The 2010 Viper SRT10 ACR (American Club Racer) has become a
major focal point of this - the final year of production for the current Dodge
Viper.When the car set records at both
the famed Nürburgring in Germany and Laguna Seca here in the US, Dodge began by
offering a handful of commemorative models followed up by the all-business 2010
Viper ACR-X.The 2010 Viper ACR is
probably the most well publicized of this year's Vipers but the one catch is
that the American Club Racer was only offered as a coupe until the folks at
Woodhouse Dodge made a call to the Chrysler big wigs.Today, I had a chance to speak with Bill Pemberton,
the Viper, SRT and Hurst Manager of Woodhouse Dodge and he took the time to
give me more information on the Woodhouse Edition 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR convertible.
Woodhouse Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge is located in Blair, Nebraska
and even though this small Midwestern town has only around 8,000 people,
Woodhouse has sold more Dodge Vipers than any other dealership in the
world.Since they began selling Vipers
in 1999, Woodhouse has sold between 1200-1300 of Dodge's Detroit-built
supercars and when it was announced that the Viper production was coming to an
end, Woodhouse Dodge had a special request.
While a great many of the vehicles brought to SEMA by the guys at
Mopar are often outrageous and unlikely to ever see the street, this
year's Dodge Challenger 1320 was not such a car.
The
color might be a little much for some people, but the modifications
made to this relatively calm looking Challenger shows the potential of
the pony car, with a little help from a Mopar 426 cubic inch crate
motor.
The engine designation is spread across the corner of the
hood, with a subtle suggestion of this car's attitude in the
black-on-black hood trim.
Amidst the 2009 Detroit North American International Auto Show, the Chrysler area featured a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 cut apart showing the 63 innovations and alterations of the new Dodge Ram. The Dodge engineers worked to truly make this an all-new Ram 1500, and there have been changes from front to back. Here is a full rundown of the 2009 Dodge Ram changes from the 2009 NAIAS.
The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 has received a complete facelift, but more importantly, the mighty 5.7L Hemi has received an increase to 390 horsepower, making it the most powerful standard engine offering in the half-ton truck class. Dodge spends so much time promoting the legendary Hemi that their other two engine options are overshadowed, but the 2009 Ram also offers a 3.7L V6 and a 4.7L V8. These smaller engines offer less initial cost, and in the past you would assume that these less powerful engines would also provide better fuel mileage. Thanks to the Multiple Displacement System (MDS), the Hemi offers fuel economy numbers of 14 city and 20 highway, equal to the economy numbers from the 3.7L V6 and better than the 4.7L V8.
The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 received a major facelift, as well as a more powerful engine lineup, and Dodge has claimed their spot atop the half ton truck in the market. Their key foreign competitor in the market is the 2008 Toyota Tundra, last year's Motor Trend Truck of the Year. We tested the 2008 Toyota because they had not released their 2009 model in time for testing. However, it has been stated that there will be only minor aesthetic changes to last year's champion.
Powertrain The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 and 2008 Toyota Tundra offer the most powerful standard engine lineups in the standard full-size truck class lineups, along with both offering a six cylinder option. The 2009 Ram has a revamped engine lineup, beginning with a 3.7L V6 making 210 horsepower, followed by a 310 horsepower 4.7L V8, and the premium engine is the 390 horsepower Hemi. The 2008 Toyota Tundra begins with a 235 horsepower 4.0L V6, followed by a 276 horsepower 4.7L V8, and their premium engine is the 5.7L i-Force V8 making 381 horsepower.
This year brought about a complete redesign for the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, and Dodge has staked their claim as the top half ton truck in the market. One key competitor in that market is the 2009 Chevy Silverado 1500. There is little change from the 2008 model, but where Dodge has taken an approach of being the most powerful trucks on the road, General Motors has keyed the Silverado in on being the most efficient truck in the class.
Powertrain The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 and 2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 offer the most powerful engine lineups in the full-size truck class, along with offering a base model V6. The 2009 Ram has an improved engine lineup, beginning with a 3.7L V6 making 210 horsepower, followed by a 310 horsepower 4.7L V8, and the premium engine is the 390 horsepower Hemi. The 2009 Silverado returns the VORTEC engine lineup from the 2008 model year, starting with a 4.3L V6 making 195, followed by a pair of V8s; one measuring 4.8L and making 295 horsepower, the other being a 5.3L offering 315 horsepower. Chevy also offers two premium engine choices, although they do not come standard in any of the trimlines. The first is a 6.0L making 367 horsepower, and the top option is the 403 horsepower 6.2L V8.
This year brought about complete redesigns for both the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 and the 2009 Ford F150. The Dodge Ram and the Ford F150 were improved in almost every way, and they each staked their claim as the best new truck on the market thanks to positive reviews. We traveled to the Ford Proving Grounds to put the new Dodge Ram and Ford F150 head to head to see which is truly the best truck of 2009.
Powertrain The 2009 Dodge Ram and 2009 Ford F150 both have improved engine lineups, but even with the changes to the F150, the Ram still has a definite advantage in power. The Dodge Ram options begin with a 3.7L V6 making 210 horsepower, followed by a 310 horsepower 4.7L V8, and the premium engine is the 390 horsepower Hemi. The 2009 F150 boasts an entry level 4.6L V8 engine that offers 248 horsepower but still gets over 20mpg, and the next level is another 4.6L V8, this one making 292 horsepower. The Ford F150's premium engine option is their Triton 5.4L. While the 310 horsepower is an increase over the previous models, it falls short of the Hemi.
The Dodge
Ram single-handedly changed the face of the full-size truck market in 1994, introducing big rig styling and general good looks to an otherwise humdrum
selection of vehicles. Now in its 4th generation, the Ram keeps its
big rig theme and adds a more aggressive-looking front grille and sleeker
headlights. The exterior dimensions of the 2009 Ram are roughly the same as the
previous generation, but the big news is the new crew cab model, which replaces
the outgoing Mega Cab body style.
Being the first crew cab Ram offered by Dodge, it's clear
they wanted to make it a good one. With the new RamBox storage system, which
allows for 4.3 cubic feet of lockable, weatherproof, drainable and illuminated
storage space in each bed rail, the new crew cab Ram has plenty of places to
put your extra odds and ends. RamBox also includes a bed extender and cargo
rail system with four sliding, adjustable cleats.
The Dodge Ram has typically emphasized sportiness in a truck, a trend which began with the introduction of the second generation Ram in 1994. The 360 powered Ram Sport laid the foundation, with trimlines like the SS/T, and when the SRT-10 Ram was introduced, it put a whole new meaning to the term "sport truck". Since the demise of this V10 monster, Dodge lovers have pled for a new sporty truck, and the new Dodge Ram R/T Concept is exactly what many are hoping for with the redesigned Ram.
The heart of the Ram R/T Concept is the 5.7L Hemi, now offering 390 horsepower in normal (non-concept use) form. To the stock engine, a Mopar performance cat-back exhaust system have been added, adding some power (no modified numbers have been given) and a nice throaty rumble. Ive also seen some sources make mention of a Mopar cold air intake kit, and while the hood was never open, at one point I took the liberty of opening the hood myself and it was just a basic 5.7L Hemi with the stock intake system.
Since the Challenger was introduced at the North American International Auto Show In Detroit, enthusiasts have hoped and prayed for a convertible version. Drawings and edited pictures of droptop Challengers surfaced along the way, but nothing official has come from Ma Mopar, even though those "someone from Chrysler told me" rumors have kept the rumormill churning. However, Coach Builders Ltd. has come to the rescue with their own Challenger convertible, and their model shown at SEMA 2008 was dressed to the nines for the event.
Hurst Performance has made a name for itself by offering their quality performance shifters, and in their long and prestigious history, they have even dabbled in special edition trimlines, such as the Chrysler 300 Hurst and the Hurst Oldsmobiles. The 2008 SEMA Show revealed to the world the newest installation in the Hurst legacy with the 2009 Hurst/Hemi Challenger, which is offered in four different "Series" options, with varying levels of modifications and performance. The display car at the SEMA Show was the first unit of the Series 4 package, which is based on a Challenger SRT-8, packed with a 6.1L Hemi, and in this case, an automatic transmission.
...And not just on the open road.This week I attended a media event held by
the good people at Ford Motor Company, to test their new F150.While that may not be of much interest to the
DF members, Ford also provided us with a new Ram to take through the same tests
as we did with the Ford.We were also
provided with a new Silverado and new Tundra, for comparisons, although those
two trucks were light years behind the Dodge and Ford in every category.
The three categories where we tested were the durability
course (Ford's Silver creek 2), the autocross course, and the towing course. Check the full article for a complete rundown!
