Autoblog

Dodge Challenger preproduction body shells caught on camera

John Neff — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 01:28:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Chrysler

click above image to view more pics of these Dodge Challenger body shells

These pics showing multiple preproduction Dodge Challenger body shells are what you might call radioactive. They were originally posted in a thread on the Newhemitech.com forums on Saturday night at 9:25PM EST. We learned about them shortly afterward when a link was posted in a thread on the GMInsideNews.com forums. We've been in contact with Chrysler about them, who obviously view the pictures as a very serious breach in security. They were clearly taken illegaly on private property, which at first gave us serious pause. Since then, however, they've begun to show up on more and more websites. We have no one to which we can attribute the photos, and considering their radioactivity, likely never will.

From our perspective, however, these pics are actually a good thing for Chrysler. We haven't heard much about the Challenger in a while, and these images are sure to spark up interest again in the automaker's forthcoming pony car. We should be straight with you and mention that the production Challenger is still a ways off and these shells do not necessarily reveal any reliable information about what the production car will be like. The only appreciable difference that we can identify between the concept and these shells, in fact, is the addition of a fixed B-pillar. Still, it's great to see hard evidence that the Challenger project is moving forward, bringing all of us closer to the day when we can roll down to the nearest Chrysler dealer and pick one up for ourselves.

[Source: Newhemitech.com via GMInsideNews]

Gallery: Dodge Challenger preproduction body shells

Gallery: Dodge Challenger Concept

Dodge Challenger preproduction body shells caught on camera originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Apr 2007 01:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA panel celebrates muscle cars, then and now

Mike Magda — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Trends

American Muscle is the theme of this year's SEMA show. Usually a single automaker is honored as manufacturer of the show and enjoys a little extra exposure during the week. With this theme, however, all three Detroit auto companies are celebrated. Muscle cars, their impact on American culture and the current resurgence of American iron dominated the discussion at the keynote luncheon on Monday. With a current Mustang and the Camaro and Challenger concept vehicles parked just off the dais, a panel of six industry experts talked about the renaissance of high-powered vehicles and the legacy of speed that was born in the '60s. Motor Trend editor Angus MacKenzie (far left in photo) was the moderator. Included on the panel were (left to right):

Pat Schievoni, Ford designer
Dan Webb, designer and car builder
Ralph Gilles, vice-president Jeep/Truck & Component Design, DaimlerChrysler
Tom Hoover, "godfather" of the Hemi
Thomas Peters, director of design, GM
Al Oppenheiser, GM designer

Favorite muscle cars of the panel included Shelby GT 500, 428 Cobra Jet Mustang, Z/28 Camaro and Hemi Cuda. They laughed at the competitive atmosphere of the '60s and the vicious horsepower wars. Then came the oil embargo, insurance crisis and concerns over pollution. "The environmental issues were inverse proportion to horsepower," said Oppenheiser, who designed the Camaro concept. "Today there is a balance between horsepower and emissions."

The '80s generated laughter as Gilles said motorsports was the "one thing that didn't go away" and MacKenzie noted that trucks were the only vehicles igniting any passion. "We listed to bad music and wore bad clothes," added Webb, trying to explain the onslaught of boring vehicles in that era.

Hoover said technology spurred the muscle car resurgence and will spawn a new generation of enthusiasts. Schievoni agreed and sees "real growth" in muscle cars for the next 15 years. Added Gilles: "Technology like stability control allows anyone to drive a 400-horsepower car."

In closing, Hoover suggested that designers "keep the door cracked just a little bit for a sleeper approach," acknowledging his preference for fast motors in unsuspecting bodies. To which MacKenzie responded: "More engine, less car; it's the '60s all over again!"

SEMA panel celebrates muscle cars, then and now originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Oct 2006 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Production Challenger will be nearly identical to concept

John Neff — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Dodge

Chrysler held a concept car ride-and-drive in the trendy downtown of Royal Oak, MI this week that gave journalists a chance to creep along on public roads in some of this past auto show season's hottest wheels. The Dodge Challenger Concept was, of course, the highlight, and Scott Burgess from The Detroit News managed to get Chrysler's VP and top designer, Tom Tremont, to confirm that the production version would be "nearly identical" to the concept. Tremont claims, "You're not going to be able to tell the difference."

We remember when similar things were said about the Crossfire Concept, though Chrysler should have an easy enough time converting its concept to reality since the show car was designed from the beginning off of the LX platform that the production version will use. Considering how big a hit the Challenger Concept has been, we're sure Chrysler designers will bend over backwards not to mess with success.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Production Challenger will be nearly identical to concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Jul 2006 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially official: Challenger a "Go"!

Alex Nunez — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 14:25:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Chrysler, Daimler, Dodge

As we reported yesterday, the Dodge Challenger was officially given a green light for production today. The announcement was made by Chrysler Group President and CEO Tom LaSorda before the Pepsi 400 NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway. After 35-years off the market, the Dodge Challenger will return in 2008 as a 2008 model.

LaSorda commented that the company hadn't seen this kind of "spontaneous, passionate response to a car," since the Dodge Viper concept debuted back in 1989. No other concrete details about the production Challenger were given, like what engine will find its way under the hood and to what type of transmission it will be mated.

Chrysler's full press release with a nice history of the original Challenger can be found after the jump...

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Officially official: Challenger a "Go"!

Officially official: Challenger a "Go"! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Jul 2006 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge insists Challenger does not yet have green light

John Neff — Tue, 16 May 2006 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Chevrolet, Daimler, Dodge, Ford, GM

In a questionable PR move, Chrysler's VP of Communications Jason Vines told Inside Line that despite internet reports of a supplier already working on components for the production version of the Dodge Challenger Concept the company has not yet given the pony project a green light. Vines, who is on the product strategy team for the Challenger, says a business case is being produced "fast" and a decision should be reached by the end of the year. We already know Chevy needs to produce 100,000 Camaros annually for its pony car to turn a profit, so it would stand to reason Dodge is considering how it's going to move that many Challengers. Currently the Mustang is capable of 160,000 sales per year, so the big question is whether or not the market can sustain the sale of 300,000-plus muscle cars per year.

[Source: Inside Line]

Dodge insists Challenger does not yet have green light originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 May 2006 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Challenger SRT-8 with 510 HP in the works?

John Neff — Wed, 03 May 2006 00:49:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, New York Auto Show, SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Supercars, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford

Mopar faithful are speculating that Chrysler's speed freaks are working on an SRT version of the upcoming Challenger. Since an official green light has not been given for the Challenger Concept that debuted earlier this year at the Detroit auto show, this may be a case of fans attempting to will their dream into reality, but a 510-hp, 6.4L Hemi V8 does sound better than sheep jumping a fence.

Word is that Chrysler's SRT division was going to debut a Challenger SRT-8 at the New York Auto Show, an event that did not come to pass. SEMA is being pegged as the next most likely debut venue.

With the announcement by Ford that the Mustang Shelby GT500 will produce an SAE-certified 500 horsepower, many readers have questioned how both Dodge and Chevy will respond when their pony cars debut. Will the Challenger SRT-8 materialize as an answer, and will Chevy step up with a 500-hp Camaro SS? And how would that affect the Viper and Vette?

Though the Mustang Shelby GT500's thunder was stolen by Dodge and Chevy at the Detroit show, it's apparent the super Stang is raising some eyebrows around the industry.

[Source: SRTMopar]

Challenger SRT-8 with 510 HP in the works? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 May 2006 00:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler polls Challenger forum for production ideas

John Neff — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Coupe

The forum Challengertalk.com is an online community dedicated to seeing the Challenger Concept make the short jump from auto show exhibit to showroom floor. The community has been lucky enough to be chosen by Chrysler to participate in some polls that allows the manufacturer to gauge which drivetrains and options might be most popular on the production version of the muscle car concept.

The first poll asks the forum's members to choose which powertrain they would purchase, and the options range from an underwhelming 250-hp V6 with a 6-speed manual to a fire breathing 425-hp, V8 HEMI with a 6-speed manual. The latter is estimated to cost about $3000 above a base V6 manual, which we think is a steal.

What's more interesting is a follow-up poll for those members who chose a powertrain with a manual tranny. It asks whether or not you would still purchase a Challenger if a 6-speed manual were not offered. About 55 percent say they would, but a not-to-be-ignored 45 percent say they wouldn't.

Only registered forum members can vote in the polls, so if you're interested in shaping the future of this important concept, become a member of Challengertalk.com and let your voice be heard.

Chrysler polls Challenger forum for production ideas originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jan 2006 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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