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While a great many of the vehicles brought to SEMA by the guys at Mopar are often outrageous and unlikely to ever see the street, this year's Dodge Challenger 1320 was not such a car.

(Click here for more information on the Dodge Challenger 1320.)

 The color might be a little much for some people, but the modifications made to this relatively calm looking Challenger shows the potential of the pony car, with a little help from a Mopar 426 cubic inch crate motor.

The engine designation is spread across the corner of the hood, with a subtle suggestion of this car's attitude in the black-on-black hood trim.

Amidst the 2009 Detroit North American International Auto Show, the Chrysler area featured a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 cut apart showing the 63 innovations and alterations of the new Dodge Ram.  The Dodge engineers worked to truly make this an all-new Ram 1500, and there have been changes from front to back.  Here is a full rundown of the 2009 Dodge Ram changes from the 2009 NAIAS.

The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 has received a complete facelift, but more importantly, the mighty 5.7L Hemi has received an increase to 390 horsepower, making it the most powerful standard engine offering in the half-ton truck class.  Dodge spends so much time promoting the legendary Hemi that their other two engine options are overshadowed, but the 2009 Ram also offers a 3.7L V6 and a 4.7L V8.  These smaller engines offer less initial cost, and in the past you would assume that these less powerful engines would also provide better fuel mileage.  Thanks to the Multiple Displacement System (MDS), the Hemi offers fuel economy numbers of 14 city and 20 highway, equal to the economy numbers from the 3.7L V6 and better than the 4.7L V8.

The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 received a major facelift, as well as a more powerful engine lineup, and Dodge has claimed their spot atop the half ton truck in the market.  Their key foreign competitor in the market is the 2008 Toyota Tundra, last year's Motor Trend Truck of the Year.  We tested the 2008 Toyota because they had not released their 2009 model in time for testing.  However, it has been stated that there will be only minor aesthetic changes to last year's champion.


Powertrain
The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 and 2008 Toyota Tundra offer the most powerful standard engine lineups  in the standard full-size truck class lineups, along with both offering a six cylinder option.   The 2009 Ram has a revamped engine lineup, beginning with a 3.7L V6 making 210 horsepower, followed by a 310 horsepower 4.7L V8, and the premium engine is the 390 horsepower Hemi.    The 2008 Toyota Tundra begins with a 235 horsepower 4.0L V6, followed by a 276 horsepower 4.7L V8, and their premium engine is the 5.7L i-Force V8 making 381 horsepower.  

This year brought about a complete redesign for the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, and Dodge has staked their claim as the top half ton truck in the market.  One key competitor in that market is the 2009 Chevy Silverado 1500.  There is little change from the 2008 model, but where Dodge has taken an approach of being the most powerful trucks on the road, General Motors has keyed the Silverado in on being the most efficient truck in the class.

Powertrain
The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 and 2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 offer the most powerful engine lineups in the full-size truck class, along with offering a base model V6.  The 2009 Ram has an improved engine lineup, beginning with a 3.7L V6 making 210 horsepower, followed by a 310 horsepower 4.7L V8, and the premium engine is the 390 horsepower Hemi.    The 2009 Silverado returns the VORTEC engine lineup from the 2008 model year, starting with a 4.3L V6 making 195, followed by a pair of V8s; one measuring 4.8L and making 295 horsepower, the other being a 5.3L offering 315 horsepower.  Chevy also offers two premium engine choices, although they do not come standard in any of the trimlines.  The first is a 6.0L making 367 horsepower, and the top option is the 403 horsepower 6.2L V8.