May the (U.S. Air) Force Be With You: Dodge Challenger Vapor and Ford Mustang X-1 Concepts

The U.S. Air Force has spent taxpayer money collaborated with Galpin Auto Sports, which is widely known through its involvement in MTV's Pimp My Ride show, to create customized versions of the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger pony cars. Why, do we hear you ask? Well, the Air Force needed something a bit more spectacular than your typical TV ads to draw the attention of new recruits. The result is the air-force-inspired white Ford Mustang 'X-1' and black Dodge Challenger 'VAPOR' that will travel across the country this year.

The 'X-1' Mustang features a 'jet cockpit that includes a single-driver ejection seat placed centrally, short shifter, flight stick, and a high-tech instrumentation panel. On the outside, the heavily modded 'Stang gets a wide bodykit, dark alloy wheels and a pair of Lambo-style scissor doors. Power is provided by a custom 4.6 liter V8 engine with 500HP, courtesy of Ford Racing.

The more radical looking Dodge Challenger 'Vapor' continues the air-force theme with a 'Stealth' bodykit, carbon fiber exterior trim, a custom stealth exhaust mode that gives the driver the option to run the vehicle in complete silence, one-off carbon-fiber wheels, radar-absorbing paint, proximity sensors, and a 360-degree camera with a quarter-mile range.

Like its Ford counterpart, the Vapor's interior comes with aircraft style controls plus a passenger side steering wheel, GPS tracking, night and thermal vision via a film on the front windshield, and what Galpin calls, as the "most technologically-advanced computer system with remote control UAV-type access from anywhere in the world utilizing the internet."

Source: U.S. Air Force

Dodge Challenger Vapor

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Ford Mustang X-1

VIDEO: ECO + Dodge Challenger R/T Hybrid with Separate Electric Drive

You'd think that the Dodge Challenger R/T with its 376HP 5.7-liter V8 Hemi would be one of the least obvious candidates for an electric drivetrain. We mean, it's a damn muscle car - if you want economy, go fiddle around with a Prius or a 20 year old Honda Civic. Nonetheless, there is some logic behind this project that is featured on a type of advertising microsite for Popular Mechanics. See, the ECO + Challenger R/T uses a separate electric drivetrain for everyday driving and a modified V8 Hemi that's equipped with a nitrous system when the driver calls for performance.

"With inexpensive aerodynamic aids, a state-of-the-art electric drive system and some other helpful bits, we'll turn our potent Challenger into a parallel hybrid plug-in/solar/electric that burns no fuel at all in everyday driving," say the creators of the ECO + Challenger R/T. "We think this is a spectacular way to please both environmentalists and enthusiasts. Eco+Muscle. What's not to like?"

Before the addition of the electric drivetrain, the modified Challenger R/T ran the 0 to 60mph (96km/h) sprint in 3.95 seconds and the quarter-mile in 12.4 seconds at 114 mph. That's compared to the stock Challenger R/T's 5.5 seconds and 13.9 seconds at 103 mph respectively. Other upgrades include a sport suspension, Brembo brakes and 20-inch alloys wrapped in Michelin rubber.

The electric drivetrain consists of an 125HP and 176 lb-ft of torque electric motor, 28 batteries that replace the rear seat bench, a fuel cell system and a separate, aircraft-like hand throttle to control the electric motor. The Hemi V8 is controlled by the stock foot pedal.

The creators haven't disclosed acceleration numbers for the electric drivetrain, but they say it can provide a top speed of up to 100mph (160km/h) and a range of around 40miles (60km). In theory, the driver could use both drivetrains to accelerate but that of course would mean he'd have to handle both throttles.

The dual-powered Eco + Challenger R/T will be on display at the NASCAR Pocono 500 race in June, at the San Bernardino Route 66 Rendezvous in September and at the Las Vegas SEMA Show in November. According to the site, it will be auctioned off in Scottsdale next January.

Source: ECO , Via: Insideline

Dodge Challenger R/T Widebody Convertible by West Coast Customs

When it comes to modifying cars and TV Shows, the sky's the limit for what can be done as money isn't usually much of an issue. This one-of-a-kind wide body '09 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible is the work of the pimp-slapping guys over at West Coast Customs (WCC) and it was built for Joshua 'Chop' Tobin aka, "King of Cars", owner of Las Vegas based car dealership, Towbin Dodge. The Challenger's transformation was featured in the latest episode of WCC's "Street Customs" TV show that aired on TLC on March 26, 2009.

However, the owner of the one-off Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible wasn't that keen to keep the car in his possession as he put it up for sale on eBay the same day that the show aired on TV... The auction lasted three days with the highest bid being $50,200 and as you may have guessed, the reserve price, which is the minimum price a seller is willing to accept for the item, was not met.

Jumbo-sized rear fenders and working power convertible top aside, WCC left their mark on the Challenger R/T with black striping, one-off 24-inch front and 26-inch rear (...) flat black and white Asanti alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli rubber, a new exhaust system, a rear spoiler and blacked out tail lamps.

Furthermore, the R/T's interior that retains the five-seat layout of the coupe was upgraded with a two-tone leather trim and a high-end Polk Audio system.

While there's no doubt that the rag-top conversion of the Challenger is eye-catching, we can't say that we find it aesthetically pleasing, but that's just our personal opinion so feel free to disagree.