Dodge Challenger returns...

[Deutsch]

Rising to the Challenger: Detroit auto show debut for Dodge muscle coupe concept
BOB GRITZINGER
Posted Date: 11/20/05

To all those purists who still can’t forgive Dodge for building a four-door Charger, here’s your answer: the 2006 Dodge Challenger concept. The Dodge boys released a sketch of the car to the world, but we obtained these exclusive spy photos of the car, which will premiere at the North American International Auto Show in January in Detroit.

Challenger draws on the 1970 model as the icon of the series, says Tom Tremont of Chrysler’s Pacifica studio in California. But instead of merely recreating that car, designers tried to build the Challenger most people see in their mind’s eye, without imperfections like the tucked under wheels and long front overhang of the old car. At the same time, the concept incorporates distinctive Challenger cues like the rear fender kick, wide mouth front end, functional hood scoops and rectangular exhaust tips.

Built on a shortened Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger chassis (116-inch wheelbase vs. 120 inches), the Challenger gets a 6.1-liter Hemi hooked to a six-speed manual transmission with a pistol grip shifter.

All that’s left to ponder is “will they build it?” With all the hardware in place and a primed marketplace, we can’t see why Dodge wouldn’t rise to this challenge.

Source: Autoweek

[SDNR]

God........what a waste of steel.

[zetableh]

Originally Posted by Roberto

God........what a waste of steel.

What are you... high!?

I'll take one in orange with black HEMI graphics, old school style.

[SDNR]

Originally Posted by zetableh

What are you... high!?

I'll take one in orange with black HEMI graphics, old school style.

LOL - I knew that comment would get a reaction.

Sorry zetableh, it's just not for me.

[notic]

what a waste of everything! the front needs a major redesign.

also, playing off of this nostalgia crap won't last. people will realize one day that companies are just playing off of their emotions and memories rather than taking a forward step in actual design.

[The Artist]

To retro for my taste.. sorry..

[Alx]

I got mixed emotions, i wouldnt buy one, but would love to see one, all decked out... retro or not, its a nice looking car, i would want to drive one as well.

[Porsche Guy]

I think it looks kind of weak. The Charger and 300C both look more powerful that this. The whole car is also kind of a mismatch in design. It just doesn't look good. It looks awkward.

[Alx]

Hows that for weak? C'mon thats agressive!

Here's the scoop from July:
The August issue of Road & Track has a tiny blurb about the possibility of Chrysler resurrecting the Challenger using the LX platform currently dedicated to the 300/Magnum/Charger trio. A concept is reportedly currently in the works for a debut at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show. The coupe would theoretically be easy to design and build and could be, if priced correctly, the first real competition for Ford’s new Mustang. R&T does point out, however, that the plant building the current crop of LX cars is at full production, so adding another model to the assembly line might be difficult.



I wasn’t too sure about the copyright laws concerning the artist’s rendering of the Challenger in R&T, so rather than reproduce it here and get sued I pulled a photoshop job by Doug Schramm off of Autospies instead. I actually like this rendering better than R&T’s, even though it’s oozing retro from every orifice.

[Yannis]

What's the point in making a car that looks like it's 30 years old?