Leaked: Dodge Challenger SRT8

The embargo dam has broken on the hugely anticipated Dodge Challenger SRT8 production version, scheduled for its official unveiling at the Chicago auto show next month.

Hitting the streets nearly 40 years after the original was first produced, the Challenger will be built atop the LX platform, which also underpins the Chrysler 300C and Dodge Charger.

So does it have a Hemi? Yes, Mopar fans, it certainly does: a 6.1-liter V8 to be exact, the same motor found in other SRT models. Producing 425hp and 420lb-ft of torque, this modern interpretation of the iconic muscle car will blast to 60mph in the low five-second range, transmitting power to squealing rubber via a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Challenger’s 116-inch wheelbase and four-piston Brembo brakes will surely add to the dynamic driving appeal. We can’t wait.