Click either image for a high-res gallery.
When Chrysler trotted out the 'Cuda concept this past November at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, our first thought, after wanting to give it our lunch money, was that it might be one of the few examples in recent memory where Chrysler's badge engineering boffins couldn't drop the ball. A Photoshop wizard from Sao Paulo, Brazil by the name of Rafael Reston figured that Chrysler wasn't working fast enough (if at all) and decided to mock up his own interpretation of a Barracuda revival. While we're not entirely sold on the styling cues he chose, which straddle the line between concept car gauche and an art student's waste basket, we still like the idea. But it's highly doubtful that Chrysler has the time or resources to pour into a low-volume seller that has the possibility of cannibalizing sales from the Challenger.[Source: Serious Wheels via Carscoop]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Esprit bird @ Jan 30th 2008 5:37PM
Nice, needs a shaker...but Chrysler wont make it. =(
Tricky dicky @ Jan 30th 2008 5:39PM
looks like a gay transformer. this coming from someone who loves mopar.
C.W. @ Jan 31st 2008 8:36AM
agreed.
he took the camaro body and changed the front end.
un-original. ugly. gay.
take your pick.
Chad @ Jan 30th 2008 5:43PM
Chrysler Barracuda?? Just let things die as a classic please.
Eljay @ Jan 30th 2008 5:52PM
I rather like it!
psarhjinian @ Jan 30th 2008 5:55PM
I like this much better than the Challenger. The tippy-toe ride height and front overhang that afflict the Challenger aren't present here.
jrejre @ Jan 30th 2008 6:00PM
It looks more like a "best parts of current muscle cars" composite than a barracuda concept. I mean it has air vents straight from a mustang. Still looks good though.
Jonny @ Jan 30th 2008 6:15PM
My thoughts exactly.. front end looks like a Mustang, C pillar is reminiscent of the Charger, and the back is....just.....blaugh
Mr. Blake @ Jan 30th 2008 6:11PM
Those headlights make it look like an eager dog, eyes wide open, waiting for its meal.
Take that as you wish.
drunkenpublicness @ Jan 30th 2008 6:11PM
This is why we leave auto design to the pros. An ALIAS wizard does not a designer make.
TriShield @ Jan 30th 2008 6:33PM
]http://www.hxcperformance.com/
These guys are working on Plymouth 'Cuda bodyparts and badges for the new Challenger.
You can see artists impressions of what their parts will look like installed.
SPG @ Jan 30th 2008 7:01PM
Thank you for sharing that.
If I was getting a Challenger I'd definatly spring for this package.
Dan @ Jan 30th 2008 6:42PM
Nooooo!!! It's been mustangified!!!
The only way I'd like a new Cuda is if it looked exactly as the old one did.
Dave @ Jan 30th 2008 7:08PM
worst. photochop. evar.
please don't ruin the 'cuda name with this abortion of a car design.
RLQ @ Jan 30th 2008 7:16PM
As funky as this may look, this Pshop looks better than the SEMA Cuda concept.
Seanhh @ Jan 30th 2008 10:01PM
This thing is an abomination. He took the Italian Mustang concept and made it worse.
almost Dr. G.. @ Jan 30th 2008 10:17PM
no no no. please no. im tired of these "new" muscle cars. i have enough with the stang, camaro, and charger. leave it at those three.
vicious @ Jan 30th 2008 10:28PM
They better not revive the Barracuda. I LOVE the old Barracudas as they are, and quite frankly, I want to shell out the extreme amount of money required to buy one.
TwinTurbo3000GT @ Jan 30th 2008 11:10PM
went from hate to love in about 10 seconds. It has much more character than the challenger. The challenger is just too close to the original, where as this seems more like it's own car, yet still reminiscent and still deserving of the barracuda namesake. I really like it, but one thing i would change is the headlights. It needs some smaller, dual projector HID style headlights rather than the single larger ones. Also, some sort of splitter on/under the front bumper.
mk @ Jan 31st 2008 1:52AM
NO.
Barracuda will probably end up being a trim level name for the Challenger, like Daytona is for Charger. That isn't great either, though.
I am kind of surprised that the SRT8 version of the Challenger wasn't presented as a Barracuda, with single round headlights per side, a D-grille, and triple bar tail lights a the rear corners. That is about all it needs.
But this chop is bad. Both in premise and execution.
The Chrysler variant should be the Firepower, or something. Something new, modern, and completely devoid of retro anything.
The same can be said about the Pontiac Firebird/TA variant of the Camaro/Zeta chassis, and a Mercury Cougar/Eliminator version of the Mustang on an IRS equipped S197 chassis. All modern design alternatives to the retro stable-mates.
Having a Dodge retro coupe, AND a Chrysler retro coupe a the same time is stupid, and far too reminiscent of the K-car and Neon re-badging the same exact cars under different brand names.
Badge engineering two distinct looking cars from the same chassis is one thing, but blatant duplication is another.