Reader Spy: 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Interior
by Alex Nunez on Jan 27th 2008 at 12:58PM 
Click image for a gallery of Challenger spy photos
As we get closer to the official unveiling of the Dodge Challenger, tips continue to arrive in our inbox from readers who've eyeballed the car themselves. One such reader is Darryll, who encountered a still-camouflaged Challenger R/T 6-speed as it took a breather from winter testing. The open hood left the 5.7L HEMI plainly visible, and the interior was not shrouded, allowing Darryll to snap off a couple of photos of the instrument panel from outside the driver's side window. Combine this view with the shots published last week to get a good ballpark estimate of what to expect.
As we saw before, the car uses a pistol-grip shifter for the manual gearbox and an uncomplicated three-dial HVAC control setup. As with the Challenger concept car, the instrument cluster is trimmed out in the same metallic finish as the center console area, and the gauges themselves appear to be the same white-faced ones used in the Charger. The steering wheel is also the same unit found in the Charger. The instrument binnacle, based on the photo here, appears to take the same trapezoidal shape previewed in the Challenger concept. The wait to see the real thing will be over soon, but the spy photos indicate that Chrysler has taken a non-glitzy, straightforward interior design approach here, using existing parts-bin materials where it can instead of creating a unique-to-the-vehicle environment as Ford did with the Mustang and GM is with the Camaro. Thanks to Darryll for the new photos!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
NATHAN 1:05PM (1/27/2008)
ILL TAKE MINE WITH A 5.7 BLACK AND SIVER STIPES W/6SPEED MANUAL PLEASE! GOOD JOB CHRYSER!
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MemphisNET 1:10PM (1/27/2008)
Here comes the flames!
But I like it.
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biggins 1:11PM (1/27/2008)
wow, way for chrysler to be original with the interior.... copy a cheap bunch of piss from their other cars. lame. totally ruins the nostalgic exterior styling
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sw 1:57PM (1/27/2008)
Yeah, the first thing I thought was that they've just lifted the horrible interior from the charger.
Cornholio 2:35PM (1/27/2008)
Wow, that's.... awful.
It looks cheap, just like the last Dodge Charger I rented from Budget. I'll reserve final judgement 'til I see the real deal, but this doesn't impress.
MGBYG 7:52AM (1/28/2008)
It's got the Magnum's steering wheel...where the hell do you see anything 'Charger' in the IP?
Montana 1:15PM (1/27/2008)
I don't mind it at all - it's simple, like the classic was.
At least it's not anything like the Camaro concept...oh god...
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Injected 2:59PM (1/27/2008)
I'm sure Autoblog will be posting the new production Camaro interior pics that were just put out. I just sent them a link. It's far above and beyond the Chrysler interiors. I have a Charger rental car right now and they are WAY behind the rest of the playing field and still want well over $30K for this car. Now if they charged what it's worth, the Challenger would be a far better deal.
MemphisNET 3:20PM (1/27/2008)
Cars with more capability (Corvette) are expensive and get away with sh!tty interiors. This can't? Another idiot posting on price alone (TOP-END SRT8 is 37k, not the bottom 3.5 V6 or every-man 5.7 Hemi)
For a 22k car (The base Charger) is a great deal. The second it can pull of 0-60 in 5seconds and handle as well as some sports cars... its crap. I tie this in because they're basically the same car.
Injected 4:43PM (1/27/2008)
Sorry to hurt your feelings there, Memphis, but I am no idiot and your hostility is not appreciated. We are all auto-fans here. I am very aware that the interior may not be the selling point of this car, but it is part of what you are paying for, no matter what trim you choose.
Just because other manufacturers get away with it is not justification for having a crappy interior. You use the example of the base Charger costing $22K and are okay with a sub-par interior. Why? Many sub $20K compacts have far superior interiors (Mazda3, Civic), giving people more quality and style for their money. Why doesn't Dodge do this at any level for their cars and their customers? Chrysler's interior department is likely run by accountants and there is no defending them. I have a Charger rental car right now and it is worse than even the V6 Mustang's interior.
If you want to say that you'd buy this car if it had no interior, then fine, those are your priorities. But to say that I'm an idiot for wanting what I pay for is ludicrous and uncalled for. As much as you post on this site, you should exercise some civility toward other members.
MemphisNET 10:19PM (1/27/2008)
I'm sorry if my idiot comment struck a chord, Injected. But I'll say this - at least you had some counter-points beyond ''it sucks'' and ''Dodge is teh fail!''
My point is this: A bad interior does not equate a sales failure. They have no problem moving other SRT8 cars off the lot which are all in the same price range (40k) and just because it doesn't meet your high euro-asian standards of what 'quality' is, then you're not going to like anything they do. The interior looks fine. There are parts-bin pieces like the steering wheel, and the radio/hvac - but the dash and everything in between is all different... I'm not sure why nobody else can see that its not an LX dash in there - I could be wrong however, but I don't see a Challenger when I drive my dads Charger. And although I believe the finish will be similar to the Dodge Journey in terms of material and finish, it could look like my a Neon and I'd still buy it.
Compass/Patriot, Caliber, pretty much any previous GM product, PT Cruiser, Ford Mustangs of yore.... none are failing sales wise. Perhaps enthusiast wise they are. Critics and Automags a like use interiors as a huge non-selling feature. Some of us like basic, some of us like bland - some of us work on an oilsands patch and don't want a nice interior because it's going to get wrecked (previous Dodge RAM, however I am very fond of the new one). Hell, Toyota Camry interiors are pretty sh!tty and they do alright because of all the other good merits, the one's that shoppers are looking for (reliability, fuel economy).
Same thing for minivan buyers. Why is Caravan/T&C #1 EVERY YEAR even though they are ''horrible'' vehicles. They're comfortable, they're well priced, they have the features and NEEDS that people want. And when there is an issue, it's not going to cost an arm and a leg to fix. I laugh when reviewers start with ''the rear door was damaged on arrival.'' - chances are the last 20 moron editors were F'n around with so much that it broke. Didn't take much for my sister to lose her power seats in her nice new Honda truck.
Sebring - Still the #1 selling convertible in America. And again the Road & Tracks make you think its just rental agencies buying them. Could it be that some people are looking for a floaty, comfortable, stylish(outside) ride?
Muscle car. You're paying for an eye-catcher from the outside, a drivetrain package, and a perm smile when you get on the road. And what you see as a bad value, I see as a deal, especially with skyrocketting classic car prices.
You're entitled to your opinion, of course - I respect that.
TriShield 1:14PM (1/27/2008)
I like it too, in fact it's probably the best looking of the LX HEMI cars Chrysler makes.
The interior styling is faithful to the concept and the original Challenger. I like that it doesn't get carried away with the frills and gimiks which is not what muscle cars are all about.
People purchase cars like this for the outrageous styling, power, noise, fury and that genuine muscle car thrill. It certainly isn't for those looking for the finest soft touch plastic, latest technology or wanting to be coddled in serenity.
You've gotta love that glock-handled Pistol Grip manual shifter.
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PJ 3:19AM (1/28/2008)
As far as interior design goes, this is a faithful recreation of the original Big 3 muscle car rivalry.
The Chrysler interior is the cheapest, with the most bits obviously carried over from its sedan progenitors. But it's still cool.
That said, the four-spoke Charger wheel's got to go. It's the size of an Aveo's spare tire.
accord745 1:15PM (1/27/2008)
i'm curious about that big red button beside the cupholder and behind the shifter.
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Kevin 1:21PM (1/27/2008)
That's for the ejector seat :P
M 1:19PM (1/27/2008)
The interior is stomachable I guesssssssss......
I was hoping for some non-white faced guages and an interior that looked just a little different from a Charger's. And that square Hershey bar looking radio. A little below expectations, but I still like the rest of the car so much, I can put up with a couple of things. I still would want to buy one.
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M 1:21PM (1/27/2008)
Edit: I meant to say I am not a fan of the way the radio looks.
J.Crew 1:21PM (1/27/2008)
They clearly spent all the money on the exterior design. I am sure the interior is going to be functional, but the choice of materials used inside does matter regardless of what some are saying on here. Chrysler has had the worst interiors in the business across their entire lineup and this looks up to the same standards. I say "looks" as without sitting in it there is no way to tell until that time. The exterior is sharp though and I give them huge credit for staying as true to the concept as possible. It will sell based and the powertrain alone...which is the old Detroit formula for muscle cars.
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J.Crew 1:23PM (1/27/2008)
Oops, last sentence is supposed to be...
"It will sell based on that and the powertrain alone...which is the old Detroit formula for muscle cars."
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mr.ed 4:37PM (1/27/2008)
I find it hard to believe that Chrysler let a cheap-ass interior like the rest of the line into a vehicle yet to be introduced. They need every scrap of goodness in this design to tell the fans that they're on the ball, and that they get it. If this is the best they can do, get the fork. They're done.
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