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Chrysler to produce Dodge Challenger

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reuter

Chrysler Group (DCXGn.DE) on Saturday said it will resume production of the Dodge Challenger in 2008 after more than three decades as it takes aim at nostalgia for the U.S. muscle car era.

The Challenger would join the Dodge Charger in the brewing stable of modern U.S. muscle cars such as Ford Motor Co.'s (NYSE:F - news) redesigned iconic Mustang -- homage to 1960s and 1970s designs built on up-to-date platforms.

"It's a modern take on one of the most iconic muscle cars," Chrysler Group President and Chief Executive Tom LaSorda said.

Muscle cars, typically two-doored with massive eight-cylinder engines, bring back memories of a U.S. era of cheap gas, drive-in theaters and cruising main street.

However, the Challenger comes along when $3 per gallon gasoline has the broad market increasingly looking for less thirsty compact cars.

Chrysler did not say how many of the cars it expected to build per year or the targeted retail price. Dodge sold about 188,600 Challengers in its original run and the new car will be produced for the 2008 model year in 2008, Chrysler said.

Chrysler aimed directly at its potential target customers, announcing its decision to produce the Challenger at Daytona International Speedway in Florida, where the Pepsi 400 NASCAR race was to start later.

The DaimlerChrysler AG unit unveiled a Challenger concept car at the auto show in Detroit in January, featuring a long hood, short deck, wide stance and two-door coupe body style reminiscent of the car's run in the 1970 to 1974 model years.

"Chrysler Group production vehicles tend to bear a striking resemblance to the concept cars they follow," Chief Operating Officer Eric Ridenour said. "It's not just a re-creation, it is a reinterpretation and a tasty one at that."

The car had a 425-horsepower Hemi engine, six-speed manual transmission and a listed top speed of 174 miles per hour.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM - news) also is thought to be likely to bring back its Chevrolet Camaro after a prototype inspired by the 1969 version of the legendary muscle car received a very warm reception at the auto show in Detroit as well.

The new Camaro would be priced at about the same level as the Ford Mustang, which has suggested retail prices from about $19,100 to $26,000, and produced in similar volume.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060701/..._challenger_dc

"six-speed manual transmission"

About fucking time American companies got back to proper transmissions. This is great news and will hopefully push GM into getting the damn Camaro back to production finally.

Although I am a little tired of the whole retro car design fad, it is good to see the American motor companies making more enthusiast vehicles, especially with manual transmissions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DesertWombat

Although I am a little tired of the whole retro car design fad, it is good to see the American motor companies making more enthusiast vehicles, especially with manual transmissions.

I agree with this completely. Not a fan of the Retro thing. But love to see more fast RWD cars comming out!

Quote:

Although I am a little tired of the whole retro car design fad

If this fad results in better looking cars from American companies, I'm all for it. The Challenger is one hell of a good looking car. I want one.

AWSOME
I loved the prototype version it was one of the best at the show just shy of the Camaro. I just hope with all these old school cars been reborn that they don't go pushing it to far though and bringing out there entire back catalogues.

so many retro crap going on that I dont think designs will be getting crazier anytime soon. And I thought that I-Robot cars weren't that far into the future.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeMoN

so many retro crap going on that I dont think designs will be getting crazier anytime soon. And I thought that I-Robot cars weren't that far into the future.

Leave that to the Japanese and Europeans.

Bout time American car manufactures have gotten back into the Muscle car game..

Can't wait to see this on the road.. I hope they don't change much from the concept

Wow when i saw the concept i never thought they'd actually build it. Even if they did build it judging by their other SRT models i never thought they actually offer the manual.

Thank god I was proved wrong on both counts. This car has all the parts it needs to be great. Hopefully Daimler can pull if off and make a mustang rival.

Good news, the concept was wonderful :P I know it's retro but it works IMO ...

The problem with this car is its going to weight 4166 lbs!!!!!!!! WTF??? :cry: 425 HP is a lot less impressive when you see it in a car that heavy! I just could not bring myself to buy a car that weighed that much.

The 2006 5.7L GTO is still the muscle car I would choose, not that its light, but 3700lbs is at least better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Global Hemisphere

curious as to where you heard that.

curious also as to where anybody mentioned the 6.2 liter engine in the "basic" v8 option

unlike the Camaro/Mustang.... this car will have IRS.

how much does an SL weigh? about 4100 lbs... and nobody calls that car a slouch ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by nthfinity

how much does an SL weigh? about 4100 lbs... and nobody calls that car a slouch ;)

You know why that is.. it's because the nazis build it.. and they can do no worng.. :P .. but wait, the nazis are gonna build this car as well.. ;)

..and I've called the SL an overweight pig before - but did qualify that it is the ultimate long distance tourer.. ;)

Yeah I don’t know who HASN'T called the SL an over weight pig. I think The Ferrari 612 and the Veyron are both over weight pigs too. Any car that only has 4 seats or less (and all these cars really should be called 3.5 seaters) should weight under 4000. Really I just can not do anything but criticize any car that weighs more then 4k no matter how much HP it has.

Any word if it will come to Europe too, or no plans??

Everybody knows that all the mercedes cars are fat pigs...

Just face it, every new car that comes off the manufacturer's assembly line, will be heavy. All the new technology (that you just cannot build a car without these days) and safety measures cars have these days, you're gonna have to wish for a stripped out (CSL/Z06 type version) of every sports car if you really want to be pure.

Oh yea, and I LOVE how people rarely bring up the fact that an SL55 weighs as much as a full size American SUV..

Quote:

Originally Posted by dutchmasterflex

I have never brought it up because I have never cared enough about the SL55 to ever look up its specs. LOL I don’t know how much power it has and don’t care. I don’t like Mercs. And I don’t like that car. I’m sure I could list 30 cars or more in the same price range or less that I would rather have. And now that I do know its weighs more than 4k makes me dislike it even more.

P.S. I do not agree that every car that comes off the line will be heavy. I think that it was acceptable a few years ago to not worry about weight because more than 1 out of every 2 cars sold in the USA was an SUV. And we are seeing a lot cars that were designed and planned back in those days, when gas was cheap, finally comming out now.

With gas prices going up it has changed what people consider being an acceptable weight for cars. If people want smaller more gas friendly engines they are certainly not going to want them in cars that weigh 4,000 lbs!

Even enthusiasts are starting to wise up and want 300 HP in a car that weighs around 3,000 instead of 425 HP in a car that weighs over 4k, etc.