SRT Working on “Answer” to Camaro Z28, Dodge Barracuda Delayed

SRT Working on “Answer” to Camaro Z28, Dodge Barracuda Delayed Here’s some news for you: during a special edition taping of Wide Open Throttle live at the New York Auto Show, our special guest, SRT boss Ralph Gilles, said that SRT will soon have “an answer for the Z/28.” Sadly, the conversation moved so quickly that we were unable to press Mr. Gilles for details. Basically, what we surmise is that Chrysler feels the big Challenger isn’t as competitive against the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro as it should be. One way to rectify that situation is a more hardcore, track-focused car. Remember that Ford had the Boss 302 (no longer on sale) and Chevrolet makes both the Camaro 1LE and now the new hardcore Z/28 — and it sounds like Ralph wants to make his upcoming car much more raw.

SRT Working on “Answer” to Camaro Z28, Dodge Barracuda Delayed

SRT Working on “Answer” to Camaro Z28, Dodge Barracuda Delayed

 SRT Working on “Answer” to Camaro Z28, Dodge Barracuda Delayed

SRT Working on “Answer” to Camaro Z28, Dodge Barracuda Delayed

2011-dodge-challenger-SRT8-392-burnout

2012-Chevrolet-Camaro-ZL1-and-2012-Ford-Mustang-Boss-302-Laguna-Seca

SRT Working on “Answer” to Camaro Z28, Dodge Barracuda Delayed

2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca 300x187 imageWhat we figure is that the Z/28-fighting Challenger will have a hopped up version of SRT’s 6.4-liter “392” Hemi V-8. Currently, the 392 makes 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque in SRT8 Challenger duty. As the Z/28 is set to produce at least 500 ponies and 470 pound-feet or torque, figure that the new Challenger will match and probably even beat those numbers. We also suspect SRT will make an effort to lighten the car, as the big boy SRT8 currently weighs more than 4100 pounds. You can expect grippier tires, lighter wheels, better brakes, more down-force producing aero effects, and a whole heap of suspension work. One left-field possibility is that the Challenger TA (for lack of a better name) will pack a detuned version of the Viper’s 8.4-liter V-10. As the Z/28 packs a (ever so slightly) less potent version of the Z06’s 7.0-liter LS7 V-8 and retails for more money than the supercharged, 580-hp ZL1, it stands to reason that a Challenger with a V-10 would give SRT the horsepower advantage they enjoy having and keep the price up around the level of the Z/28 – figure around $65-80K. That said, a V-10-engined Challenger is highly unlikely.

As for the Barracuda, Ralph said that the eventual Challenger replacement is not as far along as people think and that the current Challenger still has life left in it. I’ll let Angus take it from here: “The new Barracuda will share its platform architecture with an all-new 5 Series-sized Alfa Romeo sedan that will be a key car for the relaunch of the Alfa brand in the U.S. I’ve been told that [5 Series-sized RWD vehicle] is one of the cars Alfa is expecting to launch in the U.S. by 2016. I’m betting the Barracuda will also appear around that timeframe. Pure speculation, but both cars may have been pushed back because the Fiat Group is bleeding in Europe due to the collapse of the market there and Marchionne is trying to conserve money.” Sounds about right.

In passing, Ralph also mentioned a Viper GT3. We’ll be running that one down as soon as we’re able.