What it is:A front engine,rear-wheel-drive,five-passenger retro coupe that slavishly copies the 1970 original
Why it's important:This Chrysler's play for a piece of the pony-car market that Ford has been gobbling whole since the introduction of the 2005 Mustang that sold 160,975 units that year.
Platform:The concept rides on a shortened version of the rear-wheel-drive LX platform(Dodge Charger,Chrysler 300),but the production Challenger could be a short-wheelbase version of the next-gen LY arhitecture.
Powertrain:Look under the hood for the 6.1 liter Hemi V-8 kicking up 425 horsepower,with the anticipated option of a 500 horse,392-cubic-inch V-8,as well as a base model with a V-6.In addition to the six-speed automatic,the hope is Chrysler wild do the right thing and offer a six-speed manual in the spirit of Challengers of yore.
Competition: Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro.
What might go wrong:Ford was pleasantly surprised with the succes of the 2005 Mustang,but the Challenger,Camari,and Mustang likely will be duking it out for shares of a segment that has been partly sated.
Esimated arrival and costs:The production Challenger will get spotlight treatment at the Chicago auto show in February 2008.We expect production to begin next spring as a 2008 model.
Pricing will be competitive with the Mustang and Camaro,in the $25,000-to-$35,000 range.
A convertible is not planned,but we expect an SRT performance version,perhaps launching simultaneaosly next spring.
A few more photos of the superb Dodge Challenger:
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