Dodge Releases New Picture of Charger

[XLR8]

Here is the release from Dodge. To me it looks like a Chrysler 300c with a rounded back end. I'm sure the mopar boys will love the fact that it is a 4-door.

http://money.cnn.com/2004/10/04/pf/autos/charger_sketch/index.htm

 

[JDSfastGN]

i guess its ok, kinda lame with the 4 doors and redone 300C body although it will probably out sell the GTO even though the goat is a much better overall car

 

[Raven]

Ugh. Worse than what GM did to the GTO in my view. I hope that that is not what it actually ends up looking like.

Pardon me while I go puke.

 

[d0n_3d]

what is with the auto industry these days? let's just bring back ALL the old muscle cars why don't we...the GTO looks way better than that Charger...they need to use the 99' concept for the new Charger...now that looked sweet...but noooooo...

you'll just have to bury me in my GN...they just don't make cars like the GN anymore...gotta admit that

 

[tom h]

Just what are German executives now running Chrysler thinking?? The car is ugly and an insult to the "Charger" name.

NY Times had a recent article on the new Charger. Wrote:

"The reborn Charger ... seems unlikely to displace its towering predecessor in the muscle car pantheon. A sedan version of the Magnum wagon, it will be the Dodge counterpart of the Chrysler 300.

... the '06 Charger starts with a significant handicap: instead of a sporty coupe, it is a large four-door family car, albeit one with the option of a powerful Hemi V-8 engine."

So we have a 4-door "family car" based on a station wagon design.
What will they think of next ...

 

[marleyskater420]

Originally posted by tom h


So we have a 4-door "family car" based on a station wagon design.
What will they think of next ...

Suicide booths for those who bought the car

 

[UNGN]

When you kids grow up and have a few kids of your own, you'll understand what 4 doors are for.

Have you tried to get insurance on a new 2 door with 340 HP lately?

WRX's and the new F150 are ugly too. They don't have a problem finding buyers.

 

[tracy]

Originally posted by JDSfastGN
i guess its ok, kinda lame with the 4 doors and redone 300C body although it will probably out sell the GTO even though the goat is a much better overall car

Kinda of premature saying the goat is better when the charger has not even come out yet.

The Charger is going to have the upper hand in power. The motor will be the new 6.1 hemi rated at 425 hp. In addition, the hemi's are significantly torquier than the LS motors. If chrysler puts that motor in a chassis of comparable weight and gives it a good trans and gearing the goat is in for a pasting.

Also, the 300 has been lauded by the mags for very capable handling and outstanding overall quality. The quality of the goat is a little off based on most observations and it's not a steller handling car either.

My bet is the charger will be the better performer. If you are chrysler, why bother introducing a new car that underperforms based on the competition?

 

[tracy]

Originally posted by marleyskater420
Suicide booths for those who bought the car

You're right, it's not my ideal scenario either. However, I think the bean counters are a little gun-shy on coupes based on the failure of the f-body.

Oh well, at least it's RWD and has a killer motor.

 

[UNGN]

The GTO isn't a competitor to the Charger. 40 year old guys with kids in car seats aren't buying GTO's. They are buying 300C's, though. Chrylser will sells more 300's in a month than GM will sell GTO's in a year. The Charger is a cheaper 300C.

The '05 GTO will be faster and handle better than Charger. It also has an unusable trunk, a hard to get into back seat and try finding parts for one in the US 10 years from now. Insurance will be a $1000+ more per year, too.

The Charger is a fast Family sedan that handles good. It's competitors are the Pontiac Bonneville and Ford Crown Vic. You see one painted like a Hemi Cuda and you think "muscle car". That's just paint. Most will be metallic red and gun metal gray, and they will driven to work like Camry's.

 

[wagon]

Originally posted by tom h

So we have a 4-door "family car" based on a station wagon design.

Ya. So?

 

[JDSfastGN]

Originally posted by tracy
Kinda of premature saying the goat is better when the charger has not even come out yet.

The Charger is going to have the upper hand in power. The motor will be the new 6.1 hemi rated at 425 hp. In addition, the hemi's are significantly torquier than the LS motors. If chrysler puts that motor in a chassis of comparable weight and gives it a good trans and gearing the goat is in for a pasting.

Also, the 300 has been lauded by the mags for very capable handling and outstanding overall quality. The quality of the goat is a little off based on most observations and it's not a steller handling car either.

My bet is the charger will be the better performer. If you are chrysler, why bother introducing a new car that underperforms based on the competition?

I should have said more in the looks department, as i think the GTO puts that concept drawing the shame. especially the 05 with a few slight changes. I'm not impressed with the current 300cs with the 345 hp hemi as its a low 14 second car at best so with 425 it may be in the mid to low 13s where the new ls2 400hp GTO should be low 13s to maybe high 12s. The GTO is a much better handleing car, the numbers don't show it because GM was dumb enough to shod the car with bicycle tires.

 

[bishir]

I have a child and this is EXACTLY what I would want. We must have 4-doors because 2-doors and a child seat is a PAIN. The only problem I see with the car is that it will take buyers from the Magnum RT. I want a Magnum RT but if the Charger has the 6.1 I'd go the Charger route myself. If the GTO had 4 doors I'd consider that too.