New Challenger Production Announcement Tommorrow?!?!...

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Normally I would just link to the Allpar thread that "fast98dodge" posted this article in, apparently from the Wall Street Journal website, but Allpar requires a login to read posts now... soooooo...

From Allpar thread, and apparently from the WSJ...

DODGE CHALLENGER GETS GREEN LIGHT FOR PRODUCTION

Tomorrow, Chrysler is expected to announce at a Nascar race in Daytona Beach, Fla., that it will produce a new V8-powered Dodge Challenger coupe styled after the 1970s muscle car of the same name, people familiar with the company's plans said. Although the car won't arrive in dealerships until next year, it will be featured in summer promotions that Chrysler hopes will pull customers into showrooms, these people said.

The announcement of the Challenger launch, which has been eagerly awaited by fans of the original muscle car, was moved forward by several months in hopes that it would create some buzz for Chrysler, these people said. Chrysler has struggled to separate itself from the negative news overshadowing its two ailing Detroit rivals, General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co.

The launch highlights some development and manufacturing advantages that have emerged for Chrysler recently. As part of its restructuring a few years ago, the car maker overhauled the way it designs and manufactures cars to cut time and cost.

The Challenger will be the fourth vehicle produced from the same components used to make Chrylser's hot-selling 300 sedan. While the first vehicle cost $1 billion or more to develop, the others each cost about a third of that, auto experts estimate. Chrysler will reap other savings because it will build all four of the cars on one production line at a plant in Brampton, Ontario.

Reusing parts also cut the time it takes to develop the car. Chrysler first showed a Challenger concept last January. At the same time, GM presented a concept for its own muscle car, a new Camaro, but that car is still at least two years from production.
 

I have been trying to get independent confirmation... no luck so far.  Does anyone know if this is true, or if it is a hoax...   

XS

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Looks like "tommorrow" means Saturday, here is a thread with another source:

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=22569.0

XS

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Now being reported on Reuters (attributed to WSJ):

http://today.reuters.com/stocks/QuoteCompanyNewsArticle.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2006-06-30T041040Z_01_N29331074_RTRIDST_0_AUTO-DAIMLERCHRYSLER-REPORT.XML&rpc=66

XS

[bull]

I like this sentence: "... styled and named after the automaker's 1970s muscle car." They forgot the "styled" part of that equation on their previous attempt.

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Detroit News Article:

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060630/AUTO01/606300415/1148

Detroit Free Press Article:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006606300319

XS

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Anyone on the forum from the Detroit area have press credentials?...

Friday News Conference/Webcast
Category: PRESS ADVISORY

If you're in the Detroit area, or even if you're not but want to be, this Friday would be a good time to come.
Please join Tom LaSorda, Chrysler Group President and Chief Executive Officer, for a media briefing at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 30 at the DaimlerChrysler Headquarters in Auburn Hills.

Mr. LaSorda will be joined by Joe Eberhardt, Chrysler Group Executive Vice President – Global Sales, Marketing and Service, other Chrysler Group sales and marketing executives and special guest, Dieter Zetsche, DaimlerChrysler Chairman.

The news briefing will take place in the DaimlerChrysler Headquarters Amphitheater. Please check in at the Headquarters Lobby. The Press Room will be open after the news briefing, for filing stories on-site, with sandwiches and beverages provided. A two-way live webcast will be available from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

XS

[TeeWJay426]

Autoweek seems to think it's being announced today as well.... link attached!

http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060630/FREE/60630001/1065

[Pistolpete]

AWESOME NEWS!!! Now lets see how many of the guys who said they would buy one actually put their money where their mouths are???



providing they dont make too many changes, I'm in!!!

[Bones68charger]

Anyone know the price tag? Not that I would be able to afford one on my teachers salary. Allright I am going to buy a used one in 2010. Ah damn it! I knew I should have listened to my dad when picking a career!

[Brock Samson]

I hope it don't weigh but 3,800 Lbs.
do the quarter windows roll down?..

[Wakko]

Anyone know the price tag? Not that I would be able to afford one on my teachers salary. Allright I am going to buy a used one in 2010. Ah damn it! I knew I should have listened to my dad when picking a career!

It was rumored to be in the low to mid 20's for a V6 on up to mid 30's for an R/T Hemi.  I'm sure supply and demand will put the R/Ts at near 40 for a while.

[MassCharger73]

I read that The King and Kasey Kahne are involved in the launch at Daytona.

[Ponch ®]

Anyone on the forum from the Detroit area have press credentials?...

Friday News Conference/Webcast
Category: PRESS ADVISORY

If you're in the Detroit area, or even if you're not but want to be, this Friday would be a good time to come.
Please join Tom LaSorda, Chrysler Group President and Chief Executive Officer, for a media briefing at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 30 at the DaimlerChrysler Headquarters in Auburn Hills.

Mr. LaSorda will be joined by Joe Eberhardt, Chrysler Group Executive Vice President – Global Sales, Marketing and Service, other Chrysler Group sales and marketing executives and special guest, Dieter Zetsche, DaimlerChrysler Chairman.

The news briefing will take place in the DaimlerChrysler Headquarters Amphitheater. Please check in at the Headquarters Lobby. The Press Room will be open after the news briefing, for filing stories on-site, with sandwiches and beverages provided. A two-way live webcast will be available from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

XS

I'd go for the sandwiches...

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Looks like Richard Petty and Kasey Kahne will be involved in the Challenger production announcement tomorrow... warm up the TIVOs!



Check this link, scroll down to text: http://jayski.com/teams/9.htm



XS

[Sinister68]

"...the car won't arrive in dealerships until next year..."

I thought the car was scheduled to be a 2009 model?  Figures...I won't be able to free up funds from my Charger until 2008.    
Maybe by 2009 they'll have worked out any bugs and the price will have dropped. 

[greenpigs]

I'll have to wait and see. The main things are:

1) Price
2) How the base model looks
3) If it looks like the concept car

[xs29j8Bullitt]

 

I watched the press conference... ITS A GO!



2008 Model

2 Door Coupe

Very close in appearance to the concept car



XS

[xs29j8Bullitt]

More pictures from the Challenger Production Announcement press conference:

XS

[Ghoste]

It's about time.

[golden73]

Hooray!!!


Now, how much is it?

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Here is a link to the DCX Challenger announcement website:

http://www.dodge.com/en/challenger/index.html

XS

[BigBlackDodge]

Now make it affordable!


BBD

[Shakey]

Now make it affordable!


BBD

Define affordable!   

[Lightning]

Now make it affordable!


BBD

Define affordable!   

Affordable: $22,000-ish....

[BigBlackDodge]

Now make it affordable!


BBD

Define affordable!   

Not Corvette territory.

We could always ask Dr Z how much it will be............................

http://www.askdrz.com/



BBD

[gtx6970]

I was told  most likely model lineups would be R/T and SRT8 models only, with possibile low line models a year later, no plans at this time for a vert

[Brock Samson]

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/MediaNav/articleId=108756/firstNav=Gallery/photoId=24106

[6670charger]

I'd get excited if I was in the market for a pony car.  I'd love another two-door car.  Problem is, I'm 42 and have two small children.   I need something that can stand in as a family car in a pinch.  By family car, I mean a back seat that can actually be used, and a trunk that will actually hold more than a small suitcase.   I also need something that's reasonably priced.  Problem is, of the three decent sized and basically affordable two-door cars out there; Chevy Monte Carlo, Pontiac GTO and Toyota Solara, the later two are being discontinued after this year.  That means my ONLY optiion for a two-door family car is a Chevy Monte Carlo. 

Amazing!  Chevy just monopolized a market segment!

[Ghoste]

Actually Dodge makes one of the best family cars out there on the market right now.  It's far, far, superior to that Monty Cardboard.  It's just not that well known because DCX completely missed the point with the marketing of the car.  I can't recall the name but if you go into the Chrysler dealer and tell them you need to see the four door version of the Magnum station wagon, they'll be able to help you out.
(seriously, it's a good car)

[xs29j8Bullitt]

I decided to try the Dr Z question route to inquire about drivetrain options...

My question...

Original Message Follows:
------------------------
New Vehicle Information - ASKDRZ Brand Site Brief Description:

Challenger Question - Will both the 5.7 Hemi with MDS and 6.1 Hemi be offered in the new Challenger R/T as well as 5 Speed Autostick or 6 Speed Manual options? BTW, Thanks DCX for making the Challenger production announcement!

DCX response...

Dear Allen:
Thanks for contacting Dr.Z. Your message has been forwarded to us for response. The all-new Dodge Challenger will make its debut as a 2008 model, in calendar-year 2008. It will have the available 5.7-liter or SRT-engineered 6.1-liter HEMI® V-8 engines coupled to either a five-speed manual transmission or five-speed automatic transmission with Auto Stick

Check it out at www.dodge.com

Thanks again for your "Z"mail.

Sincerely,

Pat
Senior Staff Representative
Dr.Z's Customer Action Team

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

I will probably opt for the 5 Speed Automatic, but I am amazed that they would go with a 5 Speed Manual instead of a 6 Speed...

XS

[THE COLONEL]

I just hope they make a few of the old colors like the Go Green, and Plum Crazy, etc.   If they eventually make the Lime Green, I will have one in my Garage next to The Colonel.

[xs29j8Bullitt]

Some new un-official information...

Check out this Challenger article:

http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2006/07...news/news15.txt

BTW, this newspaper link may change... If so go to the main page and do a search of archived articles for "dodge challenger".

XS