Although it was only produced for two years—1957 and 1958—the iconic 392-cubic-inch HEMI V8 owns a storied place in hot-rod history. The mighty mill provided the motivation for countless classic dragsters and speed-record attempts, and even today it draws big-time attention on the show-car circuit. So it was no surprise when Mopar debuted a modern-day 392 HEMI crate engine in 2007 to celebrate the original’s 50th anniversary.
Well, guess what? Now it’s time for another celebration, because that monster V8 has found a new home: The 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392.
This limited-edition Challenger will provide nearly unlimited thrills thanks to its new powerplant, which makes a pavement-pounding 470 hp and 470 lb.-ft. of torque—that’s 45 more horses and 50 additional lb.-ft. of twist as compared to the 6.1-liter HEMI offered in the highest-performing 2010 Challenger.
But this special Challenger is much more than just a straight-line asphalt eater. Dodge also added highly damped shocks, recalibrated the car’s suspension geometry, increased its steering ratios and adopted new, negative camber settings at all four corners. Add in an SRT-tuned and dramatically enhanced fully hydraulic steering system, and you’ve got a high-performance machine that’s equally well suited for daily driving and carving the corners. In fact, with its ability to pull .93 g’s on the skidpad, this is the stickiest production Challenger ever.
The exterior of the Challenger 392 receives a makeover, too. Two custom color combinations are offered: Deep Water Blue with Stone White full-body stripes or Bright White Clear Coat with Viper Blue stripes. Also part of the package: exclusive 20-inch SRT wheels with a polished face and painted satin-black pockets, “392 HEMI” badging, Mopar quad exhaust tips, a larger front splitter and modified front chin spoiler, integrated fender spats, and a body-colored rear decklid spoiler.
But as customers will soon discover, the car’s limited run of 1,492 units will go nearly as fast as the car itself. To get in on the action before the Challenger 392 sells out, be sure to contact your local Connecticut Dodge Jeep dealership today.
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