News flash: Chrysler to put Dodge Challenger into production
It's official: The Dodge Challenger, first seen as a concept car at the 2006 Detroit auto show, will be going into production. Chrysler made the announcement just before today's NASCAR race at the Daytona International Speedway.
Chrysler's reborn pony car will go on sale some time in 2008 as a 2008 model. Why not a 2009? My guess: Chevrolet is supposedly putting the Camaro back into production in 2008 but will call it an '09 -- perhaps Chrysler wants to steal their thunder. (If anyone has any insight on this, please click the comment link.)
The production Challenger will be based on a shortened version of the Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger platform. No word on how similar the production vehicle will be to the Challenger Concept that BJ recently got to check out, but I bet it'll be pretty darn close. Needless to say, one of the About.com Cars test drivers will get their mitts on one as soon as Chrysler will let us. (Probably Colin... he gets all the lucky breaks.)
In other news -- the Pike's Peak race is still going on; rain, snow and hail at the top halted the race for a while in the afternoon, so I snuck out to take a stint behind the wheel of a production Touareg TDI. The race itself is amazing. I thought viewing the cars from just one vantage point would be boring, but I couldn't have been more wrong. There's nothing like standing right at the edge of the road as vehicle after vehicle comes bombing around the corners at full tilt. You are literally just a few feet away from the speeding cars with no guardrail, no fence -- nothing but your own common sense (and the driver's skill) to keep you safe. I'm sure I'm not the only spectator who came away with a few extra grey hairs, but it was worth it -- what a rush! -- Aaron Gold
I own a ‘71 Barracuda Gran Coupe. Could a hot, new Hemi-Cuda be lurking somewhere? These are not the E-bodies we all love, but this baby is a beauty.
First time I seen this, my jaw dropped, and if the production model looks anything like this, then they’ll have a winner. Thank God Chrysler have made this move. Ford have done well out of the retro Mustang and there is no reason Chrysler cannot do the same.
Lookout family, Finally a new car I actual want, and a one I will forgo some of life’s little pleasures for. Now, I wonder how much the local pawn shop will give me for my wife’s jewellery?
The mustang was a great revisitation to the muscle car era. The challenger appears to be the real return. An affordable, fast, and reasonable milage car thats just a balls out blast to drive? Sign me up!
I loved the Challenger ever since I saw it at the Chicago International Auto Show. I would like to predict, however, that the the Challenger probably WON’T be terribly affordable, and won’t get reasonable millage…. DCX is quiet with specs and production numbers, but I’ve heard 30,000 or so a year. If that holds true, I bet they won’t create several versions with several engine choices. (Read: No V6 version for rental fleets… No ‘low cost version.’) Either way, I want one!
If it turns out like this, great. They better not screw it up like they did the Charger.
I can’t wait until the production challenger goes on sale. When I first saw this car, I was shocked. I will definitely buy one and it will be in plum crazy!!