Mopar Underground has unleashed their Dodge Challenger SRT8 ACR on the Las Vegas Convention Center show floor and it’s every bit as awesome as we expected. The Challenger SRT8 392 has been influenced by the Viper SRT10 ACR’s styling while the 392 under the hood packs even more punch with Mopar’s custom headers and cat-back exhaust.

On the outside, the white body has been contrasted with subtle red accents, a charcoal roof and plenty of carbon fiber on the hood, deck lid, rear spoiler and tail light surround. 20-inch black wheels were fitted to each corner that sits nicely on the rear fenders thanks to a set of coilovers.

The interior is clearly race-inspired, sporting carbon fiber door panels, red roll bars and carbon fiber racing seats that have been covered in Katzkin leather. We still hope that Dodge or Mopar will announce some sort of availability on this model but we’re sure avid enthusiasts will be able to build it on their own through Mopar’s extensive parts catalog.

GALLERY: Dodge Challenger SRT8 ACR

Developed by Chrysler Group’s Mopar Underground team, the Dodge Challenger SRT8 ACR is heavily influenced by the success of the Mopar Drag Pak Challenger and more recently, the Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR that reset the production lap time record at the Nurburgring. Based on the Challenger SRT8 392, Mopar Underground focused on paying homage to the original option-delete cars of the 1960s and 70s with the SRT8 ACR that will make its debut at this year’s SEMA Show.

On the outside, the Challenger SRT8 ACR takes design cues from the infamous Viper SRT10 ACR. The Challenger will sport a white body, charcoal-painted roof, carbon fiber hood, rear deck lid, rear spoiler and tail lamp surround, and an offset flame red stripe that runs the length of the project. The mirror caps and brake calipers were then painted red, contrasting the white while giving the Challenger a true race-inspired theme. For wheels, 20-inchers adorn each corner in a unique black-painted finish. To top off the aesthetics, red ACR fender badging was added.

The red and white theme continues onto the interior where Mopar Underground added white accents on the carbon fiber door panels, red armrest bars with white foam padding, red door latch release tethers, red painted roll bars and accents on the carbon fiber racing seats covered in black Katzkin leather.

But what Challenger SRT8 featuring the ACR badging wouldn’t have performance modifications? Mopar Underground outfitted the Challenger with a complete collection of parts straight out of a Mopar catalog. The suspension has been completely overhauled thanks to a set of coilovers, braces and brace caps in the front and the rear. A cat-back exhaust with custom headers were bolted on, giving the Challenger SRT8 a whole new note and extra horsepower while minor accessories include a Drag Pack center stack, carbon fiber bezel kit, door sill entry guards, Mopar fuel door and a short-throw shifter. The race-inspired vehicle has also had its rear seat removed in exchange for a roll bar and fire extinguisher.

Dodge did not make any announcement on whether or not they plan on producing the Challenger SRT8 ACR. One can only hope.

See AutoGuide’s complete 2011 SEMA Show preview here

Penske Racing has teamed up with Pennzoil to giveaway a one-of-a-kind custom Dodge Challenger SRT8 and 175 other prizes through their Join The Pursuit game. To enter the contest all you need to do is get a qualifying Pennzoil oil change to receive your official game piece, then enter the code at the website here. Or, just visit the website without purchasing an oil change. Prizes include $50 Shell gift cards, $25 Shell gift cards, a Pennzoil/Penske Racing hat and the grand prize of a Dodge Challenger SRT8.

The SRT8 features custom paint and striping on the exterior, with a dual-finish black paint scheme with hand-applied accent stripes. A suspension lowering kit was installed to enhance handling and give the SRT8 a more menacing stance, while a set of 20-inch Forgiato wheels with Pirelli P-Zero rubber conceals the four-piston Brembo brake kit. Performance comes from a 392-cubic inch Hemi V8 with 470-hp and 470 lb-ft of torque paired to a six-speed transmission. Performance upgrades include a Corsa Performance exhaust system and a Getrag limited-slip differential. On the inside, a premium interior package outfits the cabin with leather seats and accent-colored stitching. In car electronics include a Kicker sound system, Media Center 730N with Uconnect and “Performance Pages” instrumentation – which displays 0-60 time, braking distance and time, 1/4- and 1/8-mile time and G-force.

[Source: Pennzoil Join The Pursuit]

The Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang together outsold all hybrids in the U.S. market for the month of May. With fuel prices skyrocketing and the cost for a gallon of gas around $4, many would think this is absurd. However with advancements in technology, the fuel economy efforts by GM, Ford and Chrysler have made these models far more efficient than in the past. And besides, Spring is the perfect season to buy a summer toy.

The 2012 Camaro lead muscle car sales in May 2011, with the introduction of the convertible model, selling 9,451 units. This is a gain of 5% over May 2010, however 10,000 Camaros were sold in April, so there was a slight decline from the previous month. The 2012 Mustang came in second place selling 4,407 units which also suffered a 36% decrease over May 2010. The 2012 Dodge Challenger came in third place with 3,418 units sold in May. Even with the slump in sales for May, a total of 19,476 Challengers, Camaros and Mustangs were sold compared to 17,852 hybrids sold in the U.S.

The Earthquake in Japan prevented vehicles from coming into the US and this needs to be taken into consideration when looking at these numbers, but it is still amazing that with gas this high, many Americans are not ready to let go of their favorite muscle cars.

[Source: Mustang Forums]

Those who are scratching their heads on what a Kowalski Edition Dodge Challenger is were probably born way after 1971, or just never heard of the movie Vanishing Point. Released in 1971, the flick was all about Kowaski, a vehicle delivery driver, that had to go from Denver, Colorado to San Francisco, California in less than 15 hours. So with a bet on the line, Kowalski hops into a white 1970 Dodge Challenger and flies through the empty highways of the West Coast.

To pay homage to the great film, a dealership out in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania has created 10 Kowalski Edition Dodge Challengers. Starting with an Inaugural Edition SRT8 (in white of course), the dealership removes the stripe, adds some custom decals and 20-inch Alcoa SRT wheels. On the inside, the seats feature a dark shade and a wood grain Hurst pistol grip shifter, attempting to look as similar as possible to the movie’s 1970 version. And of course, a numbered plaque designates which Kowalski Edition Challenger it is.

No pricing was announced, but apparently all 10 vehicles are already spoken for.

GALLERY: Kowalski Edition Dodge Challenger

A Dodge Challenger was struck down far before its time at the Brampton, Ontario factory—bursting into flames right in the final stages on the assembly line.

The fire was caused by a heat lamp that had ignited some paperwork that was attached to the car. Nobody was injured and no other cars were counted as casualties, as the sprinkler system quickly put it out. “Things happen from time to time,” said Ardis Snow, CAW unit chairperson at the plant. “They need to determine if it was human error or product related.”

The photos leaked onto the Moparts forum where some believe that this was a rare 392 SRT model, noting the wheels and the hood scoop. ”Fires happen all the time in the automotive industry,” said Snow. Clearly, the folks at Chrysler are adjusting well to the foibles of Italian ownership.

[Source: Wheels.ca]

The 2011 Formula Drift season is just around the corner, and competing vehicles are out in full testing mode. Samuel Hubinette hasn’t been at the top of the podium for a couple of years now, but it looks like this year his two-car team will be something to look out for. He’ll be behind the wheel of his Dodge Challenger, while Dean Kearney of Ireland will be piloting the infamous Dodge Viper SRT-10.

Both cars are sporting new looks for the 2011 season, welcoming sponsorship from Dodge, V-LEDs, BFGoodrich and Federal Tires. Dodge will be the primary sponsor of Hubinette’s Challenger, while V-LEDs is the primary sponsor of Kearney’s Viper. Interestingly enough, it looks like Hubinette will be driving on his traditional BFGoodrich rubber while Kearney will be burning off Federal Tires.

Kearney captured the 2009 European Pro Drift Championship, and with the experienced Hubinette by his side, it’ll be an interesting year to see how these two battle it out with the rest of the field. We’ll be looking forward to the season opener on April 8-9th at Long Beach, California.

Check out the video of Hubinette testing his Challenger after the break, along with the official press release.

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Lingenfelter Performance Engineering has finally released a supercharger package for the 08-10 Dodge Challenger, taking performance to 500-rwhp and 450 ft-lbs of torque on the 6.1L HEMI. That’s good enough for a 12.03 second quarter mile blast at 120-mph.

The supercharger upgrade is available for both the 5.7L and 6.1L HEMI engines and comes with a Magnuson TVS2300 supercharger, powdercoated black. An upgraded thermostat, fuel injectors and intake system are also included in the performance package.

Lingenfelter will also install the supercharger upgrade package for those interested, and it comes with Lingenfelter’s 3 year / 36,000 mile warranty.

GALLERY: Lingenfelter Dodge Challenger Supercharger Upgrade

Dodge‘s trademark cross-hair grille, the front end treatment that has been the hallmark of the brand’s styling for years, will become the sole domain of the Ram truck brand, as the Chrysler division moves toward a new look for future products.

“It takes time. We will evolve the products,” Ralph Gilles, CEO of Dodge and Chrysler’s design chief, told Automotive News. “We did as much as we could with the split cross-hair grille,” he said. “We had to be careful because the cooling work was pretty much done when we decided to rebrand the vehicles. That will continue evolving over time.”

No plans were divulged with regards to Dodge’s new look, but with cars like the new Charger leading the way, and attempting to target a different kind of buyer, perhaps a more mature look is in line for the brand as Chrysler moves upscale, and Dodge has been seperated from Ram Trucks, which understandably needs to project a macho image.

[Source: Automotive News]

It’s pretty hard to make the Dodge Challenger even more eye-catching, but a new color, dubbed “Green With Envy”, should help it attract the attention of bystanders and the ire of other motorists.

Available on the R/T Classic (white black or white stripes) or the SRT8 392 (black stripes only), the new getup is supposed to recall the glory days of Mopar muscle, when V8 bruisers were available in every hue of the Hi-Liter rainbow. For our money, it’s hard to beat the all-American white/blue stripes combo, but someone suffering from a bad mid-life crisis is bound to go for the green.