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Thursday, the first production 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 was built at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada. Over 1,000 employees and guests were on hand to celebrate the rebirth of the muscle car legend. The Challenger is built on the same line as the Charger sedan and the Chrysler 300C. Approximately 7,000 2008 model-year Challengers will be produced for North American markets before 2009 model-year cars begin production in August. For 2009, Dodge will offer three models: Challenger SE, Dodge Challenger R/T, and Dodge Challenger SRT8. The 2008 models are already sold out. Pricing for the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 starts at $37,995, including the $675 destination charge. Read about the Challenger SE and Challenger R/T .
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The unveiling of a Chevrolet Corvette Indy 500 pace car is like opening a present. Bowtie enthusiasts clamor to see the memorable designs that distinguish the pace car and can quote the year on site. After all, the image of a purple convertible with bright yellow wheels can be hard to forget, even if you try. The 92nd Indianapolis 500 takes place on Sunday, May 25, 2008. It will be the Corvette’s 10th appearance as the official pace car – a record unmatched by any other vehicle. This year, Chevrolet has treated fans to two pace cars, a customized Corvette Z06 E85 concept and a black-and-silver car that pays tribute to the original black-and-silver 1978 coupe. A true collectible, a ‘78 will be on hand to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Corvette’s pace car heritage leading “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Based on the production Z06, the Corvette Z06 E85 concept pace car has fuel system and powertrain controller revisions required to run E85. The head-turning coupe is coated in Gold Rush Green color-shifting paint with a checkered flag pattern. Besides safety equipment and strobe light, the Z06 concept pace car is mechanically stock. The 30th anniversary commemorative edition...
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Chevrolet will over-deliver when the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 goes on sale. When this history-making supercar was introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year, the official output claimed was 620 horsepower, good for 100 horsepower per liter of displacement. Now that the LS9 V-8 has completed SAE certification, the final output is set at 638 horsepower and 604 pound-feet of torque. Certain to fuel automotive fantasies for decades to come, this supercharged engine stands as the most powerful ever manufactured by General Motors. The Corvette ZR1 goes on sale this summer. Research the Chevrolet Corvette coupe and convertible in the buyer’s guide, complete with pricing, specifications, and photo galleries.
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Ford has added a new contender to its ever-expanding family of crossovers, which already includes the recently renamed Taurus X (formerly Freestyle) and the new-for-’07 Ford Edge . Set to go on sale this summer, the full-size Flex lives up to its name for its completely customizable nature. Low-slung and long, Flex mixes old school station wagon lines with new-age features like seven-passenger seating, an interior refrigerator, Ford’s SYNC in-vehicle communications and entertainment system, interior “mood lighting,” plenty of safety features, 18-inch wheels standard, and optional white or silver roofs. Ford is hoping to sell 100,000 units. Pricing for a base Flex SE will start at $28,995, while the all-wheel-drive Flex Limited begins at $37,255. A 3.5-liter, 260-hp V6 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission powers the Flex for a good balance of performance and fuel economy, although actual EPA numbers are yet to be determined. As distinctive in design, yet completely different from the new, more angular Flex, Ford’s curvaceous, midsize Edge crossover is also powered by the same award-winning engine. Introduced in ‘06 as a 2007 model, the 2008 Ford Edge gets several new options this...
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Ford introduced a special-edition 2009 Mustang at the New York International Auto Show to continue support for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure breast-cancer foundation. With the sale of each Warriors in Pink Mustang, Ford will donate $500 to the foundation. To date, Ford and its dealers together have dedicated more than $95 million in cash and in-kind contributions for breast cancer education and research. The foundation has invested nearly $1 billion to the cause, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. Response has been strong to the 2008 Warriors in Pink Mustang, and Ford will increase its support for the Cure with this upcoming release. Produced in a limited edition of 1,000 units, the Warriors in Pink package is available on Mustang V-6 Premium Coupe and Convertible models. (Admittedly, this may have limited male appeal, as it transforms the beloved pony car into a rolling pink-ribbon billboard for the cause.) Specifically, the package includes a unique grille, pink ribbon and pony fender badge, pink Mustang rocker tape striping, charcoal leather seats with pink stitching, aluminum-spoke steering wheel with...
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Known by car enthusiasts for its Mustang transformations and excessively gilled S7 supercar, Saleen has pulled the cover its latest potential high-performance model, the S5S Raptor. At the New York International Auto Show, Saleen revealed its brilliant, sharp-edged S5S Raptor, along with its Dan Gurney Signature Edition Mustang (more on that in the near future), and cover-car status with Rockstar’s latest Midnight Club video game. The S5S Raptor is the first ground-up vehicle to be conceived by the new Saleen management team. “The Raptor is just a glimpse of things to come from Saleen,” says Chief Technical Officer Chris Theodore. “Our company is unique in that we have the experience and knowledge behind some of the most exciting performance vehicles built over the past 20 years. Beyond the S7 Supercar, our team members have been involved in the Viper, Prowler, Ford GT, and the products of Chrysler SRT and Ford’s SVT performance groups. These ‘lessons learned’ are evident in the Raptor concept and we will continue to build upon them as the company evolves.” The Raptor is a two seat mid-engine super car that competes in size and style with core offerings from the most notable of Italian...
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At the New York International Auto Show, Dodge unveiled the Challenger R/T and Challenger V6, filling out the line-up started with the SRT8 shown last month in Chicago . All three variants look remarkably faithful to the 1970 original, with a little extra heft around the bumpers for essential crash protection. Indeed, the Challenger is a muscle-car enthusiast’s fantasy come to life, with the heritage and silhouette that has filled decades of dreams, concours events, and Barrett-Jackson auctions. Mopar enthusiasts will be able to recapture the glory of the good ol’ days with truly modern performance, reliability, and safety. Dodge expects the R/T to be the volume model, with its 5.7-liter Hemi V-8. Although the name is familiar, the engine is enhanced over that found in the current Charger R/T, climbing in horsepower and yet also gaining five percent in fuel economy. With the five-speed automatic transmission, the 5.7L produces 370 horsepower. Go for the six-speed manual and you could boast 375 horsepower with 404 lb.-ft. of torque. In either configuration, Dodge promises the coupe can run 0-60 mph in under six seconds. (For those keeping score, the official word on the 425-hp SRT8 is...
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At the upcoming 2008 New York International Auto Show , Mercedes-Benz will showcase its growing range of SUVs and three-row people movers. Freshened styling on the M-Class may stand out in pictures, but it is what’s under the hood that makes the 2009 M-, G-, and R-Class models worth a closer look. We all knew it was coming, but the clean-diesel BlueTec engine arrives in the Big Apple ready to meet 50-state emissions limits, thanks to a new AdBlue exhaust treatment system. The BlueTec engine promises 20-30 percent better fuel economy than equivalent gasoline engines, surprisingly good performance, and low exhaust emissions. With the added fuel economy, the BlueTec equipped models have up to 600 miles cruising range. The BlueTec diesels use an NOx storage catalytic converter in combination with an SCR catalytic converter and AdBlue injection to lower NOx emissions. The AdBlue system injects an aqueous urea solution into the exhaust flow, which releases ammonia (NH3), reducing nitrogen oxides to harmless nitrogen and water in the downstream SCR catalytic converter. The AdBlue tank needs to be refilled every 10,000 miles during routine maintenance intervals. At a time when consumers are...
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Ever flip through catalogs, browsing for a gift idea? We found one that may be better to receive than to give. Neiman Marcus Direct has an item in their spring men’s catalog that is certain to attract car enthusiasts, a special-edition 2008 Hennessey Venom 700NM. This ultimate Viper will retail for $179,500 and only seven will be produced, ensuring it becomes a legendary future collectible. John Hennessey and his merry, wrench-wielding crew at Hennessey Performance Engineering ( HPE ) have been transforming Vipers into ultimate, high-performance machines for years. Celebrated on magazine covers and in online videos , their Vipers have inspired legions of fans and set many records. The Venom 700NM isn’t quite the hairy, 1,000-horsepower beast that has enlivened recent Car and Driver , Motor Trend , and Road & Track magazines, but it will shame most any production car today and be a legend for the history books tomorrow. The 2008 Hennessey Venom 700NM features Batman-grade black paint with a 200-mph tested rear wing and Venom 700NM badges. Inside, custom details include black and red leather appointments, a numbered limited-edition dash plaque, embroidered floor mats, and matching...
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At the Geneva Motor Show next month, Mini will debut its new, performance-focused sub-brand, Mini John Cooper Works. (OK, so it isn’t entirely new.) Two models will be shown in ever-icy Geneva--a JCW Cooper and a JCW Clubman--each promising maximum verve in their compact packages. Underhood, the 1.6-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder is stoked to product 207 horsepower, marking an increase of 35 horses. This mini-displacement engine will be able to reach a matching torque peak during overboost state. It otherwise tops out at 192 lb.-ft. The standard six-speed manual transmission is fortified to withstand the increased power output. The combined powertrain enables the Mini JCW Cooper to boast a 0-60 mph time under 6.5 seconds, with the larger JCW Clubman trailing just 0.3 seconds behind. Three levels of suspension are available, from the sporty JCW configuration, to the firmer midlevel setup, to a lowered, track-focused arrangement. The brakes are derived from Mini Challenge race cars, with red-finished calipers emblazoned with JCW logos. The brakes are supported by an alphabet soup of safety systems, such as electronic stability control and brake assist. Inside, the cabin features a...
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The Chevrolet enthusiasts embrace the brand’s rich performance history and are drawn to special-edition models, like the current Corvette Indy 500 Pace Car replica. The latest such vehicle resurrects a classic moniker: 427. The 2008 Corvette 427 Limited Edition Z06 pays homage to the big-block Stingray models of the mid-1960s whose engines match the displacement of the Z06’s 7.0L LS7 small-block V-8. Available this spring, the 2008 Corvette 427 Limited Edition Z06 will be priced at $84,195 and includes the 3LZ premium equipment package with a custom, leather-wrapped interior. A navigation system is the only option ($1,750). Only 427 will be offered in the United States and Canada, with 78 more exported outside North America. That’s a total of 505 production vehicles – the same number of horsepower produced by the LS7 engine. As with other Corvette models, customer delivery is available at the Corvette Museum, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The 427 Limited Edition Z06 is distinguished by: Crystal Red Tintcoat exterior paint with stinger-style graphics and 427 hood badges. Exclusive chrome wheels. Body-color rear spoiler and door handles. Exclusive dark titanium custom leather-wrapped interior...
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