Spied: 2009 Dodge Challenger

With the Detroit auto show looming and all the excitement over the dozens of production and concept debuts taking place, our spies remind us of one notable absentee.
The much-anticipated Dodge Challenger will not appear in Detroit, instead waiting until February’s Chicago auto show to bow to the crowds in 425-hp 6.1-liter SRT8 guise.

For the 2008 model year, the SRT8 will be the only Challenger available, with the lower-powered and less-exciting models following after the way has been paved and interest piqued.
Dodge has already released a few rather tantalizing teaser photos of the SRT8, but nobody has snared any photos yet of a complete car sans camouflage. Until that happens, these will have to suffice.
As previous spy shots have shown, there will be little derivation from the original Challenger concept’s styling. The slab sides and clean shape remain, as do the quad headlamps and narrow back glass.
Also visible beneath the heavy winter blanket worn by this mule is the sculpted hood which will, on SRT8 models, offer the carbon-fiber racing stripes of the concept.
The car goes on sale this spring at $40,095. Pricing for base and R/T V-8 models will be disclosed in March at the New York auto show.