I revise my previous statement and would like to replace the 6.1 in the SRT8 Challenger with the 6.4. That way we have Small, Hemi, and Gravity Defying. Just how it should be.

And all will be right with the world.

 

i know for a fact that thr 6.1L is a bored 5.7, and i do not have information yet, but i would assume that the 6.4L, while being a 392, has almost nothing in common with the red ram, other than its an engine..

i have done an engine review for the 6.1L, and it should be posted on the homepage soon.