The boys over at Edmund's Inside Line had the opportunity to take Dodge's Challenger Super Street out for a bit of a drag. The Super Street was built alongside it's orange sister show car to demonstrate what could be done with the new car. Powered by a crate engine that's available to the public through the Mopar catalog, the car produces 525hp and 510 lb/ft of torque and has been massaged and dyno tuned to produce optimum performance at Wide Open Throttle. A 3speed transmission, Dana 60 rear, and 29x10 sized tires help motivate this car to an 11.53 seconds 1/4 mile @ 114mph.

The Dodge Avenger Tuner – Stormtrooper is a sophisticated sedan designed to appeal to an adult tuner with an appreciation for technical superiority, exhilarating performance and unbridled luxury and style. The technical, yet organic nature of the Stormtrooper costumes from Star Wars inspired its execution. The Avenger Stormtrooper represents the holistic fusion of technology, racing, comfort and performance.

Smooth power is unleashed by the digitally-tuned 4.0-liter V-6 engine – that packs the punch of a velvet hammer. It features an all-wheel-drive powertrain and six-speed automatic gearbox with AutoStick steering wheel paddle shifters and KW custom coil-over suspension that is tuned for ride-height and damping. Its custom exhaust is from Borla. The large 20 x 9 custom Alcoa Forged rims come with die-sub custom graphics and Michelin 245/35R20 Pilot Sport PS2 tires. It also features a StopTech six-piston front and four- piston rear big-brake package, Xenon HID projector head lamps, Umnitza Predator halo lighting and Challenger fuel filler cap.

Exterior custom modifications on the Avenger Stormtrooper include:

black-out high-beam parabola package

tinted head lamp and taillamp package

tinted PPG blue-magic glass

billet exhaust tips

front and rear fascias

sill aero kit

integrated rear spoiler

rear door sail panels

cold-air intake

Painted a custom pearl white, the Avenger Stormtrooper’s story continues on the inside.

The Alcantara suede-lined interior features four black and white Dodge SRT8 bucket seats with red stitching and stripes to carry the driver and three lucky passengers for the thrill ride of their lives in style. The instrument panel, doors, headliner and pillars are swathed in this performance material. The custom Dodge "rim-shell" steering wheel and shifter paddles are constructed of black leather, white suede and red accent stitching and centering stripe. The centerstack/console features triple gauge pod and glossy pearl white finish.

Revolutionary technology abounds for the sophisticated tuner. There are two Azentek mobile PCs installed with 1.8GHz Intel Core Duo processors and two gigs of ram – one unit is in the front dash and one is in the rear seat center console. With the touch of a finger, the driver is “master of the vehicle network domain.” ETAS’ INCA software digital interface to the engine controller could allow the driver to have the capability to control its tuning and read vitals. The owner could even order parts or download engine calibrations through Mopar Performance Parts and could communicate with engineers and other Dodge owners in Web logs and chat rooms. The driver could adjust fuel maps (as opposed to static flashing) and even download Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) from a Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge dealership as he or she drives by.

Entertainment – Internet, gaming, music and video – is also controlled. Sync Bluetooth® links to any devices: phone, iPhone and Zune. Heart-pounding sound is provided by KICKER® Audio. It also features a Mopar Performance gauge pack with red accent LED lighting.

Pricing for the Dodge Challenger SRT8 will start at $37,995 — including destination — with Dodge accepting orders beginning on December 3. Customers will have a choice of three colors — Black, Silver or HEMI Orange — with all three coming with carbon fiber racing stripes. Deliveries will begin in the spring.

The first offering of Challenger SRT8s will come with a numbered dash plaque, although Dodge failed to mention if all would be equipped with an automatic transmission as earlier reported.

Pricing for other Challenger models has yet to be revealed, but an announcement is expected to be made sometime in mid-2008.

Powertrain

The Challenger was originally expected to be offered with a manual transmission and V8 engine only, but Automotive News has reporting that the first 5,000 units will all be SRT8 models with an automatic transmission. In addition, these first car will begin production as early as March 2008 and will be sold as 2008 model year cars.

Shortly after that initial production run, Dodge will be offering three models of the Challenger as 2009 model year cars. The base model will be powered by a 3.5L V6 and will be mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The 3.5L will be replaced by Chrysler's upcoming 4.0L Phoenix V6, but probably not until the 2011 model year.

R/T models will come equipped with a 5.7L V8 and buyers will have the option of a five-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. The SRT8 model adds a 6.1L V8 and can be mated to a five-speed auto or six-speed manual. A 6.4L could show up in the SRT model as soon as the 2010 model year.

A convertible is also expected to bow sometime in 2009 with all three trim levels available.

Manual transmission cars will come with Chrysler's Hill Start Assist technology — as used in the Dodge Ram, Jeep Commander, Grand Cherokee and the Liberty — which maintains brake pressure until throttle is applied.

Dodge will also offer a Trak Pack, which appears to be little more than a marketing name given to a specific package of transmission, shifter and gearing.

Design

Recent images have also confirm the addition of a b-pillar to the Challenger's structure. Other less noticeable changes include taillights that have been divided into sections, a simplified grille, larger side mirrors, and more typical door handles.