What would it take??

[mauve66]

to get  Charger people to accept the latest Charger as a "real" Charger like the Challenger folks have the latest version of the Challenger??
remember we have AT LEAST 3 GENERATIONS of Chargers whether you like them or not, more if you want to be honest about it.  But even if we stay with the main 3 (for NOSTAGLIA sake) what would it take to get everyone to like the car??

with my limited knowledge of other generations i'm sure i missed something that is imprtant to others but this is my thread sooooo......................

by the way this is a pic of the prototype at M.A.T.S. this year.  even if it doesn't have all the items I want it looked pretty damn good to me even without glossy paint

[Ghoste]

For me that car is trying to hard to be retro while retaining the existing overall profile.  I can't put my finger on it but it just looks "funny" to me.

[moparsons]

I like it!!!!   

[MoparManJim]

Now, that car looks like a charger! 

[Dans 68]

Hmmm, I was at MATS for two days and I didn't even give the car a second look. Took no notice. Not even a photo. What does that tell ya..... 

Dan

[1969chargerrtse]

For me that car is trying to hard to be retro while retaining the existing overall profile.  I can't put my finger on it but it just looks "funny" to me.

[plum500]

Wow. I like that.
I think the proportions on that are great... and I've photoshopped the new one to death.

I'd remove the scallops on the doors, and give it a new tail light setup, that's pretty much it -- something more modern but based on previous bar designs.

[dodgecharger-fan]

Overall, it does look "funny" but there's a lot more that I like about it than I don't..

I think if the bottom of quarter window followed the body line more closely instead of flipping up like the corner of an eye, it would go a long way to helping things out on the side view.

I can't say what I'd change on the front fascia/grille/bumper but something needs to change. It just doesn't seem to fit the overall look.

Similar comment with regards to the back: a different transition from the line of the deck lid to the line of the tail panel - maybe less of a "bubble" look for the whole back-end.. but that might just be the angle of the picture.
Oh, and a little more tail light panel and a little less bumper, maybe?

I'm sure there are reasons why those things were done the way they were - especially at the back end - lots to cover up/needing to follow things behind the body like structural pieces etc..


Of the things I'd like to see changed, I think the quarter window is really the toughest. It might be possible to change the majority of the other things with a body kit of sorts..

[Khyron]

I could get behind that Charger, But they will never do it.

[bigred68]

 I love the sides and the hood!  
I think the front end looks terrible though.
Thank you for your pics!  Anyone got anymore pics of this car?
 

[69*F5*SE]

I definitely like it better than the 4 door monster that already exists.

[plum500]

Think I'd take the bee stripe off it too -- with the shorter profile, the less interruptions the better. I'd also just go with a nice grill setup with real round headlights. No use pretending to have a hideaway grill -- and hideaways most certainly wouldn't make it into regular production. Could be design to accept after market custom setup.

[Magnumcharger]

Definately a MUCH better job than the current Charger effort!!
I'd be interested in seeing it with paint, as the reflective quality may add another perspective.
For critique:
Remove that GM style wheel opening...substitute the classic Mopar-identifier: a rounded rectangular shape.
As well, I'd expose the headlights...a la Charger 500.
My

[Mopar2Ya]

I like it. Is it an actual Chrysler prototype or something an outside company created?

[69charger2002]

they sure got the wheels dirty fast!!!   

[TeeWJay426]

While it still has it's issues, it is a definite improvement over the current one. That one I would consider owning, as opposed to the existing production version. I'm curious as well if that's an actual Chrysler prototype or some independent's version?

[Bob]

If the wheel base was a little longer I think everything would blend better. I do like the car though.

[Mike DC]

 

Remove that GM style wheel opening...substitute the classic Mopar-identifier: a rounded rectangular shape

I wish. 
But those 100% circular wheel openings that fit right around the wheels evenly are the norm for a good reason.  They're crucial for minimizing aerodynamic drag.


Typical of the standard story with modern cars - It's not that the stylists don't know how to make the car look better, it's that they're not allowed to do it. 

   

[Charger_Fan]

I think the front end & especially the grille needs improvement, and I'd probably make the door indents a little less pronounced. Otherwise, I think it looks great & I hope they slap that baby into production!

[Magnumcharger]

Here's my first go at modifying the car....although I now realize it needs the fog lights to balance the lower fascia.
I thinned the front bumper considerably as well.
The headlights are a cut and paste from a Challenger, but if you look closely at the original shot, you'll see that they're actually the same lights behind the grille.

[dodgecharger-fan]

Nice work.

I was contemplating the idea that this is actually a Challenger re-skinned to look like a Charger.

I don't know for sure, but since it's 2-door.....

[BIRD67]

DAMN! That car looks awesome! The only thing(s) I do not like are the door scallops, they just don't flow like the originals, and the taillights, if the taillights looked like they did on the 1999 Concept, I think it would be perfect!!

BTW, is that an official Chrysler concept, or is it just a custom build by someone?

[richard pettys 73]

I THINK IT LOOKS OK BUT ITS JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE MODERN WANNABEE RETROS  ......MUSTANG THUNDERBIRD GTO ...THEY DONT REALLY LOOK LIKE THE OLD ONES

[19Charger68]

I would like to see the rear window recessed with sail panels like the 68 - 70's

[bigred68]

I would like to see the rear window recessed with sail panels like the 68 - 70's

Positivley

[plum500]

That recessed window is bad for aerodynamics (isn't it?), besides, I think this design is too short to do anything but let it flow back with the rest of the car.



I think the back pillar kicks ass 

[dodgecharger-fan]

Damn! You're good.

[Blakcharger440]

Looks good, but I would change the tail lights to look like the 1970 Charger ones as they look more updated.

[TheGhost]

For alot of people, it would take an exact replica of a 69 Charger.

[Tilar]

Get rid of the bug catcher, Lower the profile of the rear quarters where they're not so round on the top, Inset the rear window just a little more at the bottom or extend the sail panels another inch or two.  And get rid of those front and rear bumpers.  They look like road barricades. All cars seem to have them nowadays and they look like crap. Nobody seems to put any style into cars anymore. It's all plastic and rubber. Oh, And put some chrome on it. 

Old fogie rant /off 

[bull]

Where's the "scrap it and start over" option?

You know what's so completely remarkable about this car, especially considering the pictures at the beginning of this thread? The sheer magnitude of energy, time and money that's been dedicated to the hope and effort that it would somehow live up to its name. I can't think of a longer-running discussion over the disappointment of a car than this one. It's been four years at least since it was reintroduced, not counting the initial design releases, and people are still spending gobs of money to make it look like a Charger and still arguing about the legacy it ignored as a representative of its predecessor. Cripes, even the Cordoba and Omni Chargers are now welcomed into the clique because of it where before they were looked down upon. At least I don't recall them being given much attention at all prior to 2006.

But to answer the question, it would take a complete redesign akin to the treatment given the Challenger for me to accept it. That or drop it completely and/or rename it. The pics of it in this thread only confirm that and I think it's a pretty good effort overall. That said, now that the Challenger is here I think many people have turned their attention to it and given up on the possibility that the new "Charger" will ever really be a Charger.

[Khyron]

I want an omni charger now

[moparstuart]

I want an omni charger now

I got just the car you need   

[Khyron]

I love it

[Ghoste]

You know what's so completely remarkable about this car, especially considering the pictures at the beginning of this thread? The sheer magnitude of energy, time and money that's been dedicated to the hope and effort that it would somehow live up to its name. I can't think of a longer-running discussion over the disappointment of a car than this one. It's been four years at least since it was reintroduced, not counting the initial design releases, and people are still spending gobs of money to make it look like a Charger and still arguing about the legacy it ignored as a representative of its predecessor.

That is perhaps the most astute observation I've seen or heard on the whole issue.  As much as I agree with you though, I can't help but wonder how large is the group expending all of this time and effort.  Obviously a lot of people here and several in the Mopar enthusiast sect, but overall are the car enthusiasts wondering what the fuss is about?  Is there a change in "getting it" as you move from say, classic Charger fan to Mopar fan to musclecar fan to sporty car fan to general automotive fan to public at large?

[BLUE68RT4ME]

Wow, it's 2009.  The Gen II Charger weighed what... 4200 lbs?  It had more sheet metal in it than 10 cars these days.  Times are different, and the cars have to be too.  I think it's great that Chrysler has been doing the retro thing, and they've definitely done the best job.  The last Mustang was great too but Chevy's way off the mark I think... certainly in getting one to market.

Anyway, I didn't know what to think of the Charger when it first came out, nor did I the 300, but now I see them and I like them a lot.  Color combo's and upgrades really changed the Charger.  I see a Daytona or SRT-8, especially the Super Bee and I am like WOW!  

This one looks to me to be a blend of sorts, the Gen II scallops in the doors, 68 tail lights, 69 side markers, 68 or 70 grill, and a 71 top (i.e.  rear seat window).  It certainly isn't an exact replica of any in particular but then how many people would be upset that remanufacturing it like the old ones would lower the value of the old ones, or whatever.  Someone would be upset.  

Being a kid when the 80's and 90's Chargers were out, I still thought they were cool.  Why, because of what the name of it said.  Buying one is always a tribute to what made the name so great, the first 3 Gen's (but especially Gen II).  But those cars (80's and 90's) meant more to the generation that came into driving then than the other generations because that was their time.  Same can be said with this one.  The generation now is going to grow up with this - and the current Charger - and that's going to represent their glory days.  All the while, these owners know that by owning one they are paying homage to the originals.

I think this is a good start.  Colors may change the look of this dramatically.  Seeing them in person always changes things too.  I like it, and if I were in the market, I would probably buy it, or the current one for that matter.

Well, that's my      Peace out!  

[69charger2002]

 All the while, these owners know that by owning one they are paying homage to the originals.

man i was with you there until i got to this statement. that was a joke right? i think less than 10% of people that own one of these new ones know they are paying "homage" to the original. most i pass in my 69's and 70's don't even look over.. they are clueless(cue in the GLOBS of soccer moms/old people driving them). hell even the majority of salesmen at the dealerships don't see the correlation(meaning recognize that the original is even a charger).. the 10% i am referring to mainly applies to mopar guys, or car guys in general, and those MAINLY consist of the Super bees, srt-8's, daytona's etc.

[BLUE68RT4ME]

Well, ok... I should have said the people that are enthusiastic about them are paying homage, and that would probably be the Daytona and SRT-8 owners, and some of the R/T's.  I shouldn't have made quite the sweeping generalization.  

I think we can all agree, the SXT is bought for reasons of economics and not for nostalgia!  

Thanks for keeping me on mark!  

By the way, I meant to ask... is your back yard heaven??? 

[Ghoste]

Given that, what is the percentage of units sold comprised of SRT's?

[BLUE68RT4ME]

I don't know... but the basic version to me is the equivalent to the K-car in its day... it's just something put out to get people from A-B.  They need to make those too.  Which, I do understand can diminish it's glory.  Believe me, I do.   

[69charger2002]

Well, ok... I should have said the people that are enthusiastic about them are paying homage, and that would probably be the Daytona and SRT-8 owners, and some of the R/T's.  I shouldn't have made quite the sweeping generalization.  

I think we can all agree, the SXT is bought for reasons of economics and not for nostalgia!  

Thanks for keeping me on mark!  

By the way, I meant to ask... is your back yard heaven??? 

lol that backyard is now a distant memory. i have 8 chargers now when we moved 2 years ago i sold off a  lot of those junkers and parts cars to pay for property, more property, a few nice chargers, etc. there was no need for one person to have 38 chargers in his yard at one time. but in 05-06 i just kept finding deal after deal. i couldn't help myself!! lol ghoste, from what i have SEEN, based on # of 6 cylinder and R/T cars out there, i am betting SRT production makes up less than 5% of total charger production. i'm sure sales figures are out there somewhere with way more expertise/facts than me
trav

[Ghoste]

And you know what, the sales figure we'll never know is this one; how many SRT Chargers would they have sold if the Challenger had been available from day one?

[Brock Samson]

 I'm just finding this thread...
Let's see.  It looks to ba Hard Top.. is that right?..
If so - very cool,.. my biggest beef with all the modern american supposedly sporty cars is they don't make a hard top any more...
I think based on these thwo pictures that this is the best modded LX so far, though the surface detailing and lack of shiney chrome/stainless trim in critical areas makes it look like a full size clay.
I give it an A for effort and a B for design and a C for detailing.
Thanks for posting those pictures out, i wonder if it's finished yet?..
I'm glad this post hasn't turned into another LX Enforcer bash fest...  

[BLUE68RT4ME]

Well, even so... I have a backyard and it has... a shed!  ...for my PUSH MOWER!   

I used to date a girl from Lake Charles.  Was never excited about Louisiana but things would have been different had I a view over your fence!   

That's quite the accomplishment!

[BLUE68RT4ME]

Well, even so... I have a backyard and it has... a shed!  ...for my PUSH MOWER!   

I used to date a girl from Lake Charles.  Was never excited about Louisiana but things would have been different had I a view over your fence!   

That's quite the accomplishment!

[BLUE68RT4ME]

lol that backyard is now a distant memory. i have 8 chargers now when we moved 2 years ago i sold off a  lot of those junkers and parts cars to pay for property, more property, a few nice chargers, etc. there was no need for one person to have 38 chargers in his yard at one time. but in 05-06 i just kept finding deal after deal. i couldn't help myself!! lol ghoste, from what i have SEEN, based on # of 6 cylinder and R/T cars out there, i am betting SRT production makes up less than 5% of total charger production. i'm sure sales figures are out there somewhere with way more expertise/facts than me
trav

Well, even so... I have a backyard and it has... a shed!  ...for my PUSH MOWER!   

I used to date a girl from Lake Charles.  Was never excited about Louisiana but things would have been different had I a view over your fence!  

(Excuse the error, I'm still a rookie here!)

[Troy]

Wow, it's 2009.  The Gen II Charger weighed what... 4200 lbs?  It had more sheet metal in it than 10 cars these days.

Not sure what to make of this statement. Are you saying the old cars were heavy? For comparison, the "new" Charger hemi weighs over 4,000 lbs (Super Bee near 4,200) the last time I checked. A 2nd gen Hemi car might have been that heavy but most others were 3,400-4,000. My 1970 Challenger says 3,260 on the sticker.

References:
http://autos.aol.com/cars-Dodge-Charger-2009/available-trims
http://www.1969chargerregistry.com/gallery/roadtest

Troy

[BLUE68RT4ME]

Between the two sentences, my point is that it was about 4200 lbs of metal.  No matter what the new ones weigh, they're certainly not all metal like they used to be  (pointing out a difference which was establishing my point of how things are done differently between now and then, that's all).   

[bull]

You know what's so completely remarkable about this car, especially considering the pictures at the beginning of this thread? The sheer magnitude of energy, time and money that's been dedicated to the hope and effort that it would somehow live up to its name. I can't think of a longer-running discussion over the disappointment of a car than this one. It's been four years at least since it was reintroduced, not counting the initial design releases, and people are still spending gobs of money to make it look like a Charger and still arguing about the legacy it ignored as a representative of its predecessor.

That is perhaps the most astute observation I've seen or heard on the whole issue.  As much as I agree with you though, I can't help but wonder how large is the group expending all of this time and effort.  Obviously a lot of people here and several in the Mopar enthusiast sect, but overall are the car enthusiasts wondering what the fuss is about?  Is there a change in "getting it" as you move from say, classic Charger fan to Mopar fan to musclecar fan to sporty car fan to general automotive fan to public at large?

I heard a lot of discussion about it among my non-Mopar friends and coworkers when it first came out until about two years ago. I think the non-Mopar car enthusiasts understood our pain but dropped it sooner than we did because they had their own disappointments (GTO, etc.) Beyond that though the new "Charger" topic is pretty limited to what I see here and among my Mopar friends elsewhere. The funny thing is there was never much excitement about the '06 Charger by anyone I know. Even Mopar guys who buy them typically say they need a family car ro something for work. But when the Challenger was reintroduced all the car enthusiasts I knew, be they Mopar, Ford or Chevy, got very excited. My brother-in-law, who's owned nothing but Fords his whole life, couldn't stop talking about it and wants to buy one. A Chevy guy I work with still comes to  my toolbox probably three times a week to talk about the new Challenger. The only time my Chevy and Ford buddies ever talked to me about the new "Charger" it was either to needle me about it or to compare it to one of the other screw ups committed by the Big Three. A few people who know I own a '68 Charger and are oblivious to the controversy will ask me what I think of "the new Charger" and I will tell them but there has never been any excitement anywhere near the level I've seen for the Challenger... anywhere.

[Ghoste]

Come to think of it, I've had similar experiences with needling about one and excitement for the other.  (and the needle comes with an extra pair of doors)