cars-trend: Dodge Challenger Concepts

While it may be an old timer in the tuner world, the Dodge Challenger is still getting plenty of 2009 SEMA show limelight. The Challenger arguably the most 'retro' and handsome of the modern day American muscle car trio with its distinctive interpretation of the Challenger's lines from yesteryear. The package as a whole works well and as you can see, a few notable tuners tend to agree.
Its HEMI V-8s love to be tinkered with and its chassis stiffened for a ride enthusiast's can't ignore -- an ideal platform for enhancements big or small. So sit back and enjoy our picks for the best Dodge Challengers at SEMA.
Dodge Challenger 1320
Dodge Challenger 1320
So you love the idea of driving to the local quarter-mile track on Friday night, sliding into the "Run what ya' Brung" line, paying your $50, lining up at the Christmas tree, smashing the go-pedal with a brick, and beating every other entrant through the traps, then driving home with a big trophy and a check. Well, the guys at Mopar want to make that happen for you with their newest concept creation. Cut from their Drag Pak option package (meaning a vehicle stripped of every unnecessary ounce of weight by removing things like rear seats, speakers, insulation, and more), this Challenger 1320 uses an all-aluminum Mopar 426 cubic inch Hemi stuffed under the hood and claims to make over 550 horsepower with 560 lb-ft of torque.
Built by the Mopar Design Team, known internally as the Mopar Underground, the rest of the power train consists of a factory 6-speed manual (built strong enough to work in a Dodge Ram Heavy Duty) and a custom-built heavy-duty-ized Dana 60 rear axle with 4.10:1 gears and a neumatic locking rear differential. Mopar used their own long-tube headers but found they liked the big-league sound of an aftermarket Corsa exhaust system best. Mopar also used their own aftermarket adjustable coilover shocks, bigger brakes, and 18-inch police-option steel wheels. For maximum traction, the Dodge boys used 305/45R18 Mickey Thompson ET Street Drag Radials.
There's no doubt this vehicle will get attention wherever it goes, with its bright yellow finish and matte black accents, but our guess is this will be tricky to get to pass emissions in all 50 states. But we can always dream.
Dodge Challenger 1320 Rear End
Dodge Challenger 1320 Engine
Dodge Challenger 1320 Underbody
Dodge Challenger Moparized Front Three Quarter View
Moparized Dodge Challenger
This brand new Dodge Challenger is the blank canvas the Mopar painted with every brush they could find. Imagine if you could order every option you've ever wanted from the Mopar catalog. Now stop imagining, because it's here. To start, this "Moparized" Challenger offers a cold-air intake on a stock 5.7-liter Hemi, along with a carbon-fiber engine cover and a powder-coated steel strut tower. Mopar also include a cat-back exhaust for a deeper exhaust note, as well as better fuel economy. Among the largest big-ticket items included on this muscle car is a Stage-II coilover suspension kit that allows the body to drop almost two inches of ride-height to improve its sporty feel.
Dodge Challenger Moparized Side ViewAlso on the pricey side, at about $3000, Mopar installed the complete Uconnect Navigation system with the Sirius radio package, which includes 30-gigs of hard drive space for storing all sorts of CDs, photos, and other files. This top-level sound system includes several speaker (and subwoofer) upgrades, courtesy of the sound experts at Kicker. The last, and maybe the coolest, of the expensive accessories available through Mopar is the 20-inch five-spoke forged aluminum wheel option that looks both modern and period-correct. The wheels are polished and clear-coated and meant to look good going fast, but at almost $600 per wheel, we're surprised they don't come with their own man-servant to keep them clean. The rest of the "mods" fall under the category of the "dress-up" but that doesn't mean they aren't interesting. Pieces like the rear spoiler, front and rear sticker package, and the interior and exterior chrome and carbon-fiber accents are among our favorites and have the most dramatic visual impact. Just be careful, if you decide to play this game: it adds up fast. With all the options on this vehicle, the total price is just under $20,000 on top of the factory MSRP. Ouch.
Mopar Dodge Challenger Front Three Quarter
Mopar Dodge Challenger Engine
Mopar Dodge Challenger Interior
Dodge Challenger Convertible Front Three Quarter 2
Droptop Customs Dodge Challenger Convertible
Droptop Customs, which specializes in removing perfectly good roofs from structurally rigid cars, is bringing a convertible Challenger to the show. The model seen here started as one of 450 "Deep Water Blue Pearl" 2009 models equipped with a six-speed manual, according to Droptop Customs. The goal of the High Springs, Florida-based company was to recreate the green Challenger convertible that won accolades at the 2008 SEMA show, but was painfully scrapped later.