Friday 28th July 2006

Dodge Challenger is go

Hemi-powered muscle car close to concept

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Dodge Challenger concept

American muscle car lovers rejoice: the Dodge Challenger will be built, and it'll look pretty close to the concept that was shown at the Detroit motor show in January.

According to Autocar, the story fell from the mouth of Chrysler top designer Tom Tremont. The car will use the same underpinnings as the Chrysler 300C and be motivated by a 6.1-litre Hemi V8 -- classic! It arrives in 2008.

We don't know yet if there'll be a right-hand drive version but there is a RHD 300C, so much of the engineering work's been done. Here's hoping...

• Related story: More pics from Detroit show

^{Picture by Bhupender Kapur}

[ultimarobert]

My dream car now and my actual car in 1972 when I first joined the Army. As we said then, "Hemi rules"! Now wonder if they will make that pop-up ram air on the hood (bonnet)?

[oagent]

Surely now Chevy has to make the new Camero too!
Mustang, Challenger or Camero. Tough choice between the last two.

[catretriever]

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-ha

[L100NYY]

I know that these cars are not exactly the last word in cutting edge and forward thinking design but I absolutely love them! There really is something truly special about old school muscle cars that gets the juices flowing!

[That Daddy]

that car looks the nuts,i never thought they would bring back the old muscle cars,but i was wrong,glad too,bring it on....

[densham]

It looks like a pile of poo

[Beefmeister]

Each to their own and all that.








But you're clearly wrong. It looks awesome...

[stenniso]

the article said:

We don't know yet if there'll be a rear-right-hard drive version

.

Where did that come from? Spell checkers have a lot to answer for.

[targarama]

I could soooo possibly but one of these in a few years time - so long as its RHD (such a wide car makes LHD even harder to live with over here).

[crbox]

Sorry guys, I have along term appreciation for Mopars having owned two ( A Challanger like, Plymouth Cuda 383 and a 225 Duster)in the 70's. I always thought that the E body Chrysler Division cars were the best looking of all the Muscle Cars - and this new reincarnation only reinforces that view.
However in the UK. I surely can't happen? With '05 Mustangs freely available in the trade for 12K - a sad shodow of the pre launch frenzy.
Simply put, there just isn't enough demand for 12 -15 mpg cars to make it worthwhile - no matter how georgeous they look - we don't buy them.
No matter how desirable we all say it is - if this car was £30 K would you actually buy it instead of a used Porsche 911/M3/350Z/TVR/Jap rally car????

[scotty_917]

ultimarobert said:

Now wonder if they will make that pop-up ram air on the hood (bonnet)?

...with a black colour scheme, Carlos Fandango wiiide wheels and a pair of leathers, you could almost believe you were Mad Max!!!

[roop]

Absolutely *love* the look of this. I fancy one in white in a "Kowalski Vanishing Point" style

[beasto]

I'll go for the Camaro, shrunk by maybe 15 percent.

Then... powered by a turbo-diesel-electric hybrid to all four wheels.

Instead of a V8 rumble you'd have a howling whine from the electrics backed by a whistling rumble from the turbo-d.

Music!

[L100NYY]

What a great line up -

Camaro


Challenger


Mustang

[Nano2nd]

looks great it about time ford uk wised up i want a modern mk1 RS2000

[ultimarobert]

crbox said:

having owned two ( A Challanger like, Plymouth Cuda 383 and a 225 Duster)in the 70's.

Hopefully, in reverse order!

We always "laughed" at the Duster guys (in the rear view mirror)

[Twin Turbo]

Would I choose one of these over a used M3? Absolutely! For the same reason I'd have a Monaro over an M3. Proper muscle cars rock (usually on their springs due to all that torque )

I still prefer the look of the new Camaro (it looks fantastic in that deep red), but the Challenger is also so cool it hurts.

[manek]

stenniso said:

the article said:

We don't know yet if there'll be a rear-right-hard drive version

.

Where did that come from? Spell checkers have a lot to answer for.

Thanks mate. No matter how hard I check, some of those just go in one eye and out the other

Manek
PH Editor

[crbox]

ultimarobert said:

crbox said:

having owned two ( A Challanger like, Plymouth Cuda 383 and a 225 Duster)in the 70's.

Hopefully, in reverse order!

We always "laughed" at the Duster guys (in the rear view mirror)

Indeed - The Duster I had first. At 21 the 4.2L wasn't that much to be ashamed of when my mates had Triumph Heralds and Cortinas. I saved up and bought the 383 (6.3L) and loved every minute. Had a slap stick auto ( a kind of sequential auto stick shift), but I didn't realise until I accidentally knocked the lever by mistake! The first time I filled it up it cost £15(1980) and I was earning £17 per week. Don't know how I saved up for the 5 spoe Cragars, air shox and blacjack headers.
But those were the days..........

[Al 450]

densham said:

It looks like a pile of poo

You have orange poo? That's not right...