With the introduction of the new 2011 Challenger SRT8 392 at the SEMA Show last week, Dodge brand boss and Chrysler design chief Ralf Gilles dropped a bit hint at the return of the Plymouth Barracuda.

“There’s a lot of pressure on us to bring the ‘Cuda back,” said Gilles to a crowd of Mopar loyalists. “The customers have been stomping their feet for it.”

There’s no doubt Gilles wouldn’t have brought it up were it not in the works and with Chrysler looking to breathe new life into the brand while retaining loyalists, we’d expect to see a new HEMI ‘Cuda in the not-too-distant future.

As for the fact that the Plymouth brand has been long dead: that’s just a detail at this point.

[Source: USAToday]

Chrysler‘s Mopar division will unveil a new slate of vehicles at the 2010 SEMA show, with an updated Dodge Challenger SRT-8 as the brand’s star debut.

The updated Challenger SRT-8 will feature an all-new 6.4L V8 with 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy will get a 15-20 percent bump on the highway, thanks to a multi-displacement system (that allows for deactivation of cylinders at highway speeds), variable valve timing and a variable intake manifold.

A limited run of Inaugural Edition vehicles will ship after Thanksgiving in a run of 1,492 cars that will kick off the car’s production. The Inaugural Edition will feature special paint and stripe packages and other special accouterments. Pricing will be announced shortly, and Autoguide will have full coverage of the car’s debut at the SEMA show starting November 1.

[Source: Chrysler]

With pretty much all the data on the new 2011 Challenger having already been leaked, Dodge has now dropped the official info, confirming the arrival of the more powerful and efficient Pentastar V6 as the new base engine. With a total of 305-hp and 268 ft-lbs of torque the base Challenger gains 55-hp and 18 ft-lbs over last year’s model. This also puts the Challenger in the same numbers gave as its two major competitors with the Camaro boasting 312-hp and the Mustang with 305-hp (although the Stangd weights 400 lbs less).

Paired with a new six-speed automatic the 2011 Challenger will get a bump in fuel economy as well, with Chrysler claiming that across its fleet the engine will represent a 7 percent increase in miles per gallon.

With the recent introduction of the Pentastar V6 in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Charger and Dodge Journey, Chrysler has announced that this new engine will replace seven other engines in the next three years, with those engines ranging in displacement from 2.7-liters to 4.0-liters. The plan is to not only improve fuel economy and power, but to reduce overhead costs by simplifying the engine offerings.

GALLERY: 2011 Dodge Challenger

Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

Chrysler is recalling 26,397 vehicles over fault power steering hoses that could leak and cause a fire. Vehicles affected include the 2010 Chrysler 300, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Dodge Journey and Dodge Challenger.

NHTSA released a statement regarding the recall stating “Some of these vehicles may experience a separation at the crimped end of the power steering pressure hose assembly. Leaked power steering fluid onto hot engine components could cause a fire.”

The recall is expected to begin at the end of the month. Owners can contact Chrysler at (800) 853-1403.

[Source: Inside Line via NHTSA]

Back during the first muscle car collection boom in the 1980s, the two big collections everybody knew about were Otis Chandler’s in the West and Milton Robson’s in the East.

Today, although many other high profile collections have spawned, fueled by a second boom during the last decade, Robson’s group of rare and interesting cars has remained one of the most notable – a diverse stable of prime automobiles that he amassed over more than 25 years.

Now, 55 cars in the collection are to be sold at auction, RM putting together a single vendor sale in Gainsville, GA on November 13. Among the cars up for grabs, include a whole fistful of prime Detroit muscle – notably a Starlight Black 1969 Ram Air IV Pontiac GTO Judge Convertible; a 1969 Chevy Camaro Yenko S/C and a 1969 ZL-1 Camaro (shown). The particular ZL-1 illustrated above is number 63 out of 69 built and features the ultra rare aluminum 427 big-block V-8 and four-speed manual gearbox – estimates place it’s value at between $500,000 and $750,000.

Other highlights of the auction include a 1969 Pontiac Firebird 400 convertible; 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS454 LS6 convertible, 1970 Ford Ranchero GT; 1970 Buick 455 GS and some rare full-size early muscle machines, including a lightweight 1962 Bel Air 409 as well as a selection of highly desirable 1950s cars like a 1957 DeSoto Adventurer convertible and a one-of-a-kind, supercharged 1953 Cadillac Eldorado.

For more information on this once in a life time auction event, click on the link below:

[Source: RM Auctions]

The Roush Shelby Mustang SR-71 has finally been officially revealed, and the car looks, well, just like the concept renderings we brought you not long ago. With a supercharged 5.0L V8, full Recaro bucket seats, a custom paint job and a Ford Racing handling pack, this one-off Mustang is like nothing else ever produced. The vehicle will be auctioned off for charity Thursday, July 29th at 7:30 PM (Central Time) at the EAA Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. All proceeds benefit EAA’s (Experimental Aircraft Association) Young Eagles program, a foundation that Ford has supported for the past 15 years.

Gallery: Roush Shelby Mustang SR-71

Hit the jump to read the official press release

[Source: Motorwad]

Continue Reading…

In the world of collector car auctions, it often seems that you need a sizable wad of cash to play. Well at Mecum’s Des Moines Auction, held on July 16-17, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, it proved to be quite the opposite, as there were a number of good deals to be had on what can be considered some fairly desirable classic cars

A total of 500 collectible vehicles crossed the block including numerous muscle cars, big ’50s and ’60s cruisers and even a smattering of hot rods. A 1965 Shelby Mustang G.T.350 was billed as one of the highest profile vehicles, but when the gavel settled, the top sale went to a 1969 Chevy Camaro SS convertible with the Z-11 Indianapolis Pace Car package (Lot S93), which went for $66,000. Other reasonable deals were a 1966 Pontiac GTO ragtop, which sold for $47,500, a 1961 283 powered Corvette ($47,000) and a 1970 Plymouth ’Cuda AAR which went for the same amount as the ’Vette.

While Des Moines might not have the glamor of the big Scottsdale and Monterey auctions, it proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that there’s still a budget for just about everybody in the classic car hobby. If you’re smart and savvy, auctions like Mecum Des Moines often present the best opportunity to get your hands on a quality car without having to re-mortgage the house. Which, these days, for most true enthusiasts, is something to celebrate.

[Source: Mecum Auctions]

Dodge has revealed pics of its all new Mopar ’10 Challenger special edition. For those with short memories for special edition muscle cars, the Mopar ’10 Challenger is pretty identical to a standard Challenger R/T, but gets  a cold-air intake, front and rear strut tower braces, 20″ forged wheels, hood pins, unique badging. The car will only be painted in Brilliant Black with Red, Blue or Silver striping. Mopar ’10 is $38,000 for an automatic transmission and $39,000 for a manual transmission. Both prices include $750 for destination.

Gallery: Mopar ’10 Challenger

[Source: Chrysler]

For those into muscle cars, June 19th at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego proved to be a high point of the year, as 102 cars; many of them prime Detroit performance machines from the late-1960s and early-1970s went under the gavel. The auction included a number of high profile Corvettes and Pontiacs, including cars from Jim Wanger’s own private collection.

By the time the auction had concluded a total of $6.9 million in sales had been generated, with an astounding 100 percent sell through rate. The top profile car of the weekend was an ultra rare 1969 Corvette Stingray equipped with aluminum head L88 engine. Approximately 115 L88s are believed to have been built for 1969 and the survivors are highly desirable. This one outperformed it’s pre-sale estimate, going for a healthy $401,500. The next strongest seller was a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS454 LS-6 convertible – another highly coveted machine, that went for $231,000. Another 1969 Corvette, this time a 427/435 horsepower convertible, also sold for $231,000. It was interesting to note that out of the top 10 highest selling cars, no fewer than five were Corvettes and two were Mustangs, both Boss 429s, today considered the most desirable of breed, thanks in part to their special NASCAR homologated engines.

The sale also included some European exotica, namely in the shape of high performance BMWs and Mercedes-Benz AMG models, but only one made the top ten – a 2003 BMW Z8 roadster, that went for $143,000. Although the auction was a far cry from the days of $3 million dollar muscle cars that we were witnessing just a few years ago, the high sell through rate in San Diego indicates that the hobby is still as buoyant as ever.

[Source: RM Auctions]

As General Motors’ sole brand in Australia, Holden’s lineup gets most of GM’s better products, like the Cruze, Captiva (a re-badged Saturn Vue) and 6 varieties of the Holden Commodore, formerly known as the Pontiac G8. While GM claims that Cadillac is ready to go head to head with the Germans, in truth, the G8 was the closest GM has come to making a car as good as a BMW.

Our G8 was essentially a Holden Commodore SS, a fairly standard model in its home market, despite having a 6.0L, 361 horsepower V8, but in Australia, customers can opt for a Commodore that’s been breathed on by Holden Special Vehicles, a division similar to Mercedes-Benz’s AMG outfit, or BMW’s M division. The “base” model HSV Clubsport, has been selected for a special edition to commemorate the groups 20th anniversary. Only 100 cars will be produced, featuring a unique leather interior, sport suspension package, 20″ wheels and special decals echoing the original Clubsport’s graphics package.

Power remains the same, but that’s ok – with a 425 horsepower 6.2L LS3 V8 engine, straight line acceleration will be so rapid that bystanders won’t be able to tell that your car is any different from a standard car.

Gallery: HSV Clubsport 20th Anniversary Edition

[Source: Motor Trend]