Chrysler hates phone cams: 2009 Dodge Challenger revealed
by Alex Nunez on Oct 15th 2007 at 10:42AM 
Click image to see all three phonecam shots
Chrysler revealed the production Dodge Challenger to dealers in Vegas last week, and while we're certain it banned all manner of cameras from the event, saying something's banned and enforcing said ban are two entirely different things. Let's just say that they failed on the enforcement part, because OntarioStreetCar.com has phonecam pics of the car, and it is very true to the concept, overall. The main changes are the presence of a b-pillar under the side glass, a small lip spoiler on the trunk of the SRT8, and a slightly extended rear bumper to meet crash test requirements.
OntarioStreetCar reports that the Challenger arrives in March as a 2008 model. That first run of 5500 cars will all be 6.1L SRT8s equipped with automatic transmissions priced at $38,000. Starting in July, the MY09 Challenger will begin production, and the range will expand to include the 3.5L V6, the regular 5.7L HEMI, and of course, the SRT8 with the 6.1 HEMI. And finally, the best news of all: on the '09 Challenger, both HEMI flavors will be available with the T56 6-speed manual transmission. We'll see the car in person at the Chicago Auto Show. Welcome to the 21st century ponycar wars. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Thanks to all who sent tips!
[Source: OntarioStreetCar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Niels 10:44AM (10/15/2007)
GORGEOUS!
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Dr. K 2:16PM (10/15/2007)
Just spoke to my local Dodge dealer - I have a Charger SRT on order for January delievery -- I asked if I could move the order to the Challenger. He said the first 5,500 Challengers will all be Hemi Orange and only 1 per dealer - which means price gouging until the fall. I'll stick with my black Charger...
John P. 10:49AM (10/15/2007)
Hey, that thing is looking really nice! better than the concept car even.
I love it!
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MacGuffin 10:49AM (10/15/2007)
Looks like Chrysler did a nice job executing this and remaining true to the concept car.
I still think the Camaro will be the real winner, bit I suppose some of this comes down to whether you are a Chevy fan, Dodge fan or Ford fan.
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Steve B. 1:00PM (10/15/2007)
Dodge, GM, or Ford fans? Do these really exist as seperate fans any more? I'm sure in some of the flyover states, they're still hacking out whether Jimmy's Ford or Jeff's Mopar will pick up more confed cuties, but most fans these days seem to be broken into Domestic, Japanese, and European camps, with at most a slight preference for a particular brand.
Of course, there are those niche brands like Subaru, Mazda and VW that command extreme loyalty and even English-footballer levels of fandom at times, but for the most part, folks seem less attached to makes than in the past.
That's how it looks from California anyway. And we all know that California is a 20 year preview of the rest of the country.
Justin 5:28PM (10/15/2007)
Sorry, Steve but that's not true with me. But nice try trying to make those who disagree with you look like uneducated rednecks, just because you live in california. Although I do like almost all muscle cars, I definitely prefer the styling and drivetrains of the camaro the best, being a fan of the General due to the chevy v8's of the past and the ls v8's of the present.
Bryan 12:40AM (10/16/2007)
Personally I'm a fan of all cars, I could care less who makes them. Why limit yourself to a specific company when there are so many great options out there?? Brand loyalty is lame.
Jon 9:59AM (10/17/2007)
Steve, I was going to give you a positive vote, but I'm glad I held off until I read the rest of your comment.
So, could you tell me what the 2028 Mailibu looks like?
Allan 10:50AM (10/15/2007)
I'm not a Dodge fan, but this is pretty impressive overall. Very retro styling and will have plenty of power. Of course, it would suck to have to wait another year just to get a 6spd. But it's not like I'm going to be buying one and I have a suspicion they won't really have any trouble selling the automatic ones.
Nice work Chrysler. Really.
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Jon 11:30AM (10/15/2007)
I'm with you on this! I'm not a big Dodge fan but I'll still be searching the seat cushions for loose change.
Syco 10:54AM (10/15/2007)
I never wanted to buy a Dodge until now, Great job staying true to the concept!
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GeeGee 10:53AM (10/15/2007)
I've never liked the style of the charger until now..
LETS GO BOXXY!
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B-NOIT 10:57AM (10/15/2007)
Where's the crosshair grille?
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Menice 11:16AM (10/15/2007)
shhhhh!
don't go reminding them.
they'll ruin the only good thing they have.
hate dodge- like this. why are all first new SRT8s auto? for better sales?
1337 11:15PM (10/15/2007)
Do you want Ford's three bar grill instead? It makes the Taurus look pretty badass...not.
Mike I 12:39AM (10/17/2007)
In the trash; where it should be. That crosshair grill is so terribly ugly. Getting rid of it is another step toward a more successful Chrysler. Consumers think the "crosshair" grill is a symbol for cheap, as denoted by their dollar votes for Chrysler's vehicles. Getting rid of it is another step toward a much more successful domestic automobile industry.
And for all of you who are saying "but that's Dodge's trademark!" and stuff... Well, it doesn't really matter. Whatever Dodge and the other domestics are doing now is WRONG. That's why they're doing awful economically.
Devin 10:57AM (10/15/2007)
While I am still leaning towards the Camaro (depending on how the production car turns out), this car is BAD ASS. The mustang looks like a teddy bear compared to this beast and the new Camaro. I really hope Ford redesigns the mustang to look almost identical to the Guigario Mustang (minus the goofy taillights). Now if Pontiac would just show a GTO/Trans Am, my year would be complete.
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Tagg 11:02AM (10/15/2007)
At 5,500 cars built I don't see this car making a big impact this year. Sure it will get alot of press coverage but how many will we actually see? For me a car can get all the press coverage in the world but if I'm not seeing them on the road then all the accolades mean nothing. I think they should wait a year to release the Challenger until they can have a good inventory built up because many will want one but how many will be patient to wait for one while Chevy unveils a full lineup of the Camaro and Ford freshening the Mustang and able to put an attractive discount on a car already paid for.
As we have learned in the past, muscle car (all cars really) wars are not fought on blogging sites, drag strips or race tracks but in sales.
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Matt 11:56AM (10/15/2007)
The LAST thing Chrysler needs is an inventory build-up. Lord knows they have enough of that problem as it is.
georgejetson 2:08PM (10/15/2007)
That's 5500 cars built between April and July of 2008, at which point they change over to 2009s and the full line becomes available -- and they'll build to meet market demand, whatever that ends up being. I suspect the goal with the 08s is to build just enough to get one or two to every dealer while they get ramped up to full production.