For the third press conference of the day, Dodge showed us the production version of the 2008 Challenger SRT8. Focusing on the classic nature of the car, Dodge made sure we know the new version is faster all-around, going from 0-60 in 4.9 seconds, ran the quarter-mile in 13.3 seconds, and has a 170mph top speed, thank to it’s 425 horsepower 6.1L V8

The performance figures, while not necessarily breath-taking, are impressive for a car with a sticker price of $37,995.

One cool feature of the car is it will have a built-in performance meter that instantly measures and displays 0-60, 60-0, and quarter mile times, as well as G-forces. Dodge received 4,300 orders on the first day it was announced, so I don’t see them having a big problem selling this car.

Live Coverage: 2008 Chicago Auto Show

OK, for me, this falls into the category of totally bitchin’.

Before Dale (and that would be senior) and before NASCAR became an irresistible beige monolith of marketing and sponsorship opportunities with some “racing” thrown in now and again, one racer stood above them all.

You don’t get a nickname like “King” lightly, and if anyone ever deserved it, Richard Petty sure as hell did.

The vast majority of the time, he raced Chrysler products, and they were always (always, always) painted a particular shade of blue.

Dodge, pulling off a move of supreme coolness, has decided to paint the 43rd Challenger off the line that very shade of “Petty Blue” (although when I was a kid, I always heard it called Petty Racing Enterprises Blue) and auction it off for

The cash raised at the auction will go to Victory Junction Gang Camp which was set up and is still run by the Petty family (real good outfit, real good family).

So hey, if you’re rich, and you’re predisposed to wanting things like this, go bid.

Dodge apparently wants to jump on the small roadster bandwagon along with the Honda S2000, Mazda Miata, Pontiac Solstice, BMW Z4 and Saturn Sky. In fact, I think from the front, it looks just like the S2000. Take a look at it:

Dodge plans to release the concept at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show, although I’m kinda pissed it wasn’t show at the Chicago Auto Show last week. Attempting to aim at the affordable roadster market just like the rest of the cars listed above, expect it to list at around the same low $20K mark. Keep reading for more info and a gallery:

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I just received my press pass in the mail today for the Chicago Auto Show! Man, this really snuck up on me. I can’t believe the show is only a few days away! With everything ready to go, there are some more cars that will be there that I’m really excited about, and I would like to share a few with you. Please also see my first post on cool cars that will be there.

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A while back in June, I showed you the original spy shots and specifications of the 2008 McLaren-Tuned Dodge Viper, and later explained in an update that “the 2007 model year will be skipped, and it will return in 2008; starting production in January 2007. The Viper will have an exterior facelift and contain a McLaren tuned 8.4L V10 shown in the ASC Diamondback Viper. We can expect it to output anywhere from 600 to 650 hp, hopefully more, and run 0-60 in about 3.5 seconds.”

Spy photographer Brenda Priddy shows us a video on the site StreetFire.net of the 2008 Viper being tested. Sadly, they don’t do anything cool with it. No burnout, not even hard acceleration. Plus, it dies on them and they have to push it. Funny stuff. Anyway, I guess there still isn’t very much more information regarding it, other than what I previously reported. Check out the video here:

Click to see Video

I wrote a preview of the 2008 Viper when it was first spied about a month and a half ago. As I said before, the 2007 model year will be skipped, and it will return in 2008; starting production in January 2007. The Viper will have an exterior facelift and contain a McLaren tuned 8.4L V10 shown in the ASC Diamondback Viper. We can expect it to output anywhere from 600 to 650 hp, hopefully more, and run 0-60 in about 3.5 seconds.

Other rumors were not particularly credible - using the Mercedes V12 (not Viper-like), a V10 Hemi (expensive to create, poor emissions), a turbocharged V10 (not desired by current owners), and an even bigger Hemi V8 (again, not Viper-like). The current Viper engine, based on the LA V8 family introduced decades ago, most likely has untapped potential which could be awakened by expert tuners.

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