Challenger a go??

[chargedup]

NewAgeMuscleCars.com -

Employees from DamilerChrysler supplier, Collins & Aikman told NewAgeMuscleCars.com today that they are working on engineering certain components for the upcoming production version of the Dodge Challenger. Even though Chrysler has said that the decision to build the Challenger will not be announed until later this year, Chrysler group's top marketing boss, Joe Eberhart said that they are "comfortable now that we have found a formula where we think we can sustain" a production run of more than one year.According to sources at Collins & Aikman though, the green light has already been given for the Challenger and they are working as a supplier to bring the iconic nameplate back for the 2008.5 model year. Ironically, the Challenger's 2008.5 production target falls on the 40th anniversary of the 1968.5 Shelby GT500KR, which may itself return as a 2008.5 model

Just thought you should know!!

[bull]

It's a no-brainer and they're treating it like rocket science. Poop or get off the pot already, DCX.

[Crazy Larry]

exactly - wait a second I though DCX wasn't into the whole retro thing - something along the lines of "it wouldn't sell"?

DCX, insert foot in mouth and build the damn thing - quit trying to make it look like it is a gigantic process and HUGE decision to make.
It's the easiest(cut and dry) green light decision on a DCX production model that they've had to  make in the past decade.
Build and it WILL outsell all others (just make a small block version for us economy buyers - Challenger with a 40 mpg rating? That woudl be cool too)

[limey]

YUp seems to be a totally cut and dried success. Even over here, there will be a substantial market for that car, especially if they put a small block into it. As for DCx being against the retro thing...then WTF was the hideous Chrysler PT cruiser?...and that sold incredibly well, despite having a rear view that only a mother could love...
Limey

[41husk]

I am already positioning myself financialy to get one if it comes out as designed (not a 4 door pos)  I hope they build a convertible!

[BigBlackDodge]

I'll get excited about it when I see one at the dealership with a sticker price thats not 45k!


BBD

[PocketThunder]

i will hold out for the SRT.   because it will take me till 2010 to save up 50 g's.   

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

It's a no-brainer and there treating it like rocket science. Poop or get off the pot already, DCX.

WHAT THE? POOP? HAHAAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA

[triple_green]

I wish it was a 3500 lb car instead of 4200 lbs.

[chargedup]

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Despite Web site reports that an auto supplier is working on components for the production version of the Dodge Challenger, the automaker is still studying whether the retro car makes good business sense, Inside Line has learned.

The muscle-car Web site claimed that the Challenger was on track as a 2008.5 model. "They don't know what they are talking about," Chrysler spokesman Jason Vines told IL. "There has been no official approval, and I should know — I'm on the product strategy team that gives the green light. We are doing the business case on that [the Challenger] and the Imperial.

"What we have done is reached out to suppliers and asked them for costs. It doesn't mean the car has the green light."

However, Vines said the decision on the Challenger will be "fast" and should be handed down by the end of the year.

The four-passenger Challenger concept was one of the show stoppers in Detroit this past January. The rear-wheel-drive concept version of the muscle car is powered by a 425-horsepower 6.1-liter Hemi engine linked to a six-speed manual transmission. The concept is patterned after the initial 1970 model, the one that is most sought after by collectors.

What this means to you: Don't jump the gun on the production Challenger. The powers that be at the Chrysler Group are still mulling this one over.

[Orange_Crush]

What this means to you: Don't jump the gun on the production Challenger. The powers that be at the Chrysler Group are still mulling this one over.

Precisely...

Remember folks.  When this challenger comes out, Ford will be selling about 160,000 mustangs per year and GM is coming out swinging with a camaro wanting to sell 100,000 units a year.  If Chrysler needs to sell 50,000 cars to attain profitability with the Challenger, That means that the market would have to be ready to buy 310,000 2 door 2+2 cars annually in the 25-45,000 dollar range...That's a whole lot of cars.

This isn't a "pull the trigger" type of decision.  Many millions of dollars are at stake.

For the record...I like the Camaro better.

[Bandit72]

For the record...I like the Camaro better.

your fired

[Brock Samson]

i know alot of folks are really interested in the neo chally 'n all but have ya' seen the stats. it's HUGE! weighs as much as the other LXs, is as long as the neo charger too, as wide and as tall,.. go look at the original E-bods they are so sweet because they are trim and athletic looking compared to the B-bods...
im so tired of DCXs marketing desicions, ever since the takeover, the decontented, held-up, eliminated and consolidated model lines ,.. foisted their slow sellers (crossfire) off on chrysler,.. out-sourced and even brought back the Aspen!
Noone thought they'd actully go with the Super-8 Hemi remember,.. The way things are going their gonna bring out that Pimperial monstrosity,.. seen the movie elephant man?.. 

[Lowprofile]

I don't know about you guys, But it seems like another DCX Circle Jerk. If it gets here Great! And if it doesn't.....well, what did we really expect from them anyway? 

[41husk]

I don't know about you guys, But it seems like another DCX Circle Jerk. If it gets here Great! And if it doesn't.....well, what did we really expect from them anyway? 

[plum500]

The muscle-car Web site claimed that the Challenger was on track as a 2008.5 model. "They don't know what they are talking about," Chrysler spokesman Jason Vines told IL. "There has been no official approval, and I should know — I'm on the product strategy team that gives the green light. We are doing the business case on that [the Challenger] and the Imperial.

"What we have done is reached out to suppliers and asked them for costs. It doesn't mean the car has the green light."

Seems like they are more concerned with holding back the enthusiasm for such a beast - while I understand where they are coming from, the communication matches that of the charger sedan at times,  --- the almost wincing and resistive "we were forced to build it like a Challenger" vibe I got from the first official video where the designers spoke of it. Put that in the context of time frames, (potential) customer reactions on both the charger sedan and Challenger, all the DCX communication and things just keep getting weirder.

I absolutely don't get this company at all. While I understand that there must be business cases, reality, dollars and cents etc --  regardless of all that, and any decisions they have made, any decisions that must be made, and the way they communicate and their apparrent reasoning and/or motivation just confuses the hell out of me.

It's almost like they do not know how to run this company in the face of an obvious real existence and enthusiasm for classic Mopar that has been inherited.

Maybe I'm the one with the problem, not them.

[Crazy Larry]

It's a German mentality compared to a American mentality - Look at Ford and now Chevy - just throwing all the chips in the pot and letting it ride. That is what made the American auto industry great way back in the 60's/early 70's.

Now, that the germans are in part control of DCX, there is more "thinking it over" instead of going with your gut feeling.

What results is a shite load of a mustangs and camaros racing the highways - and a really nice Challenger concept car collecting dust.

What a bunch of schumcks - 

"the automaker is still studying whether the retro car makes good business sense"

If they can't see by now with all the hype, talk, and Mustang sales, then they are a bunch of tools
This is why DCX will find themselves behind the times in 2010

[Orange_Crush]

It's a German mentality compared to a American mentality - Look at Ford and now Chevy - just throwing all the chips in the pot and letting it ride. That is what made the American auto industry great way back in the 60's/early 70's.

Now, that the germans are in part control of DCX, there is more "thinking it over" instead of going with your gut feeling.

What results is a shite load of a mustangs and camaros racing the highways - and a really nice Challenger concept car collecting dust.

What a bunch of schumcks - 

"the automaker is still studying whether the retro car makes good business sense"

If they can't see by now with all the hype, talk, and Mustang sales, then they are a bunch of tools
This is why DCX will find themselves behind the times in 2010

I guess "behind the times" means "Turning a profit while Ford and GM bleed red ink."

If you notice, there is no Camaro currently on the market...there hasn't been for a couple of years now.

[69Chrgr]

What this means to you: Don't jump the gun on the production Challenger. The powers that be at the Chrysler Group are still mulling this one over.

Precisely...

Remember folks.  When this challenger comes out, Ford will be selling about 160,000 mustangs per year and GM is coming out swinging with a camaro wanting to sell 100,000 units a year.  If Chrysler needs to sell 50,000 cars to attain profitability with the Challenger, That means that the market would have to be ready to buy 310,000 2 door 2+2 cars annually in the 25-45,000 dollar range...That's a whole lot of cars.

This isn't a "pull the trigger" type of decision.  Many millions of dollars are at stake.

For the record...I like the Camaro better.

The Camaro looks to me like a Corvette humped a Cadillac. But hey, some guys also like fat women as well, so to each their own I guess.

[1fine69]

ENOUGH OF ALL THE DATES AND POSSIBLE THIS N DAT THERE ARE TONS OF PEOPLE WAITING FOR THE CHALLENGER TO COME OUT. JUST BRING IT AND PEOPLE WILL EAT IT UP!

[Crazy Larry]

I guess "behind the times" means "Turning a profit while Ford and GM bleed red ink."

If you notice, there is no Camaro currently on the market...there hasn't been for a couple of years now.

I could've sworn that all the big three lost money and were in the red this past fiscal year.

[bull]

It's a German mentality compared to a American mentality - Look at Ford and now Chevy - just throwing all the chips in the pot and letting it ride. That is what made the American auto industry great way back in the 60's/early 70's.

Now, that the germans are in part control of DCX, there is more "thinking it over" instead of going with your gut feeling.

What results is a shite load of a mustangs and camaros racing the highways - and a really nice Challenger concept car collecting dust.

What a bunch of schumcks - 

"the automaker is still studying whether the retro car makes good business sense"

If they can't see by now with all the hype, talk, and Mustang sales, then they are a bunch of tools
This is why DCX will find themselves behind the times in 2010

I guess "behind the times" means "Turning a profit while Ford and GM bleed red ink."

If you notice, there is no Camaro currently on the market...there hasn't been for a couple of years now.

Chrysler has managed to turn a profit for some time so I have to wonder why they even bother bringing up the model names of the past? Do you know what I mean? If they can make money without dredging up the titles Charger, Daytona, Hemi, R/T and Challenger why are they doing it? And if they are going to do it why can't they do it right? As I've said before why evoke these names when you ignore the legacy? I think they have done right by the Hemi but most of this other stuff is pretty cheesy in the minds of those who understand the muscle car legacy and have lived it for years. Either do it right or don't do it at all.

[myrt70]

If they do build this Challenger,I think the car is the real deal,and the first car Chrysler built that is worthy of the Challenger name. This is the car that I have been waiting for them to build,ever since they stuck Challenger emblems on those Mitsubeishis back in the late seventies. I am waiting for them to start taking orders. I want one now!

[greenpigs]

For the record...I like the Camaro better.

Then buy one when they come out, TURNCOAT!!

I plan on getting a 250hp six speed stripper if they make em. A HEMI would be more fun, but I drive like an old man and the power would hardly be used. If the plain ol Challenger is around 18K(less is preferred) I will be an owner.

[wetfeetmi]

I will wait for the convertible...the longer it takes them, the better!  Time will make my liquid assetts (Cuda,Charger)more valuable and will allow me to pay cash...maybe.

[bull]

For the record...I like the Camaro better.

Then buy one when they come out, TURNCOAT!!

I plan on getting a 250hp six speed stripper if they make em. A HEMI would be more fun, but I drive like an old man and the power would hardly be used.

Power ~ It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

[greenpigs]

That saying is for a rubber.

Ok, going by only a guess on the weight for a Challenger and I hope they are lighter than my guess..

3600lb\250hp = 14.4lb\hp

4000\340= 11.76lb\hp

4000\425= 9.41lb\hp

My 05 truck-4X4

5050lb\345hp= 14.63lb\hp

So the stock V6 Challenger should still have some zip.

I plan on keeping my truck and use the Challenger for driving to work.

[TheGhost]

It's a no-brainer and there treating it like rocket science. Poop or get off the pot already, DCX.

WHAT THE? POOP? HAHAAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA

I'd like to get a V-6 ragtop, myself.

[Mike DC]

I love the Challenger concept, but it would be overweight & overpriced the way it is now.
 
The recent Pontiac GTO was also a great musclecar platform for $35,000 and it absolutely tanked.  The styling was only part of the story. The extra $10K on the price was the other half of the problem.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If DCX wants this Challenger to work then they have to start at the base model with solid rear axles & V6s, and people have to be able to get into the Hemi model for less than $30K.  Period.

 

[41husk]

Hemi Challenger for under 30K , I would definatly do that