new Challenger

[skywarp]

Being my usual contrarian self, a new Challenger would be a sales flop, just like the original Challenger was. Didn't it only last 2 or 3 years? I doubt if they'd sell even 30,000 of them a year, which would make it very difficult to turn a profit on it.

The Challenger was introduced in 1970. The 'Cuda was around for sometime along with the Mustang in the mid sixties. Then in 70' the Barracuda was redesigned and was given a stable mate from Dodge called the Challenger. The musclecar era was at its height in 1970. After that the 'Cuda and Challenger lasted to 1974 and were cancelled along with what most people refer to as the last high performance Charger as well. The car came into late.
The most sought after musclecars today are Chrysler E-bodys, which inturn when this car comes out will virtually guarantee a sold out status.

 

[DarkFireGT]

very true, but think of the current GM cars, they have GIGANTIC engines, but just like the Srt-8 and other models, they weigh too much. i see this has a shorter wheelbase which hopefully drops a good couple hundred pounds off DC's current models. you put those cars on a diet, and you would be making some serious numbers. i like the looks of it. and i would love to see this beast weighing in at 3400lbs which i think could be done and would make it an insaine vehicle. ill reserve most of my opinions untill we see some actual numbers on the car.

This is true, but gearing has a heck of alot to do with it too. Throw in something actually competitive to what the Mustang has, and it'd be on. The 300C, Magnum R/T, and Charger R/T all run 2.82's (the RWD ones, that is). With power like they have, this is insane. The other hindrance is the torque management system that the LX platform cars currently have. With this turned off, shifting is dramatically improved (by approx .5 of a sec!!) and so is launching. Even with the auto-stick, the torque management really sours the performance of these cars. There is a mod you can do to disable this system, and I've heard from a few people the results are dramatic. Definitely my next mod. Anyways, if DC decides not to put this on the Challenger, and kicks up (or down, however you look at it) the gears, it'll be insane.

 

[Omegalock]

very true, but think of the current GM cars, they have GIGANTIC engines, but just like the Srt-8 and other models, they weigh too much. i see this has a shorter wheelbase which hopefully drops a good couple hundred pounds off DC's current models. you put those cars on a diet, and you would be making some serious numbers. i like the looks of it. and i would love to see this beast weighing in at 3400lbs which i think could be done and would make it an insaine vehicle. ill reserve most of my opinions untill we see some actual numbers on the car.

Well considering the automatic 4000 lb SRT-8 300C can run the quarter in the high 12s(one just ran a 12.5 but people suspect it had slight mods). I think that a 6 speed Challenger might be a bit lighter and might have the 6.4 and not the 6.1....this thing could be cranking out 11s like the GT500.

 

[jasonlee0704]

330hp 4.6 SOHC < 425hp 6.1 OHV

Oh, c'mon, do you think DC will price a 425 hp Challenger anywhere near a $25K Mustang GT pricepoint? The 6.1L Charger SRT8 starts at $38K...

How many Charger sales would it cannibalize if a 425 hp Challenger were priced lower than a 340 hp Charger R/T?

 

[Pliskin]

I actually like it. Might have to decide between this and a Boss when I trade in my current stang. Too far away to start thinking about it now...



But its still just a concept. Remember this? It's gonna change quite a bit I'm guessing. Kinda just a base for the actual one.

Or how about this Charger concept?

We'll have to wait and see. I'm still content with my beautiful new pony.

 

[Blakthorn]

+1, i like it

 

[ANGELMAV]

That Mustang concept isnt to far off what they produced, the Charger concept looks like an updated dodge stealth, wished they had built it instead. All I want to know is when I can bring that new challenger home, have to alternate weekends between the mustang and the challenger!

 

[GT-03]

Wow. There must be some nostalgia factoring into everyone loving this car, cause I think it's fugly.

I am on the fence over its looks.

What bothers me, is that they took "retro" to such an extreme, it looks more like a clone. I mean, a good retro draws styling clues and hints from the past, and not looks like a nearly identical copy. It looks like they took a '71 Challenger, did a normal new-model-year tweak of the front and rear, and are calling it an '10. Are they even re-using the same roof and C-pillar panels?

 

[Power4]

What bothers me, is that they took "retro" to such an extreme, it looks more like a clone. I mean, a good retro draws styling clues and hints from the past, and not looks like a nearly identical copy. It looks like they took a '71 Challenger, did a normal new-model-year tweak of the front and rear, and are calling it an '10. Are they even re-using the same roof and C-pillar panels?

Do you not like the new Ford GT too? The new GT looks for the most part identical to the old GT40 but that's in no way a bad thing I think. Some cars it's more difficult to do retro without pretty much copying what the car used to look like I think.

 

[DarkFireGT]

Just so you guys know, the production version of the Mustang was actually created first. The concept version was created after, to hype up the car, and aftermaket.

 

[mattkimsey]

Isn't the GTO due for a redesign?....It may be able to top it.

 

[alfman9]

Oh, c'mon, do you think DC will price a 425 hp Challenger anywhere near a $25K Mustang GT pricepoint? The 6.1L Charger SRT8 starts at $38K...

How many Charger sales would it cannibalize if a 425 hp Challenger were priced lower than a 340 hp Charger R/T?

The Charger will have dramatically changed by then anyhow. And yes I will gladly pay 13k for displacement and a solid 90hp starting point.

 

[srothfuss]

The Charger will have dramatically changed by then anyhow. And yes I will gladly pay 13k for displacement and a solid 90hp starting point.

Yes, the Charger / 300C / Magnum are set for a redesign in 2008 / 2009.

I too would consider paying +13K for 425HP. But that extra 13K would be for the top of the line SRT-8 version not the regular R/T version. We can expect the base challenger to start around 23 - 25K, Then the R/T around 25 - 30K and the SRT version around 35 - 40K. These prices would fall right in line with the current Mustang price points. All of the DCX cars have more HP (except for the SRT version) which makes things intersting for me since I was planning to purchase a S197 in 2008.

The Challenger will offer a manual transmission option that the Charger / 300 / Magnum cars will not. This will help to avoid any cross competition amongst dealers and will probably pull people from the Mustang and GTO.

The GTO will be updated in 2008
The Mustang will be updated in 2009
The Challenger will be introduced in 2009 (august) as a 2010 model.

The future looks really bright for the performance car market.

 

[official_style]

I'm getting one. If I have to work double shifts until 09.
I am getting one of these things. Please GM. Do not release a good looking Camaro. I would like to be able to afford to own a house one day.

any more info on this new camaro? i would REALLY like to get another, i loved my iroc-z. gimmee more gm info!!

 

[millerc73]

It'll have 4 doors and a HUGE honkin' nose before Chrysler will ever release it!

For me I'll just stick with my Brand and my car, the MUSTANG will outlast all!

 

[mattkimsey]

The Mustang will be updated in 2009

Is that just going to be a face lift?

I can't see Ford changing motors after only 4 yrs. considering the last 4.6 kept the same cubes and 2 valves for 9 yrs.

 

[mattkimsey]

The Charger will have dramatically changed by then anyhow. And yes I will gladly pay 13k for displacement and a solid 90hp starting point.

For 13k you could fully forged a 3v and add the power adder of your choice. If you're into n/a setups like me, I can see your reasoning. Ford doesn't really offer anything to compete with a 6.1 hemi, except maybe a 5.0 cammer which is ~15k.

 

[GT-03]

Do you not like the new Ford GT too? The new GT looks for the most part identical to the old GT40 but that's in no way a bad thing I think.

The GT40 was a nice car. So, I think of the new Ford GT as just more of the same; still nice. Kind of just as if Ford simply keep building them all along. Maybe because the GT40/GT styling is more of a timeless classic; never out of date.

While that works OK with the GT40/GT, it doesn't work all that well the Challenger. In the same way, it looks like Chrysler simply kept building them, which makes the 2010 Challenger really look like it was really meant to be the (very old, very tired) 1975 Challenger.

 

[GT-03]

I can't see Ford changing motors after only 4 yrs. considering the last 4.6 kept the same cubes and 2 valves for 9 yrs.

Ford changed the GT's V8 engine after just the first two years of the SN95 (in 1996).

And Ford changed the base V6 engine in the very last year of the SN95 (in 2004).

 

[mattkimsey]

Ford changed the GT's V8 engine after just the first two years of the SN95 (in 1996).

and from what was it changed in '96? I know! The 5.0, which just happened to be 9 yrs old(even older without e7 heads).

As I said, I can't see Ford changing from the 4.6 3v configuration after being in the Mustang for only 4 model model years in '09.