2011 "Charger" - Here we go again??

[TUFCAT]

From a marketing and sales position, there's no good business reason to make a 2-door Charger at this point- - they already have the Challenger.

[bull]

So how many freelance redesigns are we up to now? Has there ever been a car that has been redesigned by the public more than this one?

[skip68]

They could make a 2 door with 2 half doors in back and still have a great line and look.      In this day and age I don't think that many people would buy a 2 door full size car.      I know I would not want one.   If I had no kids maybe but then again probably not.   Just like having a two door pickup truck.  Most want 4 doors or a crewcab.      The only way I would want a newer 2 door car is if it was a serious performance car/sports car.   If it has a back seat, I want back doors.   

[71 Bee Man]

When are they going to make it right hook for us guys.

HERE, HERE.....seems the guys in the States don't know just how lucky they really are.

Maybe they should try being a MOPAR enthusiast down here in Australia, where the only ones we get are bloody PT's and 300C's.

Stop whining you guys, and be appreciative of the fact you can actually have a choice between a 2 door Challenger and a 4 door Charger.....we get nothing.

Peter
Sydney, Australia.

[chargerjy9]

Chrysler willnot do a 2 door version, there just are not enough of us 58 year olds (who  believe that a real charger has only 2 doors) to make it economically feasible to spend the capital to build them, this car has to be geared to the "masses". the masses wanted 4 doors, most of them weren't around  in 1968 to understand the passion we have. I know it will be said that "well, they did a 2 door Challenger.... that model is really more of a "niche" car, meant to boost the brand image. be happy we have that at least.
by the way I  said the following in a post about 10 days ago:
"that sketch is not even close from the real thing that Chrysler is doing. Believe me, I know. I worked in Chrysler Design Office for 35 years before I was retired. the new Charger WILL NOT have 2 doors. It is the same configuration as the current one, 4 DOORS. This was one of the last projects I worked on before I left. If they can stay afloat this new design is very cool, 4 doors or not. Many styling cues were taken from the 2nd gen body, they are readily apparent."

[Khyron]

Then bottom line, don't call is a fu*&^%@&%&^%@&^@%ING CHARGER!

[bull]

When are they going to make it right hook for us guys.

HERE, HERE.....seems the guys in the States don't know just how lucky they really are.

Maybe they should try being a MOPAR enthusiast down here in Australia, where the only ones we get are bloody PT's and 300C's.

Stop whining you guys, and be appreciative of the fact you can actually have a choice between a 2 door Challenger and a 4 door Charger.....we get nothing.

Peter
Sydney, Australia.

You don't have them in Australia? Maybe I'll move there.

[hotrod98]

Using photoshop and the bag of a$$ pic, I managed to tweak it a little and come up with this.
Wait...my mistake...that's what the new Charger was supposed to look like from the beginning. 

[skip68]

Now that car would sell like wildfire.      It looks like that's 4 doors too.       It would be worthy of the charger name as it looks aggressive and fast but is still a sedan.   Back doors can be designed into a car and still keep a sleek sporty look.      It's really not about rear doors, it's about the overall body design.    The body is too much like a 300 or regular 4 door sedan is what really is the issue.  The look of the car and lines are what sold the car back in the day.  The 2nd gens had their own identity and looked like no other.

[472 R/T SE]

Found this at Allpar today... almost looks like a new invention of a '68 () four-door(), and IMO not anywhere as good looking as a '68. No tunnel rear window and probably no quarter panel fuel cap placement either.

I'd say maybe 3/10, whereas the 2006-2010 was a 1/10.

Link: http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/charger-2010.html

meh, just a thinly veiled license plate frame for sale ad.  Sales must be down.

[chargerjy9]

c'mon, you guys are funnin' with me.... that "photoshop" is a shot of a concept Charger that was at the 2000 Detroit Auto show, it was based on the LH platform which was being phased out for the current LX V8 platform and guess what? it had 4 doors.  The current CEO saw that static model sitting in the corner while reviewing the new iteration and he asked "why can't we build that one"   

[Brock Samson]

  the regular folks here are well aware of all that,..
  The other point that reguarly is missed - is that the two-door hard top is dead in everything but $60K plus German sport coupes, having two doors isn't enough for me I want a freakin Hardtop that was a big part of the magic of the original charger.
I think the BMW M-6 is pretty close to what a Charger should be,.. not perfect but to my mind it's pretty close to what I would except as a bonified "CHARGER"...
before you scoff at my choice take a good look at an M-6 in content and size, capability and content it's pretty much what I would like to see...

   http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2010/M/M6Coupe/default.aspx

  the other contender would be the Maserati GTS
  cept it's not a hardtop...
  http://www.maserati.us/maserati/us/en/index/models/GT/GranTurismo.html

funny though these coupe four doors are all the rage but  calling the neocharger such is a laughable joke, but dodge tried to upon it's introduction,..
I'm out.

[Nacho-RT74]

so many tries from Charger fans, but no one looks will get inside Chrysler designers:

http://www.moparmax.com/events/2009/iv_4-strip-3.html

this one is also a nice try too. I don't think should it be EXTREMELLY retro, or specially focused on just ONE model or gen, because different than Chally, Charger was evolutioning allong the years, but definitelly  need to get rememorances of the oldie school.

Charger need a longer body to get the right shape though

[68RT4ME]

  Tell me again why I should hate my car? This car did not ruin Chrysler. It's one of their best selling models in a long while and one that will continue under the restructuring plan. It's done way better than the GTO which was a 2dr and not what was expected by the faithful of Pontiac. Now they come back with the G8 and what good has that done? Someone mentioned the Impala SS, another 4dr that did well inspite of the fact there was little in common with the original

I do wish it was a 2 dr but I like it as is as well. No way they are going to make a 2 dr while a Challenger exsist. OK, so the complaint is the name. It can back up the name that's on it unlike the models in the mid 70's and through the 80's. Wheres the outrage on those models? This car outperforms any Charger ever made before it. With a few mods, it can nearly handle anything thrown at it. I love my Old school Chargers but this one stands right there with them. It's now been around since 2005 and it's time has come for a tweaking of the design but, don't expect them to go too far with that. It's not broken so no real need to fix it.

[bull]

It's done way better than the GTO which was a 2dr and not what was expected by the faithful of Pontiac. Now they come back with the G8 and what good has that done? Someone mentioned the Impala SS, another 4dr that did well inspite of the fact there was little in common with the original.

How is the new "Charger" any better than the GTO? Both examples are completely devoid of any classic styling queues and it's obvious that neither is what was expected by the "faithful" so in that sense it's a tie. Add to that two extra doors on the Dodge and we're taken one notch lower.

[68RT4ME]

It's done way better than the GTO which was a 2dr and not what was expected by the faithful of Pontiac. Now they come back with the G8 and what good has that done? Someone mentioned the Impala SS, another 4dr that did well inspite of the fact there was little in common with the original.

How is the new "Charger" any better than the GTO? Both examples are completely devoid of any classic styling queues and it's obvious that neither is what was expected by the "faithful" so in that sense it's a tie. Add to that two extra doors on the Dodge and we're taken one notch lower.

First of all, it's clear that there was no intent for the Charger to be reminisent of the classic version. Any of them. The Cordoba wasn't, the Omni version (a Japanese car and real slap in the face) wasn't and so why was anyone expecting this one to be? Even the prototype from a fews yrs back wasn't anything like the original. A '68 looks nothng like a '67. The only thing in common was the name and 2 drs. as far as styling was concerned.

Your argument is a tired one. It should not matter that it carries 2 more doors. It lives up to the name and then some and no one can argue that. Secondly, where is the GTO now? It bombed but, the CHARGER still lives on and all indications are that it will go on for a while yet so no tie there.

In todays world, the 4 drs takes it a notch up. I'm not trying to convice you Bull. It's well documented how you feel about it. The thing is, your in the minority by the way the car is selling. I don't know how many have been sold over all since production started but I'd bet the numbers are pretty good for todays times.

[Ghoste]

No intent to be reminiscent of the old one?  I disagree very much or there would be no point in resurecting a model name they hadn't used in several years.  Chrysler was in fact very clear about how they established that "Charger" was a model name recognized in market surveys.  They blew it on establishing a styling link but it was always there intent to link the new one with the old one.  In hindsight I am sure that if they could go back in time and redesign the thing, they would.  As for it's sales records, I think if the numbers are good (which I doubt or Chrysler wouldn't be going bankrupt they'd be looking for ways to add shifts at other plants building 4 door eurochargers), it's only because if you want a mid size four door family sedan from Dodge you don't have any other option.
To me, and this is only an opinion so it's pretty much worthless, one of the big reasons for the backlash with this car over previous models is that when the car was initially shown and people were decrying the fact that it was just a family car with a cool name, Chrylser went on the offensive telling us all over and over that the new one was the real and true Charger and the heritage model was a dinosaur for people stuck in the past.  This is probably all very true but as a person stuck in the past I'm really tired about hearing how I am supposed to love this car.  I don't deny anyone who does love it their right to do so but I really wish they would stop trying to convince me to get on board.  It has great performance- so what?  I'd take a tired 318 powered 69 over a new SRT version any day based on styling alone.  I have a minivan so I sure don't need a four door family car, even if modern technology hasn't given it great performance.  The emperor is still not wearing any clothes.

[70_charger]

You guys are funny.. Because it's a 4 door it's not a "real Charger".. Sad thing is there are 100's of other cars y'all could be ragging on but one of your own 

At least they didn't let the name just die. Sure, they changed this worse than they did the new "GTO" , but what the Hell, it's still a cool ride. 

2x I like it I got a 70 and a 06

[70_charger]

It's done way better than the GTO which was a 2dr and not what was expected by the faithful of Pontiac. Now they come back with the G8 and what good has that done? Someone mentioned the Impala SS, another 4dr that did well inspite of the fact there was little in common with the original.

How is the new "Charger" any better than the GTO? Both examples are completely devoid of any classic styling queues and it's obvious that neither is what was expected by the "faithful" so in that sense it's a tie. Add to that two extra doors on the Dodge and we're taken one notch lower.

Its a 4 door

[71 Bee Man]

Tell me again why I should hate my car? This car did not ruin Chrysler. It's one of their best selling models in a long while and one that will continue under the restructuring plan. It's done way better than the GTO which was a 2dr and not what was expected by the faithful of Pontiac. Now they come back with the G8 and what good has that done? Someone mentioned the Impala SS, another 4dr that did well inspite of the fact there was little in common with the original

I do wish it was a 2 dr but I like it as is as well. No way they are going to make a 2 dr while a Challenger exsist. OK, so the complaint is the name. It can back up the name that's on it unlike the models in the mid 70's and through the 80's. Wheres the outrage on those models? This car outperforms any Charger ever made before it. With a few mods, it can nearly handle anything thrown at it. I love my Old school Chargers but this one stands right there with them. It's now been around since 2005 and it's time has come for a tweaking of the design but, don't expect them to go too far with that. It's not broken so no real need to fix it.

G'day Andy,

yes.......I would have your blue Charger 4 door ANY day of the week. I reckon they look great.

Peter

[Armudster]

 You know what would be cool? If someone made a Charger based on the Viper platform, but with four seats and a little longer trunk, think about that, what was Dodge's top of the line sports car back then? How bout now? The Charger always had a cool look about it, so is the Viper, maybe that will be a right way to do it, a look far from retro, but with obvious styling cues from the 2nd gens, maybe a 4 seater luxury Viper and with a High End Muscle Car/ Super Car attitude and behaviour, something to reach 200 mph definitely. Hell the Charger creators from the past always did studies about aerodynamics, how about a superaerodynamic current model. It will be cool to see a modern interpretation of the old interior too. If some of you Photoshop gurus or designers are reading this, how about giving it a try? I think me may be up to something!!!
PS: Yes, it should get a HEMI

 

[68RT4ME]

No intent to be reminiscent of the old one?  I disagree very much or there would be no point in resurecting a model name they hadn't used in several years.  Chrysler was in fact very clear about how they established that "Charger" was a model name recognized in market surveys.  They blew it on establishing a styling link but it was always there intent to link the new one with the old one.  In hindsight I am sure that if they could go back in time and redesign the thing, they would.  As for it's sales records, I think if the numbers are good (which I doubt or Chrysler wouldn't be going bankrupt they'd be looking for ways to add shifts at other plants building 4 door eurochargers), it's only because if you want a mid size four door family sedan from Dodge you don't have any other option.
To me, and this is only an opinion so it's pretty much worthless, one of the big reasons for the backlash with this car over previous models is that when the car was initially shown and people were decrying the fact that it was just a family car with a cool name, Chrysler went on the offensive telling us all over and over that the new one was the real and true Charger and the heritage model was a dinosaur for people stuck in the past.  This is probably all very true but as a person stuck in the past I'm really tired about hearing how I am supposed to love this car.  I don't deny anyone who does love it their right to do so but I really wish they would stop trying to convince me to get on board.  It has great performance- so what?  I'd take a tired 318 powered 69 over a new SRT version any day based on styling alone.  I have a minivan so I sure don't need a four door family car, even if modern technology hasn't given it great performance.  The emperor is still not wearing any clothes.

"Stuck in the past" and therein lies the problem. Lets say for arguments sake that this car was born and sold as a Magnum Sedan or some other name. I'd bet the house no one here would have had an issue with it. Taken solely as a car, if you have driven one, no one can argue how good a car it actually is. I'm not trying to convince anyone. I myself did not like the car. That is until I drove one and the car changed my attitude about it. Once I had driven it, it wasn't too hard to get over the name for Christ sake. Cool car/bad name. Oh well, I can suffer with it....lol       

[bull]

First of all, it's clear that there was no intent for the Charger to be reminisent of the classic version. Any of them. The Cordoba wasn't, the Omni version (a Japanese car and real slap in the face) wasn't and so why was anyone expecting this one to be? Even the prototype from a fews yrs back wasn't anything like the original. A '68 looks nothng like a '67. The only thing in common was the name and 2 drs. as far as styling was concerned.

Your argument is a tired one. It should not matter that it carries 2 more doors. It lives up to the name and then some and no one can argue that. Secondly, where is the GTO now? It bombed but, the CHARGER still lives on and all indications are that it will go on for a while yet so no tie there.

In todays world, the 4 drs takes it a notch up. I'm not trying to convice you Bull. It's well documented how you feel about it. The thing is, your in the minority by the way the car is selling. I don't know how many have been sold over all since production started but I'd bet the numbers are pretty good for todays times.

The new "Charger" lives up to the name and then some? That's laughable. And my argument against this pile of misshapen sheetmetal is no more tired that the new "Charger" apologetics some people are hellbent on spewing here over and over. Speaking of which, ever consider the notion that if it wasn't displayed on a message board for discussion there wouldn't be any negative comments toward it? I hate to be the bearer of bad news but discussions sometimes produce negative comments, moreso when people are annoyed. If you recall, the origin of the topic was to discuss what people thought of a re-skinned '06 (be it photoshop or real) and so we are discussing it. Then we got people posting pics of the real ones in an apparent effort to get some of us to say, "wow, what a beautiful car. I guess I was wrong." Sorry, that won't happen. You don't see any negative comments aimed at the 66-74 Chargers, which is why this site is here, so why are you surprised when the Charger-in-name-only gets some grief?

You yourself said the Cordoba and Omni Charger have nothing in common with any of the classic versions; true enough, but I'm unclear how that's supposed to be an argument in favor of a third mistake? Forgive me if I don't buy in to the BS Chrysler is trying to feed me by stamping the word "Charger" on anything with four sheels. To me the name has meaning just as it would if everyone started calling you Sally. Don't worry, Sally, it's just a name. Therefore, as a car the '06-'09 is fine, as a Charger it's a complete joke.

Like I always say, as long as people are willing to settle for the mediocre that's exactly what they'll get. And now we've got it. Thank God for the cop car, taxi cab and rental car fleet sales or Chrysler would have been in even more trouble.

[68RT4ME]

Again, not trying to convince anyone here. Say what you like, think what you think. It's all good either negative or positive. Bottom line, it's a Charger and nothing anyone says can change that. It will go down in history good or bad as a Charger and that is a fact. 

[bull]

Again, not trying to convince anyone here. Say what you like, think what you think. It's all good either negative or positive. Bottom line, it's a Charger and nothing anyone says can change that. It will go down in history good or bad as a Charger and that is a fact. 

Yup, just like the Cordoba and Omni Charger... Sally.