SPY SHOTS: Charger/Challenger Chimera
by Dan Roth on Apr 14th 2007 at 8:05AM 
Nose-grafting with common-platform cars is always fun. You could put an '84 LTD front clip on your Fox-body Mustang if you wanted to. While that would look, ahem, unique - this Charger has had a face transplant in the name of science. The long-lensers at KGP spotted this modified LX running around with a 2009 Challenger's front end, likely to determine airflow levels. You'd think that the 300, Magnum, and Charger would have served as a rigorous testbed for the Challenger's modified LX platform underpinnings, but the styling and underskin changes make careful study a must. Nobody will be happy when their 6.1 liter Hemi boils over in July heat. Perhaps that could be spun as a real return to the good old days when hydrocarbons roamed free and Hemis were built with loose tolerances, but we're guessing nobody wants to reminisce about those details. From what we can tell, under the camo lies a front end virtually unchanged from the show car. That's what we've been promised, so it's nice to see that it didn't end up with rectangular sealed beams, or something.Thanks to tipster Phil
[Source: edmunds]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Radix 9:06AM (4/14/2007)
OH Wow. I wonder if its the challenger test mule?
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Tim 4:41PM (4/14/2007)
Hmm, I wonder just how odd that would look in person - a charger w/ the new challenger front end. Somehow I still think it would be better than a 'fox mustang LTD'.
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Bob R. 2:31PM (4/14/2007)
I hope they change the rear of the car too.
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Dave 8:20PM (4/14/2007)
I think this may be a Charger refresh. The Chargers had similar front ends in the 60s that could inspire this. There wouldn't really be a reason for a Charger to have a Challenger front end just for testing. Most testing will probably depend on the platform itself and maybe a new engine. The Charger is also due for a refresh and Challenger mules are supposed to be out in the GTA soon.
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RuneSpyder 12:55AM (4/15/2007)
That's not an R/T. That's an SRT-8.
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Glenn 2:57AM (4/15/2007)
I am hardly a pro on this, but I also wonder if this is a restyled Charger exercise. Makes sense it is the SRT-8; maybe they are thinking to make it kind of look more like the Challanger so that people will still buy it instead of waiting for the Challanger.
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dakota 2:51PM (4/15/2007)
The car is testing airflow through the engine compartment. Remember when the 300C mule was a funky looking 300M?
Geeze some people are thickheaded.
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jack 4:16PM (5/06/2007)
I don't know why but that Challenger mule looks like an old school charger, same silhouette. A test mule that actually looks good. wow
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Jeremy 2:56PM (5/21/2007)
You stupid stupid people at Dodge. This is why you have the Pacifica Design Studio. Let them do their job. Why would you copy and paste from one vehicle when you can create an all original redesign. Sure maybe it is a test mule for the 09 Challenger. If not what will it be in the end? All I know is that back in the 90's Dodge had great concept designs, and now with this and the Nitro? Dodge really has to get it together.
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