Dodge Hit the Streets with the HEMI® Highway Tour

Take 8,000 miles of roadway, two iconic Dodge vehicles; add in die-hard Dodge fans and you’ve 
got the exhilarating Dodge HEMI® Highway Tour. The multi-state journey gave auto-enthusiasts an opportunity to get up close and personal with the new 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8® 392 and Dodge Charger R/T long before they debuted in dealer showrooms.

Over 100 avid Dodge fans braved the Michigan chill on November 14 at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills, Mich., to check out fellow-enthusiast vehicles, talk shop and most importantly, to see the much-anticipated all-new Charger R/T and Challenger SRT8 392.

Members of Dodge’s Charger and Challenger Engineering, Marketing and Design teams gave attendees an inside glimpse into what special considerations were taken in creating the two newest incarnations of the iconic Charger and Challenger nameplates.

The brand new Challenger is power packed with a 6.4L 392 cid V-8, churning out 470-horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. The all-new Charger boasts modern features such as fastback four-door coupe proportions and HEMI performance.

Both cars, driving together, visited more than 25 Mopar® clubs, tuner shops, Dodge dealers and automotive events across the country. Long time Dodge representatives, Heather Heughens and Scott Vandekerckhove, drove the HEMI powered duo.

“With so much new hardware coming in 2011, we thought the best way to get our fans pumped up was to bring two new cars directly to them,” said Heather. “We wanted to see their cars and hear their stories. We were blogging and posting pictures all along the near 8,000 mile route,” added Scott.

Heather and Scott stopped at many interesting spots on the way around the country, including Ray Barton Racing Engines in Robesonia, Pa.; the Wellborn Muscle Car Museum, Alexander City, Ala.; the Daytona Turkey Run in Daytona Beach, Fla.; the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, Ocala, Fla.; the Sunset Grill and Bar, Albuquerque, N.M., and Cars and Coffee in Irvine, Calif.

Heather summed it all up by saying, “There is so much to say to the Mopar enthusiast community about this tour, after all that is where the idea for the HEMI Highway Tour came from almost one year ago, Mopar clubs, forums, etc. Dodge knows they are out there and appreciates their support!”

Check it all out, including a map of the entire journey at www.redletterdodge.com/hemihighway . Go there to see all Heather and Scott’s stories from the road!