None of the 3 dyno teks I've talked to see stock new 05 GT's at 320-325hp - the numbers are running real close to the 300 (range of 301 - 306 is common) at the flywheel. This also agrees with the various magazine articles and my own "seat of the pants" test drives. The new Charger hemis (there are 2) are the 5.7 R/T model at 350hp/390#ft (or 11.5hp/pound of weight) and the S R/T at 425hp/420#ft (or 10.3hp/pound of weight). Independent testers are running 13.0 flat or better with the S R/T and mid 13's with the R/T. Bone stock. Stock 05 GT's cannot run these numbers - you fight the "fly by wire" throttle control the whole way. SCT and others have tuners that can help this problem, but then you're no longer stock, right? The hp:weight numbers for both hemis are better than the 05 GT by a good amount. The 5 speed aod's these hemis will come with are (just like the 05 aod) easily tuned by the aftermarket, removing the mileage bias, and with the amount of torque they've got it will result in rather dramatic improvements in their et's (I suspect a reprogrammed S R/T will run low 12's without much trouble, and break into the high 11's with a few simple equipment upgrades and good tires.

The new Shelbie (by latest accounts) will max out at 7000 units over 2 years (starting in late 2006), and be virtually impossible to buy at the list price of $40000 (numbers like $70000 are being bandied about by the management at Ford dealers, where the plan seems to be to buy all the allocations "privately" by the dealer owner/general manager/sales managers/golfing buddies, then sell them "used" to the fortunate few who can afford to pay double the MSRP). I called a Dodge "internet sales" manager and he told me he would sell me an R/T at the list price of $34900, and the S R/T at msrp when he has a firm number (probably about $40000).

I would definitely prefer a Cobra, but time will tell if these actually arrive and at what price.

In the mean time, I'd be cautious in assuming 13's will win over the new Hemi Chargers. All indications are that the kitchen just got hotter.

tripleblack