Dodge Challenger ACR?

[Mook]

According to close sources to MoparInsiders.com, it seems that Dodge is quietly working on a surprise to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Challenger nameplate next year. That surprise, according to our sources is a new road racing trim for the Challenger.

That’s right, a road course-oriented factory race car. The car will feature an extreme aerodynamics upgrade for maximum downforce and will feature some of the same technology that went into the GEN V (fifth-generation) Dodge Viper ACR (American Club Racer). Matter of fact, it seems that this special edition Challenger will wear the ACR nameplate.

Is Dodge Working On A New Special Edition Challenger?

After the huge success of the drag racing-oriented 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, Dodge has shaken up the muscle-car world with a fury of new models like the Challenger SRT HELLCAT Redeye, Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320, and the Dodge Charger SRT HELLCAT Widebody. While it seems that the...

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[Bob Kazamakis]

Likes

 

[Rent Free]

Was going to post this too. And just think Dodge already has a 1000hp crate thatd do quite nice in that too!

Ive been saying Dodges marketing department has been laughing at Ford since the 1st Hellcat hit showrooms. So right about the time Ford finally puts a GT500 in showrooms Dodge will put out this Demon topping Challenger.

Im not much of a Hellcat swinger but geezus doesnt look like Dodge is done wringing out them old bones of the Challenger/Charger Chassis quite yet either

 

[FirstWorldProblems]

Was going to post this too. And just think Dodge already has a 1000hp crate thatd do quite nice in that too!

Ive been saying Dodges marketing department has been laughing at Ford since the 1st Hellcat hit showrooms. So right about the time Ford finally puts a GT500 in showrooms Dodge will put out this Demon topping Challenger.

Im not much of a Hellcat swinger but geezus doesnt look like Dodge is done wringing out them old bones of the Challenger/Charger Chassis quite yet either

Lmao I don't think they're going to be putting a heavy ass 1000hp engine in to a car that's supposed to be able to turn, it's heavy enough with a regular n/a 6.2.

Dodge has their work cut out for them trying to make an ~11 year old, heavy AF, chassis in to a road course competitor. We'll see where it goes

 

[Rent Free]

Lmao I don't think they're going to be putting a heavy ass 1000hp engine in to a car that's supposed to be able to turn, it's heavy enough with a regular n/a 6.2.

Dodge has their work cut out for them trying to make an ~11 year old, heavy AF, chassis in to a road course competitor. We'll see where it goes

I dont see it being any heavier than a Demon or Redeye engine

But yes itll be a tall task trying to making that pig turn.

 

[Thirdgen89GTA]

They'd need a shitload of cooling to keep a hellcat engine cool for 20-30 minute track sessions. Way easier with NA.

 

[FirstWorldProblems]

I dont see it being any heavier than a Demon or Redeye engine

But yes itll be a tall task trying to making that pig turn.

They're not going to use a demon or redeye engine...this is the track...horsepower doesn't really matter that much

 

[Rent Free]

I doubt itll be NA if they want to chase ZL1 1LE or GT500 times.

I get the weight savings but cmon this is Dodge only thing saving that platform thus far is they keep throwing more horsepower at it.

 

[Mook]

The rumor is back.

Dodge Challenger ACR Will Be Muscle Car's Next Top Model: Report

A new rumor says Dodge is working an ACR version of the Challenger that would a hardcore, street-legal road course machine designed to turn corners.

www.motor1.com

The Dodge Challenger has existed virtually unchanged since the rebooted third-generation arrived in 2008. That’s positively ancient in the automotive realm, but there’s no denying the big muscle car is still extremely popular among buyers. Credit goes to Dodge for keeping things fresh with numerous special editions offered through the years, but there’s never been a Challenger devoted to turning corners. That could be changing soon.

New rumors are afoot about the Challenger ACR, where ACR stands for American Club Racer. It’s a moniker very familiar to Mopar fans, as it adorned track-focused versions of the Viper for decades. It also was affixed to the sprightly front-wheel-drive Neon, creating a pocket rocket that to this day still has a reputation for being an exceptional machine when it comes to taming corners on road courses across America.

We first heard rumblings of a Challenger ACR last year but little information was offered. The new rumor comes courtesy of Allpar.com, which cites a reliable source as saying two different versions are being considered. One would use the naturally aspirated 392 Hemi good for 485 horsepower, while the other would get the 797-hp supercharged Hellcat V8 from the Challenger Redeye. With many racing series not open to supercharged vehicles, the 392 could be the choice mill.

Regardless of the engine, a carbon fiber diet would slash weight from the portly muscle machine with a goal of getting it under 4,000 pounds. It would utilize carbon fiber components in many places, and it would wear aero components based strongly on the old Viper ACR, including the massive rear wing. Adjustable suspension and massive Brembo brakes would also be offered.

The rumor also says this wouldn’t be a mass-produced model with a few flashy tweaks and an ACR badge. Like previous ACR models, it would be a limited-run, hardcore offering aimed squarely at people who want to go racing. The last Viper ACR is reportedly a benchmark for the Challenger ACR, so it seems engineers are very serious in making the Challenger a contender against the likes of the Mustang Shelby GT500 and Camaro ZL1 1LE.


When might this corner-carving Challenger arrive? The new report doesn’t offer a timeframe, but rumors from last year said it could arrive in 2020 for the 2021 model year.

 

[Rent Free]

They should have tried to lighten up the tank a decade ago.

 

[Mook]

Dodge says NOPE.

The Dodge Challenger Isn't Actually Getting a Track-Ready ACR Version

Despite rumors to the contrary last week, Dodge says it isn't happening.

www.roadandtrack.com

 

[Kensington]

The amount of money they'd have to put into it, to get it under 4000 pounds would be astronomical...was surprised when I saw the original post that FCA would even consider it. Especially with the weight handicap of the Hellcats iron block. I mean the early V6 Challengers were under 4000 pounds, but didn't have shit for tech, all aluminum V6's, less in the way of structural engineering for crash safety, tiny ass brakes, etc. Hell, going from the base Challenger to the SRT8 was a 400+ pound penalty, partially due to the iron block. Imagine the EXTRA weight of the Hellcat and all the goodies...they'd have to look at carbon fiber body panels, modifying existing steel hardware to aluminum if possible, and God knows what else...it'd have to be a $100K+ to even consider being cost effective.

 

[FirstWorldProblems]

Yeah it would have been cost prohibitive/damn near impossible for this dated chassis to keep up with even a PP2 GT on a road course, and dodge knows it. A top dollar ACR that turns worse lap times than a regular GT...nopenopenope

 

[Kensington]

Yeah it would have been cost prohibitive/damn near impossible for this dated chassis to keep up with even a PP2 GT on a road course, and dodge knows it. A top dollar ACR that turns worse lap times than a regular GT...nopenopenope

There was a magazine test back when the S550 first came out, and they tested a '15 PP GT against a Hellcat on a roadcourse, and the Mustang easily beat it