620-hp Hennessey Dodge Challenger SRT600 Introduced For 2009, Change of Underwear Sold Seperately

Hennessey Challenger SRT600

Unlike the Mopar-tuned Dodge Challenger drag racers, the new Hennessey Challenger HPE600 Turbo’s are completely street legal and completely bad ass. A product of Hennessey Performance Engineering [HPE], the Hennessey HPE600 Turbo package is geared towards drivers looking to upgrade the already impressive stock performance of their Dodge Challenger SRT8 models. Utilizing forced induction for a turbo-charged power boost, the HPE600 Turbo upgrades the Challenger SRT8’s OEM output an incredible 195 units to 620-hp. Coupled with 650 lb-ft of torque, the Hennessey Challenger earned itself an awe-inspiring 11.9-second quarter-mile laptime during test runs.

More Pics & Specs After Jump

Hennessey Challenger SRT600 running laps

In addition to white knuckle speeds, the Hennessey Turbo package also primes the Challenger SRT8’s for lightning-fast responsiveness with KW adjustable coil-over shocks/springs and StopTech brakes. Of course, this kind of precision execution doesn’t come cheap, the 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with complete HPE600 Turbo upgrade starts at $74,950. We believe the tag is worth every penny [a pretty significant admission, coming from us], because standard with the Hennessey Turbo upgrade is:

• High-flow ported & polished aluminum cylinder heads
• Lowered compression ratio (from stock 10.3:1 to 9.6:1)
• Garrett ball bearing turbocharger
• Handmade stainless-steel turbo headers
• Single 44 mm billet-aluminum wastegate
• Stainless-steel 3-inch diameter dual exhaust system
• Front mounted air-to-air intercooler
• 3.5-inch polished inlet tube with integrated blow-off valve
• High flow air filter
• Upgraded fuel injectors
• Billet aluminum fuel rails
• Upgraded fuel pump system
• Hennessey and HPE600 exterior badges
• Hennessey HPE600 “Hockey Stick” graphics package
• Hennessey embroidered floor mats
• Serial numbered dash plaque in interior and engine compartment
• Hennessey embroidered front seat head rests
• Hennessey / HPE600 on tachometer and speedometer
• All necessary gaskets and fluids
• Professional installation
• One year limited warranty
• Half day of driving instruction at Lonestar Motorsports Park (adjacent to the HPE facility)

Hennessey Challenger HPE600 Turbo engine

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M Sport Trim Does Not Equal M1

The BMW 1-Series has been on sale in the U.S. for more than a year. It got great reviews here and elsewhere, and by all accounts would probably be selling like hotcakes if we didn’t have a financial meltdown on the menu.

Now, to get you to eat more, the company has put out a sport trim package for the coupe and the convertible, available in 128i and 135i cars. This is the “flash” package, to be distinguished from the standard sport package, and at all costs to be distinguished from the M-Series cars (M3, M5, etc.) which are hotted-up sports versions, à la AMG cars from Benz.

Here’s what 135i buyers get for an additional $1,300 bucks (for the 135i coupe, $1,200 for the convertible):

• M door sills
• M footrest
• M gearshift lever
• M steering wheel
• M wheels
• Available with an M exterior color
• Anthracite Headliner (not available for convertibles)
• Aerodynamic package

Aw, come on, I want the anthracite headliner in my convertible. Then, if you’ve got more money to spend, you can get these options:

• Anthracite Headliner (coupe only, but I thought you listed it as included in the above package??)
• Shadowline Trim
• Sport Seats
• 18″ M Wheels Style 261 M, as illustrated here:

The M sport package has been available to European buyers since mid-2007, but now, sports fans, you can get the M look on the 135i and 5-Series beginning with January production. In 2009, apparently all the other models will get the M treatment (if you pay for the privilege).

If I understand all this correctly, your M-money buys you a café racer package which will do absolutely nothing to improve your car’s performance, but will badge it as an ersatz-M vehicle. The sports seats and 18” wheels, which will indeed help you drive better, presumably cost a bundle more.

BMW has gone the typical route of inviting you to tart up your new car and in the process confused its own branding with the M-Series. This seems to me an especially dumb move, since they produced something very worthwhile in the 1-Series. It can and should appear without the lip gloss.

Should BMW build us a new M1 (not the old 1970s version by that name) and stop confusing the issue? I think so - what do you think?

—jgoods

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