Review: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8

Back in 1970, Dodge’s answer to the Pony Car Wars was the Challenger and its sister, the Barracuda. These twins could have been uttered in the same breath as Chevelle, Mustang and Camaro, but the trouble was that Chrysler was too late to the game - by about five years or so. Fast forward to the reborn Pony Car Wars of the 21st century and it looks like Chrysler learned its lesson. Dodge beat Chevrolet’s iconic Camaro to the punch by more than a year and, with a revised 2010 Ford Mustang around the corner, things are getting pretty exciting once again. Sure, Chrysler LLC is on the ropes, with an uncertain (at press time) future, but let’s forget the timing for a moment and judge the Challenger for what it is. What is it? The 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 (Street and Racing Technology) is a high-zoot look back in the rear-view... [read full story]