New Challenger - Taken from MMA messageboard • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **Fat Tony** » 14 Jun 2005 10:26

RICK KRANZ | Automotive News (autonews.com)
Posted Date: 6/13/05

DETROIT -- Watch out, Ford Mustang. Dodge is preparing a challenger.

In fact, it's likely to be called Challenger.

Chrysler plans to resurrect a respected name from the pony car era for a rear-wheel-drive Mustang fighter, industry sources say. The car is expected in 2009 on the LX platform, the basis of the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum and Charger.

"It is a two-door, essentially a competitor for the Mustang," says Catherine Madden, a production analyst for industry research group Global Insight. "They are really excited about it."

Madden says the sport coupe is planned to debut in 2009, when the next-generation LX vehicles are scheduled to be re-engineered and restyled.

"They would be able to make some additional investment in the platform, make some adjustments for that product" at that time, she says.

"The enthusiasm for that product," Madden says, is "very big."

Chrysler hopes to sell 60,000 to 70,000 of the cars a year, she says. An assembly site was not identified. Production of the 300, Magnum and recently introduced Charger is expected to fill Chrysler's Brampton, Ontario, assembly plant.

Chrysler officials are not talking about the car, but industry analysts say they are familiar with the plans.

Jim Hall, vice president of industry analysis at AutoPacific Inc., says he isn't sure Chrysler can pull it off. "They have a lot of stuff that has to be cleared off the table before they start playing around with that car," he says.

The redesigned 2005 Mustang has exceeded initial sales estimates. Ford expects to build 192,000 Mustangs this year, and most retail units are selling at a price near the sticker.

The 1970-74 Challenger was Dodge's answer to the original Mustang, as well as the Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Mercury Cougar and AMC Javelin.

by **regnellahC** » 15 Jun 2005 4:34

If they plan to do with this 2009 Challenger what they did with this new so-called Charger ,then as far as I'm concerned --Forget it!! :s021:

The Chargers and Challengers we all know and love had great body styling. Why did they even use the NAME Charger for this new car.There is nothing retro about it. They need to call it ANYTHING but Charger.
Don't trash the Challenger name. If it's going to be brought back then lets see some of the body styling with the look we all love.
I think Fords retro on the 69-70 Mustang is slick. Problem is the Mustang has been around for 40 years straight.
So, either we see retro body style (especially 1970) with todays technology or Please just call it something else.
Now-----Thats just my opinion--I could be wrong. :wink:

by **Christer** » 15 Jun 2005 8:39

regnellahC wrote:Don't trash the Challenger name.

...but it is already trash due to the 1978 "Challenger", isn´t it? :wink:

by jr » 15 Jun 2005 10:38

Christer wrote:...but it is already trash due to the 1978 "Challenger", isn´t it?

Hmm...

by **Christer** » 15 Jun 2005 12:57

jr wrote:Hmm...

So you are a great fan of 1978 Challengers, jr? :wink:

by jr » 15 Jun 2005 19:04

Christer wrote:So you are a great fan of 1978 Challengers, jr?

Sure! Why else would I host this forum? Although there's been lot of talk about those ancient early 70's Dodge Challengers here lately. Guess I should do something for it since this place is actually meant for discussion about 1978-1982 Dodge Challengers and Plymouth Sapporos. Think I'll let you talk about wrong cars until more fans of late model challengers surface, but one day membership will be closed and only persons with real Challenger will be allowed to logon.

I have also discussed with Barry and he has collected nearly complete list of VIN's and options for each 1978-82 Challengers ever produced! There's some really tasty ones. For example some rare cars had ecological 0,9 litre engine instead of standard 1,2 litre or biggest 1,4 litre overpowered "big-block" engine.

I'm glad to see that Dodge is bringing back Challenger name. I'm just bit worried that they might put some awful gas guzzling V8 engine to it instead of lovely economical 4-banger from our Japanese friends at Mitsubishi. There's also 3-cylinder engines used in some Daihatsus that would be perfect for this application. I haven't seen any photos of what it's going to look like yet, but hope there will be square headlamps, sharp edges and other timeless design elements from late 70's and 80's.

:crazy:

Guess me and Dave should've have closed everything down on 1st of April and replace with cool photos of late model Challengers?

by **dave-r** » 15 Jun 2005 20:12

by **Roger** » 15 Jun 2005 23:52

over here the later model Challengers were sold as Mitsubishi Sigmas and came in 2 or 4 door versions. some are still on the road, but most have been used as boat moorings by now...
They live on as the Mitsubishi Magna, which is a very popular car here, although I hate them with a passion.

by **Christer** » 16 Jun 2005 6:52

dave-r wrote::hmmm:

You have a point there, Dave! I wonder if all work with the MB is starting to get to jr´s head? Can´t you spot the difference between a friend and the enemy any moore, jr? Have you eaten too spicey (too much perkele?) food lately? Has the gasoline prices in Finland reached that levels? Haven´t you managed to sort out the 67th malfunction on your car and you have decided to opt for a newer model (1978-1982)? Or what? :mrgreen:

by **roadrunner** » 19 Jun 2005 11:58

If they bring back the Challenger I hope it has great looks, lots of power, rear wheel drive, and two doors. Look at what happened with the GTO. What a failure!! What I like about owning a Roadrunner is, Plymouth is gone and they can’t bring back the Roadrunner name and trash it.

Beep Beep (440+6)!!

by **JackT** » 19 Jun 2005 18:45

A word from the American men who bought the new "Charger" ....."

"Oh let's hope they make the new Challenger just like they did the new Charger only more so........ Gee, could you make it a station wagon, too??? Could it please look like every other POS aerodynamic blob new car on the road???? I wouldn't want my wife to be upset with my choice of the new car I'll be driving to and from work..... heaven forbid it should be FUN to drive, stand out from the automotive crowd AND draw admiring looks...... "

Good God, could the average married American male get any more pathetic? I shudder at the thought of calling them men any more.

by **JackT** » 19 Jun 2005 18:46

With four doors AND a hatchback, too????

by **dodgefreak** » 19 Jun 2005 19:19

if they don't want a failure like the "new" VW beetle, GTO and many others, they should make a cheap 2door Challenger, with an optionaly big V8's (or V10)and rear wheel drive, that's all ! that's why the new mustang is a hit...not because of the quality or the performance(ford :hmmm:

), a low basic price and lots of crazy options !

by **Alaskan_TA** » 19 Jun 2005 19:32

Hey jr, thanks for the laughs! :s024:

Barry

by **Follicly Challenged** » 25 Jun 2005 15:43

I.M.H.O. the new Charger and GTO are crappers ! Don't know what they were thinking ?

Let's hope that by 2009 Mopar gets it together and looks at what fords done with the retro stangs and gets a brainwave !

Who does the market research for these guys anyway ?

GM exec's:
OK, lemme see here, lets target some dumbass with thick glasses, too much money, a valid Viagra subscription and a Donald T. comb over, presto ! Re-badged Gran-prix or whatever.
Then wonder why they gotta lay off 25,000 autoworkers ?