Even amidst rising fuel prices, the Dodge Challenger has proven to be one of the most anticipated car to hit the market in years. Even though this brawny street brawler has just begun hitting the streets with its limited edition 2008 units, companies are scrambling to prepare for the aftermarket performance demand for the upcoming full scale production for the 2009 models. Unwilling to miss out on this action, Mopar Performance has unveiled the information about its Dodge Challenger Supercharger upgrade packages. Like they’ve done with many other aftermarket offerings, Mopar has gone to a third party to help develop and market these high performance Challenger components, and Speedfactory of Morrow, Georgia has been given the task of overseeing this project, with the results of that project to debut at the 2008 SEMA Show in Law Vegas, Nevada. Like almost all of the cars displayed at SEMA, the 2009 Speedfactory Supercharged Challenger will not have just a jump in performance, but also a full dress up to make sure that everyone notices this special, ultra high performance Challenger.


We all know by now that the Dodge Challenger SRT-8 is hitting the streets this summer, offering 425 horsepower, but for the 2009 model year an SE and RT trimline will join the SRT model, and Speedfactory has developed kits for both the RT and SRT units. The supercharged models will be the highest performing options, but Mopar will also be offering naturally aspirated options, with three “NA” choices joining the three supercharged options. These choices are broken up into stage 1, 2, and 3, and each of the stages adds a bit more power, along with interior and exterior styling additions. The NA kit begins with fairly simple items that many gearheads begin their modifications with and every kit includes a PCM tune to get the most out of the power-adding additions. As the kits get more intense, Speedfactory opens up your Hemi and improves the internal workings to make more power and improve the strength and durability of the engine. The Stage 3 kits are not fixed packages, but more of a “mix and match” worked out between the owner and the folks at Speedfactory to meet the owner’s needs and wants for their new Challenger. The Stage 1 and 2 kits can either be added to an already-owned vehicle, or a Speedfactory Challenger can be purchased from authorized dealerships.

Mopar / Speedfactory Stage and Package Options
Stage 1 Naturally Aspirated:
-Speedfactory Cold Air Intake
-Performance Exhaust from the catalytic converter back (cat-back exhaust)
-Speedfactory Stage 2 PCM Tuning
-Unique 20” Forged Wheels
-Speedfactory interior and exterior upgrades
- 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty applied to the motor along with the factory warranty
-Results: Speedfactory has stated that the 6.1L (SRT-8) Challenger with the Stage 1 NA kit can expect around 500 crank horsepower. That is an increase of around 17%, so similar results on the 5.7L Hemi (which starts at 370 hp in the R/T) would give the 5.7 around 432 horsepower, but that is completely speculative.

 

Stage 2 Naturally Aspirated:
-CNC Matched Intake Manifold and Cylinder Heads
-High Flow Exhaust Headers
-90mm Throttle Body
-Speedfactory Cold Air Intake
-Performance Exhaust from the catalytic converter back (cat-back exhaust)
-Speedfactory Stage 2 PCM Tuning
-Unique 20” Forged Wheels
-Speedfactory interior and exterior upgrades
- 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty applied to the motor along with the factory warranty
-Results: Speedfactory has stated that the 6.1L (SRT-8) Challenger with the Stage 2 NA kit can expect around 530 crank horsepower. That is an increase of around 24%, so similar results on the 5.7L Hemi would give the 5.7 around 460 horsepower, but that is completely speculative.

 

Stage 3 Naturally Aspirated:
-“Big Block Conversaion”, which includes having the motor bored and stroked to either 426 or 440 cubic inches
-Higher Compression Pistons
-Forged Crankshaft and Connecting Rods
-CNC Matched Intake Manifold and Cylinder Heads
-High Flow Exhaust Headers
-90mm Throttle Body
-Speedfactory Cold Air Intake
-Performance Exhaust from the catalytic converter back (cat-back exhaust)
-Speedfactory Stage 2 PCM Tuning
-Unique 20” Forged Wheels
-Speedfactory interior and exterior upgrades
- 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty applied to the motor depending on the exact application chosen
-Results: The Big Block Conversion information is only given for the 6.1L at the present time, but Speedfactory has stated that results of the Stage 3 conversion (cubic inches unknown) are typically around 600 crank horsepower – a an increase of 175hp (41% !!) There is currently no information on possible displacement options for the 5.7L Hemi.

 

Stage 1 Supercharged
-Vortech Centrifugal Style Supercharger making 5.5 pounds per square inch (PSI) of boost
-Speedfactory Stage 1 Tune
-Unique 20” Forged Wheels
-Speedfactory interior and exterior upgrades
- 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty applied to the motor along with the factory warranty
-Results: Speedfactory states that the Stage 1 Supercharger kit takes your 5.7L Hemi to an impressive 470 crank horsepower, and a similar increase (27%) would give the 6.1L Hemi 540 horsepower, but that is once again completely speculative.

Stage 2 Supercharged
-Vortech Centrifugal Style Supercharger offering up to 8 psi of boost
-Boost levels selected by the owner
-Speedfactory Stage 2 Tune, based on the amount of boost chosen
-Unique 20” Forged Wheels
-Speedfactory interior and exterior upgrades
-There is still a warranty offered for the Stage 2 kit, but the motor warranty is not offered if the car is tuned for over 5.5psi of boost.
-Result: When the maximum amount of boost is chosen, the SRT-8 Challenger makes a whopping 630 horsepower at 8psi. Again, there have been no specifications given for the 5.7L engine, but at 630hp, the 6.1L engine is gaining almost 50% more power over stock!

 

Stage 3 Supercharged
The Stage 3 Supercharged kit is unlike any of the other Mopar/Speedfactory kits for the 2009 Dodge Challenger, as it is almost like a full custom build. This package begins with a one on one consultation with a Speedfactory representative, and the output of this package is completely dependant on the decisions of the owner. There is no stated horsepower for this package, but keep in mind that this is an upgrade OVER the 630 horsepower Stage 2 Supercharger kit! During the consultation, there are a variety of choices to be made, which include the following:

-Full Motor Rebuild
-High Performance Internal Components including a billet crankshaft and connecting rods
-Lower Compression Pistons
-Vortech Centrifugal Style Supercharger
-Boost levels selected by the owner
-“Big Block Conversaion”, which includes having the motor bored and stroked to either 426 or 440 cubic inches
-Custom Tune to optimize performance
-Unique 20” Forged Wheels
-Speedfactory interior and exterior upgrades
-Results: Due to the wide variety of options for this package, there is no stated power (or price), but we can expect the output to creep up around the 700 horsepower mark, making your Dodge Challenger one of the strongest cars on the road.


Factory forced induction has been an item very popular in the foreign performance market for quite some time, and the first real competitor in the US market that came with forced induction was the 2003 Ford Mustang Corba, dubbed the terminator. That model was followed by another Ford entry with their factory supercharged GT500 in 2007, and then Chevrolet entered the fun with the new Corvette ZR1, which features a unique top-mounted supercharger. Based on the success and performance levels of this street machines, Dodge was unlikely not to get in on the fun, and while rumors still fly about a trimline that will come with a supercharger, Mopar and Speedfactory are making sure that when the 2009 Challenger does hit the streets, it will have options to allow it to keep up, and even beat, some of the fastest cars in the US.

 

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Is anybody making anything for that V-6 in the SE model? Turbo maybe?

 

i kind of hate that they are even offering a V6. i wonder how much a full stage 3 packege will cost. 15,000 maybe?

 

RTDAK, (1) Without selling enough 6 cylinder models to balance selling the 8 cylinder model, there would be a $3000 gas guzzler tax on every one sold. (2) They couldn't sell enough 8 cylinder cars, alone, to justify production. (3) Alot of people like the car but don't need to shred the tires.

 

I'm blown away by the new challenger! Got to drive the 5.7 around the other day, liked it alot! Ready to give up the mustangs for it! My question is how much H.P. will the 6.1 handle? Love to turbo one, but nowbody seems to know the block limitations? Anybody?
Another thing puzzling me is why are the dealers asking $20,000 over sticker! You would think Dodge would want to get them out there to compete with Ford? I have dodge A-plan or Z-plan, and the dealer explained it would be 20 over for me also????????
Thanks,
Rick ( I think the mustangs are going bye-bye)