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.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
7of7 @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
I severely dislike Dodge and Mopar, but at least this design looks cool.
Russ @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
Damn that's nice looking. All it needs is an 8 ball shifter and a foot print gas pedal. ;)
rc51 @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
WOW, finally a domestic that I would like to own. Mind you a German domestic. Hopefully it will have the MB E series chasis.
otakucode @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
You don't have to copy it if you find a place to link us to...
and man I hate it when I see a nice picture like that and the car never materializes...
KT @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
It's slated for Q4 2009 as a 2010MY with a possible ragtop in 2011. It's based on the next generation Charger/300/Magnum but should have a shorter wheelbase.
Poe @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
Very nice! It would be great to have some head-to-head competition for the Mustang again. If Chevy manages to come up with a new Camaro, it'll be the late-60's musclecar wars all over again!
One thing though... why call it a Challenger when it is so obviously styled after the 'Cuda???
CJ @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
Nice.... although it would more likely have the Dodge nose on it, like this:
http://my.execpc.com/~zalen/challengermod1.jpg
someone @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
Good one CJ!
P Diddly Doo Doggg Day @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
Please don't legitamize autospies. Just do what they do - copy/paste from their website and present it as your own.
Fooman @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
Oh thexy!!!!!! so nice... Granted it will most likly be on the LX platform like the article says, but the E/CLS class platform would make a better pony type car. With all the production on the LX platform, another line wouldn't be a problem, esp if they kill off the crossfire on the older SLK platform.
Ok one other thing, this might make some product confusion with Mopar models and the HEMI engine. They are thinking about the Hemi powered viper platform which I would guess would be in the Vette class with the 6.1 Hemi and priced at 50-60k then you can get the same engine in a challenger for @<30k for the 5.7 and @35k for the 6.1, and a v6 model around 20k to compete with the Mustang. So you have this engine in cars running 30k-60k range. Granted Dodge pulled this off with the Prowler which most people never realised had the engine and transmission from the Intrepid RT/300m
So comming soon from Dodge hopefully
The Challenger.(strong maybe)
The Hemi powered car on the Viper platform.(strong maybe)
A good looking dakota/durango??? (I can only hope)
Finished.Law.School @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
I like both - CJ's version and the version lifted by J Neff. Now how about a rendering of the rear end and some direct emails of these designs to the right people at Dodge??
laserwizard @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
Chop sures does look nice (the original one, not the neo-dodge version - no offense, but that new Dodge grill destroys the whole Challenger look - that is like sticking a three bar chrome grill on a mustang).
I'm afraid what we get will be something more boxy and blocky than the chop which is enough to send me looking at Mustangs. We could have gotten a good looking Charger, but we got a box with a slanted roof, some hips, and a truck front end. That is as much Charger as Roseanne Arnold is a Playboy Centerfold.
V?or Rubiera @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
Very good idea but the name should be Dodge Charger. forget others names
Marcus @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
Even though this is just an artist's rendering, it's nice to see a muscle car today with a little more of the scooped and squatted arrogance of its predecessors. This Challenger-cum-Cuda at least looks like the son of one of the most powerful muscle cars ever. Now, don't make it too heavy, give it a pistol-grip shifter and a Hemi, and see if that doesn't sell. Heck, while I'm at it, wouldn't it be hot if they renamed the police-spec Charger the Polara? For history's sake?
Marcus @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
Even though this is just an artist's rendering, it's nice to see a muscle car today with a little more of the scooped and squatted arrogance of its predecessors. This Challenger-cum-Cuda at least looks like the son of one of the most powerful muscle cars ever. Now, don't make it too heavy, give it a pistol-grip shifter and a Hemi, and see if that doesn't sell. Heck, while I'm at it, wouldn't it be hot if they renamed the police-spec Charger the Polara? For history's sake?
Frank Rizzo @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
Retro Mustang? Dodge says "Hey we are cool too, see we made one just like it!"
Toneroo @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
2010 is going to be too late. As I've said before, I'm not a big fan of the copied retro look and I think (hope) in 5 years the fad will be over.
JWhite @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
If approved, which does appears likely, it will almost definitely be built on a shortened next gen LX (300/Magnum/Charger). From what I can gather from various sources, one of the reasons for the 2009 timeframe is that they are waiting for the next gen LX platform to be ready, WHY? Rumors point to the next gen LX platform having a manual tranny (or possibly a DSG style) option designed in (something the current LX doesn't - and wont - have). This would obviously be a requirement for any Mustang GT fighter. The reason it will not likely be built off of the next Midsize or SLK/Crossfire platform is they want to put in the HEMI obviously. Right now the LX is the only car platform the Chrysler group has/will have with enough room to easily manage that. And yes, it will almost certainly get the trademark Dodge crosshair grill. No model seems to escape that these days - not even one with heritage names/cues.
As for the 6.1 HEMI powered Chrysler that will be built off of the Viper platform (codename Firepower!). It will be a Vette fighter, but I don't think it will compete much with the Challenger (or other pony cars) because it will be aimed at a higher end more luxury oriented customer. It will likely be more Grand Sports Tourer and not a Pony car by any stretch (think civilized Viper with luxury interior, maybe Cadillac XLR like but instead with a hardtop, a 6.1 Hemi, and a much better price).
Jaymez @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
Love the design, hate the name. There is no way a new car will ever compare to the muscle cars of the sixties. Roll the car out, but don't destroy the memory of a great muscle car. Hell, a GREAT muscle car. Remakes never have the same quality of the originals.
Tom W @ Dec 18th 2005 11:06PM
I miss cars like this. That slightly chopped look is cool. I doubt rubber that wide would make it to production, but it sure would make a great option! If all of the scoops and outlets are functional then I want one. This has date bait written all over it.