Ever since the Dodge Challenger debuted, everyone, including us, dreamed of a convertible version but, so far, Chrysler hasn’t made a decision regarding this. But Coach Builders Limited, aftermarket cabriolet converter firm based in Florida, decided to take advantage and created this, the Dodge Challenger Convertible, which will debut at this year’s SEMA Show.

Speaking with Inside Line, Larry Moran from Coach Builders said the convertible conversion will be priced at $16,000, which means that the convertible Challenger will cost around $58,000. The car will be powered by a 6.1 liter Hemi V8 that delivers 560 hp and 510 lb.-ft. of torque and will come equipped with a KW coil-over lowering suspension kit and 22-inch Foose Challenger wheels. Customers will also be able to order extra custom interiors, performance options and wheels and tires.

As we said, the Dodge Challenger Convertible will make its debut in November, at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, and production is scheduled to start on November 15. Check out more photos of the car after the jump. Read More: "Dodge Challenger Convertible by Coach Builders"

The National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that Chrysler will recall recalling 712 vehicles due to a problem at the powertrain control module. The vehicles affected are 2009 Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Caliber and Journey, and Jeep Compass and Patriot. Chrysler said that the problem is with “a new adhesive used in the powertrain control module manufacturing process [that] can cause the printed circuit board to break [..] This can cause the engine to stall and cause a crash without warning.”

Dealers will replace the powertrain control module for free. The recall will begin this month, and owners may contact Chrysler at (800) 853-1403 for more information.

Read More: "712 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles recalled"

It looks like we’re gonna have a lot of Challengers at this year’s SEMA Show. Earlier we wrote about the Super Challenger, the SRT10 Concept and the Targa, and now here’s the Dodge Challenger Blacktop. Developed by the guys from Mopar Underground, the Blacktop is a 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T powered by a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Mopar added custom spoilers and front brow, plus a black-on-black racing stripe paint scheme. Mechanical upgrades include Mopar coil-over suspension and strut tower brace, a cat back dual-exhaust and cold air intake, plus massive Factory Reproductions 22 inch Dodge Viper wheels. The interior also received some treatment, with Katzkin leather seating finished in bright red plus a Mopar Kicker audio system.

Read More: "Dodge Challenger Blacktop headed for SEMA"

If you’re thinking this is some kind of convertible Challenger, you’re completely wrong. The Dodge Challenger Targa is the competition car that raced and completed the Targa Newfoundland race this year. Called “Samantha”, the car was initially a Challenger with a Mopar drag race package, which then recieved a set of upgrades, like a Mopar chin spoiler “Splats”, Mopar gauges, Mopar hood with a scoop to make room for the large engine, KW race suspension and upgraded brakes from the Viper ACR. The car also borrowed its snakeskin paint from the Viper. Unde the hood, the rear-wheel-drive Targa is powered by a 392 HEMI V8 Mopar engine that delivers 540 hp and 490 lb. ft. of torque, mated to a Tremec six-speed manual gearbox.

Overall, cool Challenger, looks like there will be plenty of them at this year’s SEMA. Here are more photos of the Targa.

Photo Gallery: Dodge Challenger Targa at the SEMA Show

Read More: "Dodge Challenger Targa to debut at the SEMA Show"

The 2009 Dodge Ram TRXtreme, which will be on display at this year’s SEMA Show is a more extreme off-road interpretation of the 2009 Ram TRX package. Designed by Mopar Underground, the car is fitted with a Mopar lift kit that raises the car by another 4.5 inches, Mopar aftermarket telescoping mirrors, Mopar bed accessory sysem, Mopar dual exhaust system and a one-off steel hood with cooling louvres and larger grille.

The car’s look is completed by the 20 inch Mopar polished and forged wheels. For the exterior, Mopar used a bright yellow and mineral grey two-tone paint finish, plus a set of Mopar wheel flares, a wheel-to-wheel Mopar tube step and a box rail painted to match the rest of the car. The interior also received some goodies, like a Mopar navigation system, DVDs incorporated in the headrests and Mopar leather seats by Katzkin.

Read More: "2009 Dodge Ram TRXtreme for SEMA"

At this years SEMA Show, Dodge will come up with what look like it’ll be one of the coolest cars on display, the Dodge Challenger SRT10 concept. The car is powered by Viper’s 8.4-liter all-aluminum V10 engine which delivers 600 hp and 560 lb. ft. of torque. To cope with the power increase, Dodge engineers fitted the car with upgraded brakes and Bilstein shocks. Also, to outline it’s sporty ’soul’, the concept is finished in Tornado Red paint with a carbon-fiber deck lid and a shaker hood inspired from the 1970 HEMI Cuda, while the interior received sport seats, carbon-fiber inserts, and a red engine start button. We don’t know Dodge’s plans for the concept, but they’d better not tease us for nothing and figure out a way to put this into production, because it looks and sounds awesome.

Enjoy more photos after the jump. Read More: "Dodge Challenger SRT10 Concept to make SEMA debut"

Every year we get to see some incredible cars on display at the SEMA show, and it seems like this year will be no exception. Take these two Dodge Challenger models from Mr. Norm, powered by two 900 hp Kenne Bell supercharged and intercooled 6.1 Hemi engines. Yup, no typos there, 900 hp! The Super Challenger features a Jet Black body with Blazing Red stripe, Katzkin custom leather interior, Hurst Pistol Grip Shifter, special Rodtana forged wheels, lowered suspension and SSBC 8 Piston Disc Brakes.

The other model, the Super Cuda is inspired by the 1970 AAR Cuda, and it features an impressive styling package with a modern interpretation of the classic Cuda grille and tail panel, aggressive front spoiler, satin black strobe stripes on the sides, hood painted in Sherwin-Williams Planet Color Badass Black. The interior features a Hurst Shifter, a Katzkin “Barracuda” custom leather interior with Hemi Orange perforated inserts and Super Cuda monogrammed carpet mats by Designer Mat. The pacakge is completed by the 22 inch Rodtana modual wheels and the massive Stainless Steel Brakes V8 8-Piston calipers.

Check out one more image after the jump. Read More: "Mr.Norm’s 900 hp Super Challenger and Super Cuda for SEMA"

Some time ago we informed you that Chrysler has put up for sale its sport brand, the Viper. Thought the Dodge Viper sales are not doing very well, Chrysler president Jim Press announced that there are already several companies that showed their interest in buying the sports brand. Though Middle Eastern or Indian companies showed their interest in the Viper, we know for sure that among the potential buyers are US companies Roush and Saleen. The latter is already involved in the Viper business, being the company that handles the cars’ paint.

In order to seal a deal for Viper, Chrysler hired financial advisor Lazard Limited to handle logistics, and it hopes to get between $50 million and $150 million for the brand. However, though he didn’t clearly stated it, Press also implied that Chrysler is also considering on dropping the Viper altogether if it believes the car is taking too much attention and resources away from core products.

Of course, we don’t have to say that the dissapearance of the Viper brand would be such a shame and we’re sure every car lover out there would feel bad about it. But let’s hope that everything works out and the Viper will live happily ever after.

Read More: "More details on the Viper brand sale"

More and more producers and customizers are announcing their creations which will be exhibitioned at the SEMA show, set to take place this November in Las Vegas, Nevada. The latest announcement was made by Dodge, in the embodiment of their special concept Dodge Ram pick-up truck. Their top of the range R/T version, standing for Road/Track, will be customized by Mopar, their special performance division. The biggest modification will be the new engine, a massive 5.7 litre HEMI V8 which can develop about 390 hp, taking the big pick-up truck from 0 to 100 km/h or 62 mph in a very impressive 5.6 seconds.

Other changes to the iconic pick-up truck will be the additions of a full bodykit, with a special alluminium hood taken from the Challenger muscle car, with carbon fiber accents, and a hard tonneau finished with an integrated spoiler. On the outside, the agressive look is completed with the addition of 22-inch wheels and a lowered suspension. On the inside, Dodge promises a special, more sportier trim line and custom leather seats.

Read More: "Dodge Ram R/T by Mopar to appear at SEMA"

Chrysler has anounnced the most important new feature of the 2009 Dodge Charger, the new 5.7 liter HEMI V8 engine. Delivering 368hp (274kW) and 395lb-ft (535Nm) of torque, the new engine got a couple of new technologies, like variable valve timing (VVT), Chrysler’s fuel-saving Multi-Displacement System (MDS) and a set of hardware upgrades that include crankshaft structural upgrades, dual-mass crankshaft damper, floating pin piston design, valve spring design and an oil pump capacity increase for VVT.

Besides the engine upgrade, the new Charger will get a refreshed interior with satin silver door trim spears, center console cup holder rings and center stack and shifter bezels. New exterior features include new tail lamp design, antenna moved to the rear window, aluminum wheels as standard for the Dodge Charger SE and a new ‘Deep Water Blue Pearl Coat’ paint.

Chrysler has also announced that the top of the line Dodge Charger SRT8 will get dual-zone automatic temperature control, automatic headlamps, one-touch up/down windows, new front-seat head rests, remote start, air filtration and heated front seats, while a limited edition Super Bee “buzz model” in Hemi Orange with a serialized dash plaque will also be available.

Read More: "More power for the 2009 Dodge Charger"

The Kuwaiti Police sure have some troubles with all those rich guys running around in powerful cars evading their cars all the time, so they decided to order a new model of police cars, something sensitive like the Dodge Charger (!), and quite a few, only 150. Chrysler did go all the way to convince their Deputy Ministry of Interior, Musaed S. Al-Guwainem, who was taken to the central headquarters of Chrysler in Michigan, where a demonstration of a full police-spec Charger was given to him, convincing him that it was the right choice.

And it sure worked, the minister puttin immediately an order for 150 cars, and declaring that “Reflecting an image of strength and power is important for our law enforcement officials and the Dodge Charger portrays this image to the Kuwaiti people“. What better way to discourage the bad guys than chasing after them with a big american muscle car. After they are specially fitted with police accesories, the cars will be delivered and policemen from Kuwait will definitely be happy for them.

Read More: "150 Dodge Chargers for the Kuwaiti police"

Two of the most powerful cars, the Dodge Viper ACR and the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, that have lapped the famous Nurburgring in Germany with incredible times, are present in this video, that portrays their performances side by side. Enjoy!

Some car brands have a great heritage and people would definitely buy them just for that history and background of the brand. Ford has it through the Mustang, GM through the Chevy Corvette, and Chrysler had it through the Dodge Viper. Had it, because the CEO of the american group, Bob Nardelli, announced that the brand is up for sale.

Sure the financial crisis in the US is pretty severe, but selling one of your best brands is quite an extreme measure. He also said that “We have been approached by third parties who are interested in exploring future possibilities for Viper. As the Company evaluates strategic options to maximize core operations and leverage its assets, we have agreed to listen to these parties. We will do so keeping in mind the best interests of those who have shown tremendous support for the vehicle – including employees, suppliers, dealers and a worldwide group of loyal Viper owners and enthusiasts“.

Keep in mind, one of the modern icons in the US is going on sale, one that has made history and even had it’s own TV show, not quite a lot of cars can brag about that. If it will be sold, it’s definitely going to have an expensive price, Chrysler offering all the tehnological aspects for the continuing mass production of the car.

Read More: "Dodge Viper brand put up for sale by Chrysler"

On Friday, Chrysler announced that their latest Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV), the 2009 Dodge Durango and the Chrysler Aspen hybrids, started rolling off the assembly line at the Newark (Delaware) Assembly Plant. To accommodate HEV production, new processes had to be implemented, including a unique powertrain assembly process, and ergonomic-assist systems to aid in new functions, such as HEV battery installation. Also, several unique components associated with HEV production are installed at the plant, including 300-volt battery, two-mode transmission, torque power inverter module (TPIM), electric air conditioning, auxiliary power module, high-voltage cables (AC and DC), hydro-electric power steering pump, hybrid gate way module and cooling module.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the new 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid is $45,340, including $800 for destination. The MSRP for the new 2009 Chrysler Aspen HEMI Hybrid is $45,570, including $800 for destination. Additionally, customers are expected to receive an estimated tax credit of $1,800.

Read More: "Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen hybrids production started"

The Dodge Challenger SRT8 is definitely one hot American muscle car and will certainly become a favorite for customized programs. After last week we wrote about the Hennessey program, now we’ve got one from Platinum Motorsport. No extra details about the car, except that it has been fitted with 20 inch front & 22 inch rear AGETRO S250 black wheels and, what can we say, it looks awesome. Check out one more photo after the jump. Read More: "Dodge Challenger SRT8 gets blacked-out treatment"