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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Time Warp , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Dodge If you ever ask a 1960's Mopar fan who the king of high performance is, they'll instantly tell you "Mr. Norm!" Owner of Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago, Norm Kraus was known for fitting performance parts to all types of Mopars, and even started the development for factory cars like the 383 and 400 Dart GTS. The king of all Mr. Norm's cars, however, was the Hemi GSS Dart. Each of the cars was fitted with a 426ci Hemi V8 with a pair of Holley carbs, a heavy duty cooling package, and aftermarket headers. In an effort to save weight, a fiberglass hood and front fenders were used, as well as a front bumper and doors stamped for a lighter gauge steel. In addition, the radio, rear seats, exterior mirrors, and window mechanisms were all removed. The result was a non-street legal drag car that could run down into the 10's in the quarter mile, making it the fastest factory built muscle car ever produced...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Convertibles , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Mitsubishi click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Eclipse and Eclipse Spyder Mitsubishi rolled out its updated 2009 Eclipse Coupe and Spyder today in Chicago, with revised fascias that complement and simultaneously update the swoopy flanks. The nose in particular brings the Eclipse in line with the design theme spreading across the rest of Mitsubishi's model line. If you happen to have a slight sense of deja vu while looking at it, more than one of us has also noticed that the new schnoz bears more than a passing resemblance to the Nissan GT-R, as well. And lest you think the changes are all skin deep, there are several non-cosmetic updates to augment the rhinoplasty. The GT models sport a newly tuned dual exhaust that promises to not only sound better, but boost horsepower by a deuce as well, bringing the total from 263 to 265. On the inside, power comes via a new 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate audio system as part...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Scion click above to view more live high-res pics of the Scion tC Release 4.0 If you saw our preview of the Scion tC Release 4.0 and want more, you're in luck 'cause we've spotted it here in Chicago. We already knew pretty much all there was to know about the machine, including the DAMD body kit and Galactic Gray Mica paint. As is often the case, though, live photos seem to show more detail than official pics from the manufacturer, so be sure to check out our live photos in the gallery below. If you like what you see, perhaps you should act fast, only 2,300 of the 4.0s are going to be built. We're sure that Scion will sell all of them, but we think the tC is in need of a bit more freshening than this version 4.0 offers. Gallery: Scion tC Release 4.0 Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Convertibles , Sports/GTs , Volkswagen Click image above for gallery of high-res live shots from Chicago It wasn't until we saw the YES! 3.2 Roadster today at the Chicago Auto Show that we remembered seeing it some time ago. Something about the orange 3.2 Turbo model rang a bell and we recalled that soggy day last June when we saw it in the pits at Goodwood . The YES! reps confirmed that we had indeed seen a Roadster at the Festival of Speed, shortly after it had been introduced as the replacement for the previous 1.8 model. The vehicles YES! is showing here in Chicago are the second generation Roadsters, in turbo and NA form. Now, lest you think these guys are bad at math, that 3.2 actually refers to the 3.2L V6 residing in the boot. Funke & Will AG, the folks behind YES!, have done a lot of development work on the car and now even offer it with an optional hard top for cold climates. But it's not really about the hardtop. Fitted with the base...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Dodge Click image for hi-res live gallery of the Challenger SRT8 It's finally here. No, not here's-a-few-more-official-press-pics, but the actual latest challenger to the modern day retro muscle car. It was presented by Jim Press, who even made a Prius joke before launching into a passionate pitch for the orange-and-black-striped car. And even though you're drowning in info on a car you still can't buy, there were some specifics added: 0-60 in 4.9 seconds and a 170-MPH top speed; the quarter mile goes by in 13.9 seconds; 4-pot Brembo brakes go on 14.2-inch rotors up front and 13.8-inch rotors in back, and will stop you from 60 in 110 feet; performance and braking together adds up to 0-100-0 in 16.5 seconds; and the skidpad number: 0.9 g's. So how's it really look? Just as good as in the photos. Better even. The lines are so simple that you realize you haven't missed anything when you get up next to it. As...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Mitsubishi Click image for photo gallery While a certain coupe over at Dodge is going to garner the lion's share of attention in Chicago next week, there are other reveals scheduled. Yesterday brought news that a facelifted Mitsubishi Galant will appear. It's about as noticeable and inspiring as the pre-facelift Galant, so we'll forgive if you happen to have missed it. The big Mitsu won't be alone in its booth, however. For 2009, the Eclipse also gets an update, mostly in the form of a facelift that apes the front end of the Lancer Evolution. Gone is the monochrome look, replaced by a darkened trapezoidal maw in the grille area. Out back, a diffuser-style insert takes up residence in the rear bumper (at least of the GT V6 model). The interior is essentially unchanged, and a new dual exhaust for the V6 adds 2 horsepower and 2 lb-ft of torque for a grand total of 265 hp/262 lb-ft. All well and good, but we'd still...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Dodge click above to enlarge and view more official '08 Dodge Challenger images None of us happen to subscribe to AutoWeek anymore, so we have to take Inside Line Senior Editor Ed Hellwig at his word that the latest issue of the weekly car rag includes another embargoed image of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 that you're not supposed to see until next week. It's a good one, though, being the first official pic to get out that shows the production derriere of the Challenger . Obvious changes include a different light bar across the back that's comprised of traditional lamps instead of the slick set up on the concept car. The rear back up lights have been combined into a single unit that now sits in the middle of the taillamp assembly, and light markers on the rear fenders have been moved down, as well. There's the new black spoiler perched on the Challenger's deck lid, which, combined with the black front lip...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Concept Cars , Podcasts , Spy Photos , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Trucks/Pickups , Audi , Chrysler , Dodge , HUMMER , Suzuki Episode #86 of the Autoblog Podcast is well-caffeineated. We spend a good bit of time talking about the excitement that's filled the Autoblog garage lately. Damon used a handily available Audi R8 as a chase car when we went to drive the Tesla Roadster, and Alex has been sampling the Subaru Tribeca and STI, as well as a rogue Volvo S80. John has been having a blissful month rocking the 1999 Oldsmobile Alero Coupe, too. There's lots of good car talk, and we take a detour into cupholder minutiae before getting to actual news. A few embargoes fell in front of the upcoming Chicago Auto Show . Car and Driver's blatant cover poll opened the door for Challenger images. Subterfuge aside, the Challenger's a knockout, despite its interior that's granted refugee status to the Sebring's trappings. Trucks will make some news at...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Dodge , Misc. Auto Shows click above for more shots of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 We're definitely geared up for the official unveiling of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 at the Chicago Auto Show next week. But for those who don't live near the Windy City, you can check out Chrysler's modern day muscle car in person at the 2008 Philadelphia Auto Show where it will debut simultaneously. The interesting thing is that the Challenger will debut on Wednesday, February 6th during the press preview days of the Chicago Auto Show. Chicagoans not accredited with a media badge will have to wait until the weekend to see the car in person. Philadelphians, however, will be able to view the car the very same day since the Philly show is already open to the public at that point. Considering the Royal Rumble we expect to ensue in Chicago after Chrysler invites the media up on stage to view the car, perhaps we'll have a blogger on...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Spy Photos , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Chrysler , Dodge Click image for a gallery of Challenger spy photos As we get closer to the official unveiling of the Dodge Challenger, tips continue to arrive in our inbox from reader who've eyeballed the car themselves. One such reader is Darryll, who encountered a still-camouflaged Challenger R/T 6-speed as it took a breather from winter testing. The open hood left the 5.7L HEMI plainly visible , and the interior was not shrouded, allowing Darryll to snap off a couple of photos of the instrument panel from outside the driver's side window. Combine this view with the shots published last week to get a good ballpark estimate of what to expect. As we saw before, the car uses a pistol-grip shifter for the manual gearbox and an uncomplicated three-dial HVAC control setup. As with the Challenger concept car , the instrument cluster is trimmed out in the same metallic finish as the center console area, and the gauges...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Spy Photos , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Chrysler , Dodge click to enlarge While the exterior of the production 2008 Dodge Challenger is a secret no more, the interior has managed to stay hidden from view. That changed today when a link to this pair of interior spy shots was found on the challengertalk.com forums. While no designs seen in spy shots are final until the production car is officially revealed, this appears to be where Dodge is at with the Challenger's interior at the moment. To be honest, we're really underwhelmed. Not that we expected a bunch of retro queues inside the Challenger, and not that the car's exterior is all that flashy either, but this center console looks like a parts bin special with a side of fries. We dig the shifter handle, though, and we'll reserve judgment on the gauge pod that's trimmed in shiny metal until we get a better view. Who knows, maybe some will appreciate the plain Jane interior and insist it values...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Etc. , Dodge click either image to enlarge We've received word that a small group of Car and Driver readers have been selected to help the magazine select its the cover of its April issue that features the production 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, a car that's fast becoming the worst kept secret in Detroit. This past week, both a preproduction Challenger SRT8 and R/T were driven around Detroit without camouflage just long enough to be photographed by all the right people, and now this. We assume Car and Driver didn't intentionally break an embargo on releasing images and information about the Challenger, but at this point their motivation for this move or lack thereof is irrelevant. Their mistake is your gain, as not only do we get confirmation that the Challenger SRT8 will be rocking 425 horsepower (not a big surprise), we also learn that the Pontiac G8 GT will have 362 HP. As for the Challenger itself, this is our first time...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Spy Photos , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Dodge Click image for a gallery of more spy shots We owe much thanks to Autoblog reader Walter, who happened upon a stark naked Dodge Challenger R/T as it was being valet parked and sent us this perfect pic. Not only does it finally reveal the face of the new Challenger, to our knowledge it's also the first time anyone has seen an R/T model. The SRT8 model is the only one scheduled for the Challenger's initial production run in MY 2008, which makes this a 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T. So let's look at that face. The elimination of the crosshair treatment on the concept car's grille gives the Challenger about as retro a look as you could possibly get. As we saw in the teaser photos released earlier by Chrysler, a "Challenger" badge takes up the passenger side while the model designation badge, in this case a red "R/T," sits on the driver's side. The rest of the front end and hood appear...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Spy Photos , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Chrysler , Dodge var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/autos/Dodge_Challenger_likes_to_go_naked_in_the_rain_PICS'; Autoblog reader Ray O'Connor happened upon an undisguised Dodge Challenger on his way to work in the Detroit area and managed to snap a photo of it from behind the wheel. At first, we wondered whether the HEMI orange car pictured was simply the concept car out and about, because it has been known to traverse public roads before. Neither the ducktail spoiler on the trunklid nor the taillamp design shown on this car are features of the concept, however, so we're guessing one of the preproduction cars was stretching its legs a bit. Or maybe Chrysler's taking a page from GM and, like the Camaro, has decided to just get rid of the camo altogether . In any case, the car will finally be revealed to the world next month in Chicago, and we'll be there, as always, to cover it. Thanks, Ray! Gallery:...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Spy Photos , Coupes , Sports/GTs , Dodge click above image for more spy shots of the production Dodge Challenger Seems like one when modern day muscle car gets caught a spy photographer, they all get shot. We've already shown you new spy shots of the 2010 Ford Mustang GT today, and now we bring you two new shots (the first two in the gallery below) of the production Dodge Challenger that's been caught testing out in public. Dodge is saving the production Challenger's debut until February when it will be unveiled at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, but as we've seen from official teaser shots , don't expect a car much different than the Challenger with which we all fell in love. This test vehicle was reportedly sporting a HEMI V8, so it's probably an SRT8 model, the same kind that will go on sale this year before the rest of the Challenger line-up arrives next year. [Source: Brenda Priddy & Co.] Gallery: 2009 Dodge Challenger - spy...
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