2009 Dodge Challenger R/T - 1st Full Test

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2009 DODGE CHALLENGER R/T:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=130808

ENGLISHTOWN, New Jersey — There has been lots of speculation about the speed of the new 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T with its 375-horsepower 5.7-liter V8, and we were able to conduct our own independent testing at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, the site of the official introduction of the 2009 Dodge Challenger lineup.

This is the very first chance to test the performance of Chrysler's new muscle car in R/T trim. Our data includes 0-60-mph acceleration, quarter-mile performance, braking distance and slalom speed, as well as insight from IL's test-driver.

Chrysler based its introduction of the 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8, R/T and SE at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, a traditional stop for the NHRA's professional drag-racing championship. Thanks to our portable Racelogic VBOX III testing gear, we were able to use the track for performance testing, although the lack of a suitable plot of pavement precluded skid pad evaluation.

The 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T with its 375-hp 5.7-liter V8 and six-speed manual transmission accelerated to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds (5.5 seconds with 1 foot of rollout like on a drag strip), then reached the quarter-mile in 14.1 seconds at 100.8 mph. In comparison, the 315-hp 2008 Mustang Bullitt we tested late last year with a 4.6-liter V8 and Tremec five-speed manual transmission ran to 60 mph in just 5.2 seconds. The Bullitt also ran a 13.8-second quarter-mile at 102.1 mph.

At 4,041 pounds, the R/T weighs about 100 pounds less than a 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with a six-speed transmission. In fact the R/T is only fractionally slower to 60 mph than the SRT8's 5.5 seconds (5.2 seconds with 1 foot of rollout). The difference lies in the higher redline of the SRT8's 425-hp 6.1-liter Hemi, which enables the car to pull past 60 mph in 2nd gear. In comparison, the R/T requires a shift into 3rd gear.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 2009
• Dodge
• Challenger
• R/T
• First
• Full
• Test
• Edmunds
• Inside
• Line
• motor
• auto
• muscle
• car

[niceprince]

This car is about style, sound and just overall badassness. Comfortable riding and straightline cruising man.

[blacksupra001]

@113JUNIOR1187 yeah sadly they werent successful in north america, but im sure gear heads knew what time it was when they saw one :D

[113JUNIOR1187]

Damn my STOCK 09 G8 GT can destroy this Thing and mines a four door grocery getter LOL SMH!!!

[nick9802]

Good test sir. I'm looking to purchase a R/T

[mjf6866]

@KoukiMS6 wow, punk...you like saying "shit" dont you?lol you are revealing your true self with every post. i'll bet your one of those "thug life" wannabe left over fast and the furious kids, right? hahaha...and when did i see your car joker?

[KoukiMS6]

@mjf6866 Grow a set and at least make a video of your car! You keep talking about what other R/T's are running, but like a good little bitch you never put up your shit. You just keep sucking the dick of others, upload YOUR SHIT, and then we'll talk. I don't want to hear shit about what this R/T did and that one run, upload yours and learn to be a man on your own two, you little sissy. You've seen my car, my car ran 13.3 7 months ago, before the TBE and E85 tune. So bring your shit.

[KoukiMS6]

@mjf6866,

Your car is an oxymoron. Its big but unpractical. Its a muscle car but not very fast. It can only go straight and its not even that fast. It can't handle as well as other muscle/sports cars, doesn't seem like any logic is used in buying one. Unless you want to look like a poor thug.

I never said you had to race an 11.6 sec MS6, you can run me. But like most bitches you're better running your mouth than your car. I'm done here, you bore me.

[mjf6866]

@KoukiMS6 tell me how an 11.6 second anything vs a stock low 13 second challenger is fair? put a stock ms6 vs a stock r/t and see what happens or put the same amount of work into a challenger then race. better yet, find me a video of a STOCK MS6 running low 13s like a huge slow tank of an R/T. who care how many more you can seat in your car? and who care which car handles better? the challenger is a straight line muscle car.

[KoukiMS6]

I love my little MS6 than can seat more people than your huge slow tank, while handling better and being faster. Honestly, if you're in the DC area, we can race and video tape it. Ill even introduce you to a 11.6 sec MS6. No shit talking just fun racing.

[mjf6866]

@KoukiMS6 oh, after that response...i know i struck that nerve haha. i see you live vicariously through other people cause you cant have a real muscle car yourself. and i am stupid, i am "truly stupid" for even having getting into this argument with you. go have fun tooling around in your "boys" car...or your little MS6 haha. i'll be enjoying my "slowest and worst handling" muscle car!