Mitsubishi will use the Moscow Auto Salon (August 26 – September 7) to perform the public debut of its new Pajero Sport. The SUV model that will carry various names depending on the market (Montero Sport in South America, Nativa in Latin America and Challenger in Australia) will not be sold in Central / Western Europe or in North America.

Based on a new ladder frame, the 2009 Pajero Sport will be powered by a choice of three engines: 2.5-liter and 3.2-liter diesel units and a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline unit. The new model will use Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD system, also used in the Pajero SUV, which transmits drive torque to all four wheels on all types of surfaces. Buyers can opt for a 5-passenger or a 7-passenger version, both of which feature water-repellent seats and a waterproof luggage compartment floor.

The new Pajero Sport will be available in selected regions such as Russia, the ASEAN area, the Middle East, Latin America and Oceania starting in the fall this year.

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In the gallery below, you’ll find the full brochure for the 2009 Dodge Challenger, and yeah, there’s some good stuff to be found in there. We’re particularly fond of the R/T Classic package (above), which gets a coat of B5 Blue, 20″ torq-thrust lookalikes, T/A-style stripes, and the old-school script Challenger badge on the front fender. Unfortunately, while Chrysler was cooking up the retro badging, they neglected to order up some nouveau Fratzogs to really finish off the look, so the Ram-head shield sits on the hood, instead. Too bad. As for the rest of the car? Badass. There are some pretty cool stripe and wheel options to be had regardless of trim level, plus what’s sure to be a bevy of aftermarket parts from Mopar and other third parties. Finally, Chrysler’s offering a factory R/T Track Pack that, in its most aggressive form, combines the 6-speed Tremec with 20″ wheels and a 3.91 rear axle ratio. Bring money for tires. Ford is the king of leveraging its heritage to keep the Mustang interesting. Chrysler has a shot at doing the same thing here with the Challenger. From the looks of things, it’s off to a good start. That R/T Classic? Yeah, we could roll like that.

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Chrysler has officially announced that the drag package for its upcoming Challenger, initially shown at SEMA in late 2006, will be released on an unsuspecting public. Previous rumors have the drag pack getting hi-po versions of the 5.9-liter Magnum and Hemi V8’s, while jettisoning around eight-hundred pounds of dead weight unnecessary for mass-acceleration. The National Hot Rod Association is said to be going through the package as we speak in order to certify it for racing duty. After all of the necessary paperwork is complete, the Challenger is expected to race in the Stock Eliminator class. According to Chrysler spokeswoman Patricia Georgevich, Chrysler is looking at a possible introduction in July.

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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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Chrysler’s last few years have been emblematic of the difficulty some of the older portions of the automobile industry are having adjusting to the increasingly mature, saturated and urban U.S. and global automobile markets. But Chrysler isn’t counting itself out yet. Repackaging the Chrysler structure as a smaller, lighter company is going well, according to Chrysler’s top executives, but it’s not going to be quick - or painless.

Though they don’t hold hope for a profitable 2008, and are doubtful about next year as well, the top brass at Chrysler think it will weather the reformulation of its business to emerge more fit for today’s auto industry. The company is on plan or ahead of its goals to return to profitability, according to CEO Bob Nardelli. They are also proud of their ability to keep fighting despite the tough times.

“Lesser companies would have buckled,” said Nardelli, speaking with the Detroit Free Press.

The company continues to streamline its dealer network, vehicle lineup and worker pay structure as it slims its business model to fit the times. But all of these initiatives are slow, careful maneuvers that will take five to seven years to complete.

The company is also taking some creative new steps to help ensure its changes keep it relevant to the people that will buy its cars. A design forum for the public that allows up to 5,000 people to give their input on videos, presentations and upcoming products will help guide Chrysler’s future direction.

And although the Dodge Challenger - especially the potent SRT8 version - isn’t slated for high-volume sales, the image of strength and performance it presents is something that’s been missing from the brand’s stable, with the notable exception of the Viper, for quite some time. The greater availability and therefore visibility of the new muscle car should help kick start the change in perception the company is seeking as it moves forward.

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According to our tipster, orders for the new Challenger can be placed starting next month (that’s April) with a total of 45,000 initially built. This same source also claims that there will be a total of 40,000 rt/sxt models and 5,000 SRT8’s built. Interestingly, the Challenger RT is supposed to get all of the color options and a shaker hood for those that want a classic RT look.

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