New Mustang will finally have some competition...

[Power4]

The '09 Dodge Challenger:

http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/13/Autos/funonwheels/dodge_challenger/index.htm

Hopefully Dodge can stay true to the old Challenger formula and resist putting four doors on it. If what CNN says is true it should be a pretty bad-ass car.

 

[SVTdriver]

The '09 Dodge Challenger:

http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/13/Autos/funonwheels/dodge_challenger/index.htm

Hopefully Dodge can stay true to the old Challenger formula and resist putting four doors on it. If what CNN says is true it should be a pretty bad-ass car.

Cool in 3 years the stang will have competition.

 

[DukeOfValencia]

it's based on the same platform as the Charger, so it will probably be just as ugly and just as heavy... doesn't sound like competition yet.

 

[SVTdriver]

I think the hope is in 3 years the mustang will undergo a body change and make it more heavy. Then the Challenger will be a competitior.

 

[knight_rider69]

Wasn't Chevy supposed to bring the camaro back too? I heard about that a while ago and nothing since. Stang will blow it out of the water though even if it did return. Seems everybody wants a piece of us!

 

[jt14894]

The '09 Dodge Challenger:

http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/13/Autos/funonwheels/dodge_challenger/index.htm

Hopefully Dodge can stay true to the old Challenger formula and resist putting four doors on it. If what CNN says is true it should be a pretty bad-ass car.

From the picture, the body looks just like the Chrysler 300 (ugly IMO), but with a different face. Cars these days don't look unique anymore. Its that same look philosophy that every other car maker implements. No wonder domestics are losing market ground to imports.
Thank you Ford for bringing back a classic unique style.

 

[bullitt543]

Really, like who cares about a car that won't come out until 3 years. Why even report on something like that. In three years gas prices might be $6 per gallon and the current "muscle car wars" will be dead. They should have brougth it out instead of that ugly 4 door abomination.



but hey.. why don't you ask me how i really feel

 

[Szlachcic]

What picture? The only picture I saw was one of the old Challenger and one of the new Charger, which is IMHO very fugly (and only comes in automatic wtf).

 

[05Stangster]

Here is the write-up Brad posted on his site (I hope he does not mind). Also appears to be going on a new platform " ... when the next-generation LX vehicles are scheduled to be re-engineered and restyled."


Likely Challenger: Dodge prepping a rear-drive coupe to take on Ford's Mustang

RICK KRANZ | Automotive News
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.

And, yes, the original Challenger had a Hemi V-8.

 

[sacha]

Challenger Pic

It took a lot of searching, but I finally found a pic of the new challenger.

 

[Power4]

LOL, look the sweet aggressive lower valance!

If the new Challenger looks like the old one did then it'll be cool, but if it's anything like the chunky new Charger or 300C then it will be another disappointing car.

 

[05Stangster]

My money says it won't be like the 300C or will it be overly clunky. I think Dodge and Chevy are only now realizing what we want again (those that enjoy a lot of get up and go with 60's -early 70's cues). My bet - 6.1 litre Hemi, two door coup that will beat the GT I guess I will have to be happy with my little old 300hp motor (with a few mods to even things out)

 

[bigcat]

no heres the mustang competetor....oh wait, they wont make this car anymore!!! neon is dead after this year!!!!yeah!!!!

 

[ga01blkgt]

With GM offering the employee discount and GTO's probably going for around 30K new, you already have competition and then some performance wise......

 

[sacha]

Even with an employee discount, the GTO still would have been out of my price range when the Mustang was not.

 

[jlisle01]

Wasn't Chevy supposed to bring the camaro back too? I heard about that a while ago and nothing since. Stang will blow it out of the water though even if it did return. Seems everybody wants a piece of us!

I heard that GM killed development on the platform the Camaro was suppose to have been built on. Looks like the the F-body is dead. I wonder if Bob Lutz is reading the production numbers on the S197 and thinking he F****d up? Oh well, I wasn't looking forward to meeting a LS7 powered Camaro at a stop light anyway.

 

[oohsoobad2]

I bet the Camaro will return after the GTO runs its course in 2007. Dont think GM and Chrysler havent noticed the response to Fords retro Stang. I heard a rumor of an 07 Camaro looking awful similar to the 67-69. The Challenger?? Who knows.. but rest assured it will sport a 5.7 Hemi 340/390 or a SRT 6.1 Hemi 425/425... A 300 C is a pretty even match for Mustang GT so if they drop two doors and a few pounds, the Challenger will be pretty damn quick. The Chrysler car I liked the most was the FirePower Concept based on the Viper platform except powered by a 6.1 Hemi, supposedly it was going to be a Vette fighter priced in the $40's. I hope Ford doesnt take a rest being the only game in town... the 2009 or 2010 GT better be packing some heat...

 

[jfischer]

I heard that GM killed development on the platform the Camaro was suppose to have been built on. Looks like the the F-body is dead. I wonder if Bob Lutz is reading the production numbers on the S197 and thinking he F****d up?

True. The new rear-drive platform that would have hosted the rumoured new Camaro has been killed (or at least delayed a long time). There will be no new Camaro for years, if ever.

GM is just F***D up overall. The article I read said that GM ****canned the new rear-drive platform to get their new trucks and SUVs out sooner. Just what GM needs - new large SUVs that aren't selling already. I know they are (or were) the highest profit area for automakers, but now isn't the time to be devoting all your resources to a segment that is sagging.

I think a well-done replacement Camaro could have been a good seller if done right - like the Mustang was. The concept drawing that a young kid did is just killer, I'd certainly consider one if it looked like the alleged concept art. What a smoking design!

However, GM won't ever build it. If they do bring back the Camaro they'll probably screw that up too...

 

[svtash]

its too early to speculate whether it will compete with the mustang cause they stii have 4 years to screw it up as they did with the charger.

 

[66Satellite]

I'll believe it when I see it.