The Dodge Challenger SRT8 has been a welcome arrival for many muscle-car fans. Willing to overlook its hefty weight for the old-school looks and meaty Hemi power, they’ve already purchased just about every car scheduled to be made for the next year. But Hurst wasn’t content to leave well enough alone, and has decided to prep a high-powered version complete with a collection of Hurst accessories for the SEMA show in November - and the car will soon be available for purchase through Dodge Dealers.

Latest reports indicate the top-end supercharged model will be produce 560hp (417kW), though lower-specification models will be available. Participating dealers will get the cars early next year, available in a four-trim range, labeled as ’stages’. Some of the features that will be shared across the lineup include Hurst shifters and five-spok Alloy Wheels. The higher-end models will get a Vortech Supercharger, Magnaflow exhaust, Eibach springs, Bilstein shocks, Katzkin leather interior and Kicker audio, reports AutoWeek.

Exactly what level of equipment each will feature will remain to be seen at SEMA, but the Stage 1 through Stage 3 vehicles will be targeted at a price range of about $10,000 to $20,000 above MSRP, reports Edmunds, putting the overall vehicle cost around $50,000 to $60,000 once added to the $37,995 base price of the SRT8. Initial production is due to start next January, though the Stage 4 cars will wait until later in 2009 and will be special-order only with a range of unique colors and options.

Hurst is also planning a range of other modified Chrylser vehicles, including a Viper, 300C, Charger and Ram pickup. Already Saleen has introduced its line of aftermarket superchargers for the Challenger, and Dodge itself has said the 2009 model will feature a blower to boost power. The factory-special drag race package car is an example of what can be done when the factory gets involved in making a truly intense modified Challenger, but the Hurst model aims at a streetable, somewhat more tame, design.

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Among the many 2008 Dodge Challengers (see the Super Challenger and Cuda here) that will make their way to next month’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas is the ’snakeskin green’ Challenger Targa, a full-blown competition car that raced and completed the notorious Targa Newfoundland race this year. The vehicle that started out as a Mopar Challenger drag race package car is equipped with 540HP, 490 lb. ft. of torque, 392 HEMI V8 Mopar crate motor mated to a Tremec six-speed manual gearbox. Continued

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Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli confirmed that the automaker will unveil redesigned versions of the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 in a couple of years. This is part of an onslaught of new vehicles that Chrysler will be producing. They have seven product launches planned including a new Jeep Grand Cherokee, a small car that is being developed in partnership with Nissan as well as a hybrid version of the Dodge Ram and a vehicle that will rival the Chevy Volt by the end of 2010. Chrysler is definitely coming on strong.

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Hurst has teamed up with a number of companies to create a collectible limited edition version of the Dodge Challenger SRT8 that will make its debut at the Las Vegas SEMA show in late November. Available in four trim levels through participating Dodge dealerships from early 2009, the Hurst-prepped Challenger SRT8 will pack more than 500 ponies under its hood while other improvements will include a set of polished five-spoke HURST alloy wheels and a classic pistol-grip Hurst shifter.

“The new HURST/HEMI Challenger is more than just another muscle car. It epitomizes the performance industries tradition of taking the best Detroit has to offer and adding 21st century performance parts to make your ride faster and cooler than the other guys,” said Nate Shelton, Chairman of HURST.

“HURST has a long history of doing just that with guys like Don Garlits, Warren Johnson, Dick Landy and even celebrity racers Steve McQueen and Jim Garner. The new HURST/HEMI Challenger is the first of many HURST Performance Vehicles to come. We are ready to make some more history,” Shelton added.

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There’s no doubt that the new Dodge Challenger looks menacingly attractive in black but there are a couple of things we don’t like about this blacked out SRT-8 from Platinum Motorsport. First of all, we we’re not too fond about the fussy alloy rim design and second, the 20-inch front and 22-inch rear AGETRO S250 wheels make the rear end of the Challenger look like its sitting on stilts.

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The 2009 Dodge Ram could boast a 20 percent improvement in fuel efficiency, executives said Thursday morning.

The new Ram, which will roll into dealers this fall, includes an improved 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 that has become more powerful and more efficient, said Mike Cairns, the Ram’s chief engineer.

The new engine, which produces 380 horsepower and 404-pound-feet of torque, has become about 5 percent more efficient, he said. The additional mileage gains were credited to significant work to make the Ram more aerodynamically efficient and by cutting 80 pounds from the truck’s overall weight.

“We expect to see a 10 to 20 percent gain in highway efficiency,” Cairns said.

The 2008 Ram Quad Cab Laramie with a 5.7-liter Hemi gets 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. Raising the highway mileage to 23 mpg on the highway makes it one of the most efficient full-size pickups on the road. Four-by-four models using the 5.7 Hemi typically hit about 17 mpg on the highway.

“This is the best truck Dodge has ever made,” said Dodge’s director Mike Accavitti.

Dodge, the No. 3 pickup manufacturer in the United States, sold 358,000 trucks last year. However, high gas prices and changing consumer demands have caused Ram truck sales to drop 24 percent this year through April, according to Autodata Corp.

The new Ram touts 35 significant changes inside and out over the 2008 model.

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Steve Saleen and his new tuning company SMS are creating two limited edition versions of the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T. The SMS 570 Challenger and SMS 570X Challenger will feature a SMS Supercharged 5.7-liter V8 Hemi delivering 500Hp to more than 700Hp respectively. Both models will come equipped with a series of performance parts, including drivetrain, suspension, aerodynamics, tires, wheels and interior.

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