Challenger Concept

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

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 t

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.

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 Cama

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.

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.