The Viper’s monstrous 8.4-liter OHV 20-valve V10 with six-speed manual transmission puts the 2009 Dodge Viper over the top as far as pure, street-legal speed and power are concerned. The 2009 Viper generates 600 hp at 6,100 rpm and 560 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. This translates into 0-60 in less than 4 seconds and a top end of over 200 mph. The 18-by-10-inch front and 19-by-13-inch rear wheels provide plenty of stability and traction for all this power.

Both Viper trims, SRT-10 Convertible (Roadster) and SRT-10 Coupe feature the 8.4-liter V10 with a Tremec 6060 six-speed manual tranny. In addition, both are equipped with a four-wheel independent suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars, and a rear limited-slip differential. A 310-watt, single-disc CD player with seven speakers and a subwoofer, power windows, doors and mirrors, air-conditioning, and tilt-wheel steering also come standard with both ’09 Viper trims. The SRT-10 Convertible – or roadster, as the more refined might term it – will not allow the deviance of even a single horse toward an electrically operated top. The SRT-10 Convertible’s top is raised and lowered manually and has a solid glass rear window. Options for both trims include track extensions in front and a rear wing, dual painted stripes (a crowd favorite), GPS, Sirius satellite radio, a premium two-tone interior, and razor-polished aluminum wheels.

Playing up the off-road capabilities of the 2009 Ram with the TRX package, the Mopar Underground Design Team is readying an upgraded version of Dodge’s full-size pickup truck for the SEMA Show. The Ram TRXtreme gains an extra 4.5-inches of ground clearance allowing the use of 20-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in chunky BFG 37X12.50’s.

Since this is the first SEMA Show after the introduction of the new Challenger in Chicago this past February, we’re expecting to see Dodge’s muscle car -and we’re not kidding- in the dozens. We’ll be informing you about as many custom Challengers as possible prior to the show’s grand opening next Tuesday. One of the latest modded Challengers that we found comes from Classic Design Concepts (CDC). The Michigan-based tuner has readied a widebody version of the muscle car that gets composite front fenders and “billboard” rear flares with a larger that life HEMI logo.

We told you that this year’s SEMA motorshow will be packed with Challengers -and apparently with Camaros also, but that’s another story. Joining the two SEMA show 2009 Dodge Challenger Convertibles from Coach Builders Limited and Newport Convertible Engineering is a third topless version, from Group Five Limited. But unlike the two other proposals, Group Five’s Challenger concept is a roadster or better yet, a speedster. And as such, it features a chopped windscreen and seats only for two with the rear passenger area being hidden by a tonneau cover.