Video: Chrysler’s Turbo Power and Eighties Luxury
The Ten Best Concepts of the Decade #5: Chrysler Firepower
The Firepower seemed like the next logical step in the Viper evolutionary chain. The old Dodge two-seater had grown a little long in the tooth by 2005, no longer the raw road monster it had once been. The Firepower closely resembled the Viper, but progressed the design to appear more upscale–even lavish–with chrome, creases, and leather.
Being a Chrysler, the Firepower was more about grand touring than all-out performance. The 6.1 L Hemi V8 put out seventy-five fewer horses (425 total) than the Viper’s V10, but the coupe made up for it with its shiny interior, stylish looks, and claimed 4.5 sec. 0-60 time.
It doesn’t take a scientist to see where the problems lay. The Firepower would’ve ended up as another low-volume, low-dollar exotic (a la the Viper). Oddly enough, the Firepower’s rumored target price was a mere $50,000. Of course, it never would’ve sold for such a low sum without major sacrifice. A shortage of company dollars and a lack of demand left the Firepower to the already-packed Chrysler bin. Soon after its mid-decade debut, the Chrysler Group began its slow meltdown…which we are still seeing today.
The Closest Thing You’re Gonna Get to a New ‘Cuda
Norm Kraus has brought up a new little experiment–or, rather, two experiments. He and a team of customizers have converted the Challenger into a proper ragtop. Not only that, they’ve also changed the body to create a “new” ‘Cuda. Both cars feature the old 426 Hemi V-8, now hooked to a Keene Bell supercharger to put out 725 hp. The pistol-grip shifter is back, but new-school tech’s been put in with an adjustable suspension.
Techco’s Low-Cost Answer to the ZR1
Tired of all the gloating from the middle-aged and balding men who pre-ordered a C6 ZR1? Techco has an answer for you.
Viper to Stay with Chrysler
There was concern earlier in the spring when it was announced the Viper license was up for sale. A tussle ensued, with clashing claims over how much was offered to take ownership of the Viper automotive name and assembly plant. Robert Nardelli, Chrysler’s outgoing CEO, stated there were no worthy offers; others disagreed, claiming offers as much as three times the desired amount.
None of that matters now, for the Viper will stay within the Chrysler network–now a property of Fiat. Chrysler’s media office announced the license and production will remain under current ownership, though the long-term future of the Viper is unclear. There are no major plans to replace the current generation in the product planning department, but early ideas have been produced within the Chrysler design arm.
Hurst Honors the Late King of Pop with a New Challenger Special
Not really.
The Hurst gang is putting out an entry-level “Competition Plus” edition of the Dodge Challenger, for those unable or unwilling to fork over the heavy expense of higher models. The Competition Plus is really an upgraded setup akin to what you saw with the Shelby GT: there’s a special Eibach suspension, a fierce Magnaflow exhaust, 20″ alloys, exclusive color schemes, blackened labeling, a large hood scoop, a short-throw shifter, and an embroidered interior matched to the exterior tone.
It may surprise you all to hear that this could be our favorite Challenger yet–we stress the word could. The upgrades are practical and everything looks good, but we’ll hold off until we see final pricing.
Video: A British Take on the SRT-8
Here’s a Fifth Gear video review of the Dodge Challenger SRT-8. As you’d probably expect, there’s a mix of emotion. On one hand, the handling, thirstiness, weight, cabin materials, and cornering ability are put down; on the other, the Challenger’s rough edge and Hemi power give it just enough character to win over a favorable impression.
The Challenger is officially unavailable to UK drivers; only special importers have access. Expect willing UK drivers to pay a high premium too. Flat-out, the SRT-8 should retail around £24,000–which is a fairly good price. It’s mentioned the import duties and tax would hike that price tag to about £40,000, or almost double what the cost is here in the States.
So much for the bargain.
Video: Hennessey's Record-Setting R35 GT-R
Here’s a video showing the inner-working’s of Hennessey’s modded GT-R. The tuner isn’t showing modesty, claiming to have built the fastest and most powerful GT-R ever . The speed title comes from a track run at the Texas Mile, which came to a hair’s width under 25 sec. The “powerful” title has yet to be finalized; the team has installed new turbos, reprogrammed the ECU, and put in new steel-lined headers, among other things. Top speed is 194 mph.cactus dvdrip download
The Dodge Viper is About to Get De-Fanged
The Dodge Viper was one of America’s few automotive treasures to emerge in the 1990s. Under the Daimler regime, Dodge engineers rolled out the SRT-10 and the public flew into a…snore. The Viper’s charm has almost vanished in a time of high-powered competition and unsteady markets. The exotic was set to be retired by 2011, but Chrysler sought out a private buyer to take over the Viper legacy. The asking price was a mere $10,000,000, but even that slim figure wasn’t low enough. As it now stands, this species of reptile is set to be extinct.divx secret life of bees the
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