Showing posts with label dodge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dodge. Show all posts

Sunday, December 3, 2023

My GT7 Log: Last Showdown

The Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Challenger are set to be euthanized by year's end and here in Gran Turismo 7, it's time to have one last drive with these two soon-to-be-euthanized muscles.


The sixth-generation Camaro and the third-generation Challenger were proven to be worthy adversaries to the Ford Mustang. With their time almost up, it appears that the Ford Mustang will have no one to compete with until the future Dodge Charger. As the world prepares to say goodbye to these two, let's have a quick look at these two.


Beginning with the Camaro ZL1 1LE, this is basically a Republican response to Porsche's 911 GT3 because the 1LE Package transformed the Camaro ZL1 into a potent track toy built to tackle not just on drag strips but on racetracks like a proper sports car. Although it's banned on European roads, it lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 16.04 seconds. The secret to its track-honed performance is its large deflector, rear wing, diffuser, bespoke suspension setup, Michelin tires built for this car, and a 650HP 6.2L supercharged V8 engine mated to a 6-speed manual.


The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is the biggest upset Dodge delivered when it made a world premiere in 2018. Limited to 3,300 units, the Dodge Challenger Demon's supercharged 6.2L V8 engine produces a monstrous 840HP of power on 100 or higher-octane fuel, capable of hitting 0-62mph in 2.3 seconds, faster than any supercar it faces against. It's so fast, that the NHRA banned this vehicle.



Having gotten to know these two muscle cars that are soon to be heading to the great junkyard of the sky, it's time to have one last drive with the Camaro and the Challenger around the Daytona road track and unleash the soon-to-be-legendary performance that made them stand out. I expect this to be close.

 (SPOILER ALERT: It is)

Let's roll the tape.


And now, the results...

Camaro ZL1 - 1m58.602s

Challenger Demon - 1m59.620s


From the track-honed performance of the Camaro ZL1 1LE to the "Run Like Hell" attitude of the Challenger SRT Demon, these two muscle cars proved their worth until the last drop, and now that they've served their purpose spectacularly, I can't think of a word to describe these two Mustang fighters who fought bravely to the end.

Still, I will credit the Challenger for being the biggest upset to the modern muscle era and the Demon is like the biggest comeback to Dodge. As for the Camaro, it's racing pedigree from NASCAR to Le Mans (thank you, Garage 56) will go down in history as one of the all-time greats.


The sun sets in the sky. Camaro and Challenger, say goodbye.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!

Sunday, July 30, 2023

My FH5 Log: Hellcat's Paradise

The advent of the Hellcats proved that Dodge unleashed its gates of hell and devoured the competition alive with its fastest breed of monster machines on the road. In the world of horsepower wars, it seems that Dodge made it easy to win.


As the era of hell-raising V8 power is coming to an end, it's time to take a thrust back in time for a little quick dive on Dodge's monster machines that emerged from the circles of hell.


Beginning with the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, the muscle car that upset the competition alive. Powered by a supercharged Hellcat 6.2L HEMI V8 engine. It's the most powerful engine ever made by FCA (now Stellantis). Dodge claims it can produce over six hundred horsepower but it's been verified to produce 707HP, the most powerful V8 engine ever made in a production car.

With the red key fob engaged, all of the power output from its supercharged V8 engine is released. To survive the monstrous power output, a specially-made 8-speed automatic gearbox is developed to handle the extra power and torque.

Thanks to its powerful engine, the SRT Hellcat is capable of reaching 0-60mph in less than four seconds and onwards to 199mph.


The Charger SRT Hellcat inherits the same Hellcat 6.2L HEMI V8 engine as the Challenger, resulting in up to 707HP of power output with the red key fob at bay, making it the most powerful four-door saloon ever made when it was launched. With this power, the Hellcat-powered Charger is able to do an NHRA-verified quarter mile time of 11 seconds and 204mph of top speed.



The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is a special-edition Challenger SRT that made supercars cowered in fear because of the supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 engine producing up to 840HP of power and the fastest 0-60mph time of any production sportscar, 2.3 seconds to be precise. It was well known to break every world record in history, especially the fact that being the first production car in the world that can do the longest wheelie as verified by the Guinness Book of World Records.




With the trio of hell-raising Dodges getting their word, it's time to take them to one segment of the Badlands I like to refer to as "Hell's Paradise". Get it? This Hell's Paradise is called Devil's Pass and it's the perfect place to let these "super devils" rev their monstrous V8 engines to their "it's over 9000" strengths. See what I did? Anyway, with the gates of hell opened, these V8-powered knights of the apocalypse are ready to settle the score, figuring out which one is the real demon lord.

Let Battle Commence!



After our favorite V8-powered knights of the apocalypse survive Hell's Paradise, here are the results;


Challenger Hellcat - 3m56.553s
Charger Hellcat - 3m56.003s
Challenger Demon - 3m46.543s


No doubt about it, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon truly is the demon king of Dodge after all because of its unrivaled V8 power that butchered every single supercar it came across in a straight line. Although the NHRA banned the Demon from participating in sanctioned drag-racing events, this demon lord is feared and respected by speedo boys everywhere.


As the demon lord proved his strength, the time has come to showcase his...metamorphosis.



What you're looking at here is my version of what the world referred to as the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170, the last of the Last Call special edition models made in honor of the Charger and Challenger's end of production at the end of 2023. Of course, I tried matching up to the most powerful Challenger Demon's specifications but I went over. Way over. Still, I am very pleased to re-enact the ultimate Challenger that can butcher the world's fastest supercars into red meat and then feed it to its hellcat minions.


With Hell's Paradise still with us, it's time to take my version of the ultimate Challenger Demon on a sprint run against the other muscle car convicts fighting their way to survive Hell's Paradise. Sorry, boys. There can be only one...


Hell's Paradise. You're right. It really is the hottest inferno in the world.


As the world braces for electrification, Dodge's days of unleashing hell on earth with their Hellcat monsters came to a hell-raising end. From the advent of the Challenger SRT Hellcat to the rise of the ultimate Challenger Demon, Dodge truly is the motoring industry's knight of the apocalypse and as it's set to enter the electrified era, rest assured that its devilish antics will never be forgotten because they are the ones that rewrote the rules of performance with their blood and race fuel.

Thanks for the hell-raising memories, Dodge. And with that...


See you in hell, Dodge.

That takes care of the cremation.

Saturday, December 31, 2022

Dodge Hornet

Remember the time when Dodge made the Caliber and the Nitro? They were rehashes of the Jeep Compass and Patriot that ended up on the wrong turn at Albuquerque. With them behind the rearview mirror several years ago, it looks like Dodge is getting a second shot at making a compact crossover, this time with Alfa Romeo's help again.

2023 Dodge Hornet
2023 Dodge Hornet

2023 Dodge Hornet
2023 Dodge Hornet interior

Starting at 31,590 US Dollars plus additional costs, the first-ever Dodge Hornet crossover is an Alfa Romeo Tonale that does things that the Tonale can't. Although built in the same factory in Italy, the Hornet's got more character, power, and beef than the Tonale it was based on because this crossover wants to do Dodge things rather than Alfa Romeo things, akin to the Giulietta-based Dart.

Beginning with the design, the Hornet's silhouette is reminiscent of the Alfa Romeo Tonale it was based on as well as the sides but when you check its front and rear, you will notice that they are inspired by the Dodge Charger. The same goes for the interior as well because it has the same driver-focused minimalist approach as the Tonale until you check the vents and the dashboard to prove its point.

At launch, the Dodge Hornet is powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that produces 265hp of power while mated to a 9-speed AT. With the AWD system in play, the GT model is capable of going from 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds, more than enough to kiss the Alfa Romeo Tonale goodbye on the road and track. Later on, Dodge will offer the R/T model with the Dodge-first PHEV powertrain that bolts the turbocharged 1.3L engine to an electric motor and a 6-speed AT. With the PowerShot fired, it unleashes 285hp of power, sprinting from 0-60mph in 6.1 seconds. Now that's fast for a baby Dodge SUV.

Because of the power output that upsets the Tonale by a long shot, the Hornet feels somewhat addictive to drive with the AWD system armed. Although it feels bulky to drive compared to the Tonale, it still behaves like it in an exciting way and you can really spend lots of time getting to know the Tonale that was dubbed in American English.

In terms of safety, the Hornet, like the Tonale, is classified as Level 2 autonomy thanks to its front camera, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Centering, and Traffic Jam Assist systems. Combined with Blind Spot Detection, Emergency Braking, Attention Assist, and a 360-degree view monitor, among many others, it is all about getting concerned on the road, although speedo boys may end up running scared when autonomy kicks in.

The Dodge Hornet may be an Alfa Romeo Tonale that was Americanized straight to the core but because of the Dodge mantra, the Hornet is the faster, more powerful alternative to the Tonale. Although it doesn't have the credentials of Dodge's First Family, it's more than enough to become part of the Dodge family. Welcome to the family, son.

Photo: Dodge

Thursday, November 10, 2022

My FH5 Log: Who is the ultimate Horizon Hero?

As the Forza Horizon 10th Anniversary celebration came to its bittersweet end, it's time to find out which of the Horizon hero cars is the ultimate Horizon Hero. Will it be the SRT Viper GTS? The Lamborghini Huracan? The Lamborghini Centenario? The McLaren Senna? Or the Mercedes-AMG Project One?

Five Horizon heroes are gathered at the Volcan Sprint and all they have to do is to set the fastest time, ultimately deciding once and for all who is the ultimate Horizon Hero. It's all or nothing now. It's do-or-die for these machines as they are giving this Forza Horizon 10th anniversary celebration the ideal sendoff I've envisioned.






Without further ado, let the battle commence. GO!


With their bravery tests done, here are the results;

Viper - 3m18.665s

Huracan - 3m08.155s

Centenario - 3m00.864s

Senna - 2m51.905s

One - 2m52.890s


So, after ten years of enjoying the Forza Horizon series since the first one up to now, this is the ultimate Horizon Hero. The McLaren Senna, the hero car of Forza Horizon 4, is the ultimate Horizon Hero.

FOREVER KING.

And that's a wrap! This is the end of the Forza Horizon 10th Anniversary celebration. The celebration has ended but our journey on Forza Horizon 5 continues because there will be more surprises in store, starting with tomorrow's Donut Media collaboration series update as well as December's holiday series update. There will be more to come this 2023 so stick around!

Here's to ten more years of the Horizon Festival! 

The party never ends...

Thursday, October 20, 2022

My FH5 Log: Horizon Heroes - SRT Viper GTS

The Forza Horizon series is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month. From the streets of the US state of Colorado to Mexico, from dusk to dawn, from summer to spring, it's a never-ending odyssey for speedo boys who enjoy the greatest things that made Forza Horizon, well, Forza Horizon. Fast cars, cool music, epic scenery, dramatic stories, fierce rivals, and endless imagination, these things truly shaped the meaning of Forza Horizon to the world and this is how Horizon rolls, spectacularly.


To celebrate ten years of Forza Horizon, let's kick off with the one that started it all; the hero car of the original Forza Horizon known as the Dodge SRT Viper GTS.


Known to be the spin-off of the Forza Motorsport series, Forza Horizon is the first-ever open-world action racing game that uses the same tried-and-tested formula from the Forza Motorsport series in a way never attempted before. In the original Forza Horizon, players start themselves with a VW Corrado and then work their way to unlock new wristbands, and new races, and battle against the top superstars in a one-on-one duel to snag the cars they drove. From racing on sanctioned events to street racing at nighttime, searching for barn finds, smashing bonus boards, exploring the scenery, experiencing rally racing, and completing a thousand challenges, the original Horizon has it all.

The SRT Viper GTS is the hero car of the original Horizon. Unveiled at the 2012 New York Auto Show, the SRT Viper GTS comes with the same 8.4L V10 OHV engine from the previous Dodge Viper SRT-10 but now it churns out 640HP of power and 600lb-ft of torque. It is mated with a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission with a shorter throw shifter, close gear ratio, and shorter final drive ratio of 3.07. With a triple-digit weight loss, the power-to-weight ratio is better than the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 and the Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1.

Production ended after the 2017 model year and Dodge offered customers a 1-of-1 customization program that allows them to create a bespoke Viper for themselves.


Now that we get to know about the SRT Viper GTS, the hero of the Horizon Colorado festival, it's time to give the Viper a little exhibition run on Horizon Mexico festival grounds against seasoned drivers, just to find out if it's still the hero we know and loved ten years ago. Roll the tape.


The original Horizon hero still got the moves after ten years.

With the SRT Viper GTS spearheading Forza Horizon's 10th-anniversary celebration, next time, let's get to know the hero of Horizon Europe, the Lamborghini Huracan.

See you again.

Friday, July 8, 2022

My FH5 Log: The Coronet Super Bee

Obtained from the FH5 Series 9 Dry Season Playlist, the ancient Dodge Coronet Super Bee is one of the standout cars from the golden age of muscle cars.


Unveiled in 1968, the Coronet Super Bee is basically a Dodge version of the Plymouth Roadrunner which is priced at the lower end of its class. Under the hood, the Coronet Super Bee is powered by a choice of either a 6.8L V8, a 7.2L V8, or the range-topping 425HP 7.0L HEMI V8 engine mated to a Mopar 4-speed manual gearbox.


With a quick introduction done, let's give this ancient Coronet Super Bee a driving experience it will never forget and with that, I bravely decided to drive it on a dirt track with the other muscle cars. It won't be easy but this should be fairly exciting for me. Roll the tape.


Mud, sweat, and gears, ladies and gentlemen. Looks like the Coronet barely survived the muddy torture of the dirt track and left home with scars and bruises to show.

Enjoy your new ride!

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

My FH5 Log: American Muscle Powerhouse

While Americans are busy with their grills and fireworks, here in FH5, it's time to honor America with a quick comparison between the three American muscle powerhouses.


America truly is the home of muscle cars and even in the new normal, Gen Z people still want to have a blast of the past by settling the debate over which muscle car is the best, and here are the three competitors;


First up is the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, a track-focused version of the Camaro ZL1. The normal Camaro ZL1 is powered by a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine, it produces 650HP of power and the same amount of torque while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic gearbox. The 1LE offers the same amount of performance as the ZL1 but with the added track performance to make it capable on the track. From its track-focused aerodynamics, Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve dampers, Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tires built specifically for this car, and weighing 60lbs less than the normal ZL1, the ZL1 1LE is the ultimate Camaro built for the most elite drivers everywhere.


Next up is the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, the sixth-generation Mustang on steroids. Dubbed as the most powerful Mustang ever made, the GT500's 5.2L Supercharged Cross Plane Crank V8 engine produces 760hp of power output and 625ft-lb of torque. Mated to a TREMEC 7-speed Dual Clutch gearbox, it's capable of hitting the 0-60mph mark in the mid-three second mark and a quarter-mile in less than 11 seconds. The GT500 runs on the near-similar aerodynamics as the GT4 racecar as well as the optional carbon fiber pack for lesser weight and a more enjoyable driving experience. It features next-gen magnetic dampers that allow the GT500 to have the best lateral acceleration of any Mustang experienced.


And finally, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, which is still revered as the ultimate muscle car. The Demon is a special-edition Challenger SRT that made supercars cowered in fear because of the supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 engine producing up to 840HP of power and the fastest 0-60mph time of any production sportscar, 2.3 seconds to be precise. It was well known to break every world record in history, especially the fact that being the first production car in the world that can do the longest wheelie as verified by the Guinness Book of World Records.




With the trio of ultimate American muscle cars set, it's time to settle once and for all which of these three is the greatest, and with that, let's use the hill climb course located somewhere near the caldera. It's like the Mexican version of the famed Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in my mind and the hill climb is the perfect discipline for the trio to flex their steroid-induced muscles as they attempt to drive their way to the top. Let's find out which one came out on top, shall we? Roll the tape!


After flexing their muscles on the hill climb, here are the results;

ZL1 1LE - 3:15.596

GT500 -  3:11.225

Demon - 3:29.109


What a shocking result! The most powerful muscle car in the world got beaten by a Mustang that is nearly a hundred less! Looks like Ford is the winner because their new GT500 not only is powerful full-stop but also capable of handling through the track like a European sports car, which is the GT500's breakfast, lunch, and tea. 

It's a shame that despite the Demon is the most powerful of the three, it ended up dead last in my little hill climb experiment with the trio. Well, I got to say, despite whatever happened, these muscle car powerhouses did make America great for good times and bad times, whatever the reason.

Whether you're representing the General, the Blue Oval, or Mopar, it's a real privilege to experience the ultimate American muscle cars. Although they may not be forever, their legacies will be forever remembered just by the smell of the high-performance race fuel exhumed from their tailpipes and the burnouts they've pulled.

Welcome to America!

Sunday, July 5, 2020

Forza Horizon 4: American beefcakes

As America blows up the summer skies with its fireworks, the world of Forza has its own take on what others know as the American trinity. The Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro, and the Dodge Challenger are the real American trinity that delivers life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for speedo boys everywhere. These three have been flexing their beefcakes for several years with the aging Challenger trumping both because of the limited-edition Demon that scared away even the most European supercars on the road.







Drawing reference from a certain Grand Tour episode, the muscle car trio consisting of the current-generation ZL1, the now-legendary Challenger SRT Demon, and the RTR Mustang Spec 5, are flexing their muscles to see which muscle car has the bearing of "E Pluribus Unum", which means "out of many, one".

First up, is the ZL1. Powered by a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine, it produces 650HP of power and the same amount of torque while mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic gearbox. While this is the most powerful Camaro ever made, dynamics are still one of the ZL1's priorities especially when it comes to the Magnetic Ride Control suspension and standard electronic Limited-Slip Differential. As a high-performance muscle car that balances power and dynamics on the road and on the track, the new ZL1 is all business or so they say.

The Demon, on the other hand, is a special edition Challenger that made supercars cowered in fear because of the supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 engine producing up to 840HP of power and the fastest 0-60mph time of any production sportscar, 2.3 seconds to be precise. It was well known to break every world record in history, especially the fact that being the first production car in the world that can do the longest wheelie as verified by the Guinness Book of World Records. So record-breaking, drag-racing organizers won't let the Demon join the party, some say.

Lastly, the RTR Spec 5 is a tuning package for the facelifted Ford Mustang by RTR with a specially-made body kit and upgrades underneath. Customers can opt for more power upgrades when they want, of course.







Just like in one episode of The Grand Tour, the muscle car trio are lapping around an abandoned car factory to see which one is the fastest and here in Forza Horizon 4, I found an abandoned rail yard to pit these three for a quick lap to see which one is "out of many, one". Waving the American flag, the quick lap shootout is on to find out which of the three muscle cars is the best.


In the end, here are the results;

ZL1 - 0:43.844
Demon - 0:41.842
RTR Spec 5 - 0:45.412



So, this is the clear winner. Although the Demon is stodgy, old, and went out of production, it's still hell-raising quick, and even with the Demon now in the pages of history, it's proof that Dodge really is the E Pluribus Unum because of their class-leading horsepower and performance that makes Europeans running scared. They're right. The Europeans should rethink before taking these Hellcats on.

Anyway, enjoy the fireworks, America!

Enjoy the life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness you've been looking for all the years!