SEALY, Texas — Hennessey Performance, which brought you such fantasy-inducing marvels as the Venom 1000 Twin Turbo, has announced an upgrade kit for the new Dodge Challenger even before the first production car leaves the assembly line.

Hennessey's Challenger SRT700 Turbo looks like a screamer, too. The tuning house has boosted the displacement of the Challenger SRT8's 6.1-liter Hemi V8 to 7.0 liters, added a turbocharger and ratcheted output and torque to 725 horsepower and 750 pound-feet, respectively. The company says that's enough juice to propel the SRT700 Turbo from zero to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds; the quarter-mile run takes 11.3 seconds and top speed is clocked at 190 mph.

If that's a little too much kick, Hennessey also offers milder stages of tune: 530 hp and 500 hp.

The company plans to make only 25 copies of the SRT700 Turbo.

Chrysler Canada announces 2009 Challenger pricing
2009 Dodge Challenger ES Chrysler Canada has announced that pricing for the all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger SE will start at $24,995, plus a destination charge of $1,300. The SXT is priced at $26,995, while the 5.7-litre V8-powered R/T is $34,995 and the SRT8 with 6.1-litre V8 engine is $45,995. Dealers across the country are now taking orders for the 2009 model, which will arrive this fall.

Despite early reports from Dodge that all 6,400 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8s were pre-sold before they even rolled off production lines, multiple U.S. dealers have numerous examples of the born-again muscle car in stock.

In what appears to be another case of dealer profiteering due to the relatively low production run of the car, it turns out about a quarter of the total production run was pre-ordered by dealers, said Chrysler spokesperson Curtrise Garner. One dealership in Michigan will have 19 Challengers for sale, with two on the lot, say Detroit News reports. Dick Huvaere’s Richmond Chrysler Jeep Dodge only sold one of its 19 SRT-8s it has on order, which is probably due to the near $7,000 premium one of the cars is advertised for on the dealer’s website.

“We’re negotiating each price with the individual customer,” said the dealer’s General Manager, Jim Simpson in the report. “We’re not getting a huge amount over sticker.”

Despite customer interest, Simpson did not take preorders for the new muscle car, saying they usually result in antsy customers pestering staff for updates along with cancellations when the hype does not match up with reality or the wait is too long.

Meantime, a Florida dealer who pre-sold the car can’t keep any on the lot. Naples Dodge sold all eight Challengers that it was allotted before customers laid eyes on their cars.

Mopar revealed yesterday two Dodge Challenger Drag Race Package cars at the 29th Annual Mopar Mile-High Nationalst at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colorado. Both cars were inaugurated with their first drag strip runs by the #1 driver of the Top 50 drivers from its first 50 years, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits and Judy “Miss Mighty Mopar” Lilly who is one the only female driver to win two NHRA national events in one year.

Based on the Challenger SRT8, these two prototypes have been extensively modified. Starting with a weight loss program of a 1000 lbs., which includes a special Body-in-White (BIW) without body sealer, sound deadener and undercoat, Mopar thoroughly gutted out all of the major production components and auxiliary systems. Reducing weight even more, they also fitted composite, polycarbonate and light weight components. For the driveline and chassis they repositioned the engine for improved driveline angle and weight distribution, shortened the wheelbase by 0.5-inch, added a front suspension cradle with bolt-in crossmember for easier access and added solid engine mounts.

Three engine options will be available: 6.1-liter or 5.7-liter HEMI or 5.9-liter Magnum Wedge in either manual or automatic transmission.

When all is said and done, the Challenger Drag Race Package Car will be eligible to run in three Eliminator categories—Comp, Super Stock and Stock—and potentially 40 classes.

A build book/owner’s manual will be provided to document the modifications made to the Challenger SRT8 as well as provide recommendations to finish the Package Car for Stock Eliminator competition.

Built at Chrysler’s Brampton, Ontario, Canada, assembly plant, Mopar will build at least 100 Challenger Drag Race Package Cars to meet NHRA requirements. Depending on the configuration selected, the MSRP will start from the low to mid $30K range. Each car will carry an identification plate with sequential serial number.