Rising to the Challenger: Detroit auto show debut for Dodge muscle coupe concept
BOB GRITZINGER
Posted Date: 11/20/05
To all those purists who still can’t forgive Dodge for building a four-door Charger, here’s your answer: the 2006 Dodge Challenger concept. The Dodge boys released a sketch of the car to the world, but we obtained these exclusive spy photos of the car, which will premiere at the North American International Auto Show in January in Detroit.
Challenger draws on the 1970 model as the icon of the series, says Tom Tremont of Chrysler’s Pacifica studio in California. But instead of merely recreating that car, designers tried to build the Challenger most people see in their mind’s eye, without imperfections like the tucked under wheels and long front overhang of the old car. At the same time, the concept incorporates distinctive Challenger cues like the rear fender kick, wide mouth front end, functional hood scoops and rectangular exhaust tips.
Built on a shortened Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger chassis (116-inch wheelbase vs. 120 inches), the Challenger gets a 6.1-liter Hemi hooked to a six-speed manual transmission with a pistol grip shifter.
All that’s left to ponder is “will they build it?” With all the hardware in place and a primed marketplace, we can’t see why Dodge wouldn’t rise to this challenge.
(http://www.autoweek.com/images/news/103629)
(http://autoweek.com/files/weekart/2005/1121/challenger_rear.jpg)
(http://autoweek.com/files/weekart/2005/1121/challenger_drawing.jpg)
WOW.
If they actually build that, with those body lines, I might actually like Dodge. That's fuggin sweet.
edit: although, after looking at the actual concept car in the very top pic, the grille opening with headlights looks too small...could just be the angle of the pic though.
HEY! they got one rite... dodge gets a cookie and a gold star lol. at least it dosnt have 4 doors like another car i wount mension...
I want one:D but in Plum Crazy
No question at all...that is sweet as hell and I'd seriously consider buying one.
Now bring back the Hemi 'Cuda!!!
They'll get on that, just as soon as Olds brings back the 442. :giggle:
That does look nice, like how they kept the looks of the original challenger and it 2 door.....who woulda though that.
I'll take one in panther pink.
Now It looks like Dodge is following in Fords footsteps.
They're gonna make it. Dodge was pretty much experimenting with the Charger, which got it's mixed reviews but was successful none the less. Now they are going to be bringing the Challenger back and it looks like they are doing it right. Of course they're eyeing the major success that Ford is having with the Mustang.
Challengers have always been my favorite cars. I'll be definately looking into one as by then, I should be into my career and should have plenty of money to throw around. High hopes I know.
Did any of you happen to see what Dodge did at SEMA to a '70 Challenger?
(http://www.wkjeeps.com/photos/SEMA_2005/challenger_002.jpg)
Sorry the pic is big. Heres the link to the rest.
http://www.wkjeeps.com/sema.htm (http://"http://www.wkjeeps.com/sema.htm")
and a short little article with a few more pics
http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000270066570/ (http://"http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000270066570/")
WOW, I cant wait to go to the N.A.I.A.S. I do really like that!
Too bad Plymouth doesn't exist anymore...
Yea I hope you're right about the angle, grille and lights looks more like a '63 Tempest than a Challenger..
Yea I hope they build it, give the Stang some Competition... Now maybe Chevy and/or Pontiac will build a early Camero/Firebird knockoff..
That looks really good, and Im sure Dodge wont fail to deliver the power, they never do. Those Hemi's and V10 engines are pretty sick.
Hopefully Ford can work on extracting more power from these mod motors without needing to use a supercharger. As of now, both GM and Dodge are utilizing an OHV powerplant which is plenty capable of 500+ HP, Ford relies on a poweradder. I'll take HP as I can get it, but still something to be aware of.
I'm just wondering if they'll end up pricing it at $30K like the charger. If they do, then it won't compete with the Mustang any better than the GTO is.
If it comes out with a stick, I WILL buy one! That car is HOT!
Good question. I would hope that that thing would be between 25-28K. I would think the Challenger being a two door, smaller car should be less than the big 4-door Charger.
You're right though, if it's priced a lot higher than the Mustang, then Ford will have no direct competition and still have the handle on the market.
That is the very first thing I noticed.. other then that it's not bad.. but i hope they aren't actually that small because taht looks like ass.
I beg to differ.
For starters...the GTO is ugly to most people so it's behind the 8 ball before people even look at the price.
If it comes with a HEMI for that 30K, nobody will complain if it's a few grand more than a Mustang GT because it'll likely hand a GT it's ass and look twice as good doing it.
As much as I'm a Ford guy, I'd buy that car even if it cost more over a Mustang simply on looks alone because frankly the new Mustang does ZERO for me....it looks like a chick's car. That thing looks like a muscle car.
DROOLIES:ies: :ies: :ies:
okay. the dealer near me had a charger, loaded in burnt orange with flat black decals. i love it.
that blows it away though.....the recent "hot rod" car movement is so awesome. the last few years just blow the 90's out of the water. now, as far as the mustang goes i like the looks on the outside but it realy needs a body kit to give it that edgy muscle look. no matter what though, the interior totaly wrecks that car for me. its just so repulsive. thus far, an 03 04 cobra is the only mustang id consider buying. the fort gt500 will be sweet but still doesnt tweak my berries. i dont belive in brand loyalty much anyway. i just like, what i like. a still dont think anybody is going to touch the new Z06.
And when you buy the challenger I will buy your thunderbird :D
Why to I see a huge waiting list for these on the horizon?
Gt Blows the Z06 outta the water a road test was done between the The viper The Z06 and the GT, GT was the king.
Blows it out of the water?.....more like marginally beats it in some categories:
Ford GT
Best lap time 1:32.45
Best lap average speed (mph) 73.2
0-60 mph/quarter-mile (sec) 3.8/12.2
Braking 70-0 mph (ft) 156
Cornering l/r (g) 1.03/1.01
Weight (lb) 3489
Distribution f/r (%) 43.4/56.6
Top speed (mph) 205
Z06
Best lap time 1:32.75
Best lap average speed (mph) 73.0
0-60 mph/quarter-mile (sec) 4.1/12.0
Braking 70-0 mph (ft) 149
Cornering l/r (g) 1.10/1.09
Weight (lb) 3147
Distribution f/r (%) 50.9/49.1
Top speed (mph) 198
It's also worth noting that testing is subjective and depends on the guy behind the wheel and how new (and tight) the engine is in the car. There have been other tests on Z06's that are well broken in and are cutting sub 3.8 sec 0-60 times and 1/4 mile times in the 11's.
And the GT stickers for over double the price....if you could get a GT for sticker that is which you won't. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE the GT and would buy one in a heart beat if I won the lottery but the Z06 is impossible to ignore no matter what brand you route for.
For the money....there is nothing mass produced that even comes close to the Z06 in terms of performance per dollar. Times are good to be a car guy right now.
I read a magazine (Road &Track?) that did a compaison of the Z06 to the Viper. They put in their article that they ignored the GT because of the high cost. The GT is sweet but like stated before, it's not reasonable. You could probably get a Viper and a Z06 for the price of one GT.
And yes, times are good to be a car guy...if you have the money to spend on them. Okay, now I guess I know how the dorks in the 60's felt when the best they could do is buy a y 6 cylinder while they dreamed of having that Hemi that they can't afford. :(
Not this Z06
http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/corvette_z06.asp
But on the topic of the mopar, i LOVE it. Growing up, i was raised on mopar muscle, and when i was able to recognize the 80's cars, i felt they were never a car worth calling mopar, same with any car Dodge made up untill they came up with Challanger concept. If they brought that to life, it would be well worth the Mopar name.
Also, on another note, if you noticed, even back in the 60's and 70's when they were making their concept cars, they looked very similar to this challanger, large body, and small "attributes" like the grill, lights, windows, etc. It pretty cool that they still can keep that touch.
With the markups they have on the Ford GT, You could probably get TWO of each......
They wouldn't mark 'em up if people weren't buying them. :hick:
The Challenger = awesome.
After the Chevelle , The Challenger is my favorite muscle car.....
How´s about that Chevelle Concept ? another muscle car for the battle, but definitively needs to share the LS-7......another muscle car era comes.....maybe in 2019 the Pinto and the Festiva would be again a must to drive....
Now THAT would be funny.
"Remember the past, lest ye be condemned to repeat it."
BRING BACK THE CHEVETTE!
............... no, I'm serious. Screw the Cobalt.
Actually, the GT is an 11sec car...easily. Recent tests have shown 11.7s on the stock tires. With a better driver, this is a mid second car and low 11 sec(possibly 10 sec) with better tires. Add a pulley, tune, and tires and were talking mid 10s. Granted it costs more, but hell its an exotic automobile competitive with Ferrari's and Lambo's.
But never actually beating Ferrari's and Lambo's. ;)
And you may find this interesting.
Road & Track
Dec. '05
Your Turn
pg. 41
By The Numbers
Mr. Curtis' letter was only one of many questioning our Z06 performance test numbers.
Our philosophy in acceleration testing for the past 58 years is to reach results that an above-average driver/owner can also duplicate; it is not our goal to record the absolute quickest time while abusing the car. Discrepancies in acceleration times can depend on the catula car tested (i.e., cat-to-car variation), the track used, the atmospheric temperature and pressure, methodology and, of course, the driver.
Chevrolet reports its acceleration figures using hte speed-shifting technique (no-lift throttle during upshifts), which can turn in faster times but is not conducive to powertrain logevity. Some magazines correct their times (with an inexact formula) to reflect theoretical results at cooler teperatures. With modern engine-management systems, it may be impossible to actually duplicate such results. We do not speed-shift nor do we temperature-correct our results. We simply report what the car achieved and the test conditions at the time of testing (see page 95 for more information on our test methodology).
For reference, a GM test driver present at our test conducted acceleration runs in our style. The GM rester turned in 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds and hte querter mile in 12.3 sec. at 118.6 mph, very similar to what we reported. With speed-shifting, the GM tester turned in a 0-06 mph tim eof 4.0 sed. and ran the quarter mile in 12.1 sed. at 118.0 mph.
In addition, if you look at our current test of the Z06 in this issue's cover story, we obtained 0-60 mph in 3.9 sec., and the quarter mile in 12.2 sec. at 120.7 mph.-Patrick Hong
*I wish I could have found that online so I didn't have to go through typing it.*
Nope....will never be for sale.....my son will have it when I'm dead.;)
Bringing this thread back from the abyss for this link:
http://forums.autoweek.com/thread.jspa?forumID=10&threadID=24954
Unfortunately, their forums are down now that I decided to link to this. :mad: Oh well, give it awhile, I guess.
EDIT: The bitch of this is that I had the window open and could've copied the new pics from it and re-posted them here.. but closed the window. Ugh.
"Probably a six speed manual five speed automatic....but a Six speed DSG (dual clutch sequential) would be the frosting on the pony car war to seal the fate of all competitors...IMO "
This guy needs to check his acronyms before posting. DSG is Direct Shift Gearbox. So far, VWAG has the only dual clutch DSG. I think he meant to say SMG, or Sequential Manual Gearbox, which is made my BMW. I have no idea why he thinks a DCX product would have one of these trannies, let alone a Dodge.
DSG pics (http://"http://www.germancarfans.com/photos.cfm/photoid/3021129.001/volkswagen/1.html")
DSG explained (http://"http://www.germancarfans.com/news.cfm/newsid/2051103.002/page/5/lang/eng/volkswagen/1.html")
(http://www.germancarfans.com/photos/3021129.001/1022big.jpg)
(http://www.germancarfans.com/photos/3021129.001/1003big.jpg)
WTF? You can access it? .. I still can't.
I'm using Firefox.:dunno:
A friend of mine is having trouble seeing Autoweek today too.
It's not browser-specific.. my first problems loading it were with Firefox.. then I tried IE, also no go.