This past week I was the first journalist in Canada to spend significant time behind the wheel of the mighty 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392! A beast on four wheels, the 6.4-litre Hemi V8 cranks out 470 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s enough to make any car aficionado pine for the 60’s and 70’s, while at the same time, fully appreciate today’s high tech approach to power delivery.

Low rumblings at idle quickly morph into attention grabbing fury. Smoking the rear tires is as easy pounding your right foot to floor, especially with traction control switched off. But this is only half the story. This Challenger, featuring an inaugural edition paint scheme of Stone White stripes over Deep Water Blue and “392 HEMI” badging, is as much fun to drive around corners as it is on a straight line. I may be the first person in Canada to have this chance, but 392 proud owners in Canada and 1,100 in the United States, are certain to encourage their friends to get behind the wheel and drive. Let the fun begin!