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Dodge to unveil Hurst/Hemi Challenger at SEMA Show

08/28/2008, 1:28 PM

By Drew Johnson

The Hurst name has long been synonymous with American muscle, and the Pennsylvania company intends to get back to its roots with the 2009 Hurst/Hemi Challenger. The tuned Mopar promises plenty of go-fast goodies and is slated to debut at this November’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Created in the same vein as the Hurst/Olds 442 of the late 1960s, the Hurst/Hemi Challenger will be offered in four different performance guises. The base trim will add about $10,000 to the price of a 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 while the range-topping model will tack on another $20,000 but bring output to an even 500 horsepower, thanks to a supercharged.

Other features include a unique paint job, custom wheels, and of course Hurst’s legendary “Pistol-Grip” shifter.

The limited edition Challenger will be available through Dodge dealers and is slated to begin production in early 2009.

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08/28, 1:31 PM

posted by:

RaineMan

Why is Hurst pairing with Chrysler? I like their product… got one of their short-shifters in my Cobalt… but I really don’t get it. Aren’t most of the Challengers sold in automatic form?

08/28, 1:38 PM

posted by:

golf4me

Those wheels are a little much with the gold in them.

08/28, 1:39 PM

posted by:

melias

It’s a throw back to some legendary Drag Racing Chrysler products from the 1960s, including the Hurst Hemi-Under Glass wheelstand car which was built with a hemi under the glass fastback.

Mark Elias

08/28, 1:52 PM

posted by:

hbcbob3

Looks kinda blah to me.

…thanks to a superchargeD…

08/28, 2:24 PM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

Good for Dodge. These are the kind of special editions that if you have the wherewithal you buy one just to leave in your climate controlled garage for a decade or two. And then you wait for the Hurst edition convertible to come out so you’ll have a matched set.

08/28, 2:29 PM

posted by:

vincentvegas74

RaineMan — Only the ’08s came as stricktly automatic, the ’09s come available with a 6 speed manual in both the R/T and SRT8.

08/28, 2:39 PM

posted by:

ktulu

very noce

08/28, 3:15 PM

posted by:

jumpoffit

i know HRR would be happy :’)

08/28, 3:55 PM

posted by:

123sub

Challenger is THE car. Only 1 of 3 models available in the world with the perfect combination of a seating capacity of 4 or 5, manual trans., RWD and 300hp or more., The other 2? Mustang and M3.

08/28, 3:57 PM

posted by:

123sub

And i forgot; 2-door (look above)

08/28, 4:11 PM

posted by:

vincentvegas74

And is it every a sweet car to drive. I raced my buddy’s 350Z with one, and although it was a close race, I smoked him.

08/28, 4:14 PM

posted by:

RaineMan

123sub –> You forgot Camaro…

08/28, 4:33 PM

posted by:

Madcapp

Its always worth waiting for the special editions. That’s why the first one lined up to buy a new car is a dumbass.

08/28, 4:51 PM

posted by:

RaineMan

IF you have the extra 20k to spend… on top of dealer markup. But hey… buy ‘em now folks… in 5 years Chrysler is going to be extinct.

08/28, 4:54 PM

posted by:

Madcapp

Extinct or not, a Hurst/Challenger is going to be super cool, widely sought after, and quite valuable in 5 years, or 50 years, or what ever other number you care to pick.

08/28, 6:09 PM

posted by:

olds307

nifty

…how bout a Hurst/OLDS

oh yeh.. GM poured all their money into SATURN and let OLDS rot

08/28, 6:18 PM

posted by:

Joey Stefano

I would have thought this cool when I was in Jr high…

08/28, 6:36 PM

posted by:

tyler_is_aero_tt

Everybody is going to hate me, but I would SO rather have a Mustang Shelby GT500 than the Camaro or Challenger STR-8. Can’t wait for the new Mustang!

08/28, 6:59 PM

posted by:

beatusmongous

Tyler, no one should hate you for what you prefer. It’s simple subjective preference, that’s all. I’d prefer the Challenger, but many say it looks like a big pig car. Well, it does, and I like that.

08/28, 7:47 PM

posted by:

Need4SSpeed

Soon there will be just as many 3rd party performance versions of the Challenger, as there will be of the Mustang, but I guess it can’t hurt the Challenger… Interesting…

08/28, 10:05 PM

posted by:

golf4me

“GOLD! Jerry, That’s comedy GOLD I tell ya!”

- Banyan

08/28, 10:19 PM

posted by:

jayjc08

Saw another one of these today in town. They really don’t capture my imagination. I’m not sure what it is exactly, it’s not like it isn’t good looking, just looks so plain, not aggressive at all.

I also like the Shelby Mustang more, and I would look forward to some special edition Camaro’s. However, both the Camaro and Challenger just look too large to me, too bulky, and in many ways a cartoon rejection of older muscle cars. Look at the size of the original pony cars, and you’ll know what I mean. They were compact cars with powerful engines shoe horned into them.

08/28, 10:26 PM

posted by:

maxcar

hurst or hertz. the black one looks like the mustang/hertz rental car.

08/28, 10:46 PM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

jayjc08: and they handled like dump trucks, got 8 mpg on a good day, and if you ever got into an accident where that giant lump of cast iron wasn’t between you and the other guy then we’re not having this dialogue.

F*ck yea, those were the days.

08/28, 10:47 PM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

…and I do mean that in a good way.

08/28, 11:01 PM

posted by:

crackerhemi

“Hurst name has long been synonymous with American muscle”

Yup, as in it’s dead. Puny “American Muscle” is nothing considering the new Prius detroys ****ty mustangs in both HP and torque.

08/28, 11:12 PM

posted by:

beatusmongous

Cracker, stop bringing that crap to the table. No one wants to eat it.

08/29, 12:05 AM

posted by:

DeansterTJ

I don’t know man, something about the Challenger just doesn’t look right. It’s too boring and watered-down. All these pony cars look the same, I’m getting bored with them and suffering from Camaro fatigue. I’d rather stare down a Mazda5 at this point.

08/29, 12:19 AM

posted by:

02WRXPSM

This looks exactly like a Challenger after Hot Wheels made a version for some snot-nosed kid’s Happy Meal.

08/29, 10:34 AM

posted by:

jonnycat

I never was impressed with the Challengers until I saw them in Person. They look just right even if a tad on the big side.

08/29, 10:42 AM

posted by:

1c3d0g

Oh man…say what you want but Dodge is kicking ass!!! :twisted:

08/29, 11:54 AM

posted by:

hbcbob3

DeansterTJ: I agree with you on the Challenger. I’m a little biased, but I still like the looks of the Camaro more than the Challenger, even though they are both pretty plain jane. There’s no badging, there’s few stripes, there’s no vents or cowls or anything. Yeah, it’s all cheap crap nowadays, but unless they put pinstripe on these cars, bring on the badging.

09/02, 2:12 AM

posted by:

deutschetouring1337

Finally saw one in person here in Austin, I didn’t like the promo pics but in person it looks great.

09/05, 5:45 PM

posted by:

subzero05

I think its awesome to see Hurst back in the performance vehicle arena again!. From other sites I’ve seen this car should be 540+ hp, with suspension, interior, wheels etc. etc. to go along with it. hurst has a legendary relationship with the vehicle manufacturers like Dodge, Chevy, Pontiac and Ford. Those early Hurst cars sell for BIG bucks nowadays!

10/21, 1:34 PM

posted by:

dvldog3073

Personally I belive that the new Challenger is my favorite in the new muscle car revamp. I really like the fact that the designers kept the exterior simple yet very modern. Ford and GM biggest problem to me with the exterior styling is the added non functional parts such as hood scopes and brake vents that do nothing and that over complicates the cars design, makeing it look alomost cheap. In the car world especially muscle cars the acronim “K.I.S.S.” keep it simple stupid should reign supreme. There is a huge difference between looking fast and being fast. No where is that seen more in the sport compact market. The 2 to 3 thousand dollar fiberglass body kits found on Honda Civics and Mitsubishi Eclipses and not a dime spent on the engine. I think that montra has spread to the V6 Mustangs and Camaros with pointless racing strips and brand logo badging. Kudos to Dodge and Mopar for there commitment to performance. Sorry the the soap box rant I’m just a fan of the Challenger and can’t wait to see how the Hurst eddition pans out.

 
 
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