http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060630/AUTO01/606300415/1148

They plan to herald the Challenger's return at the Pepsi 400 in Daytona on Saturday. The base Challenger will cost a bit more than the V6 Mustang, so I'm guessing $23,000 for base up to $36,000 for the SRT-8 (maybe even SRT-10...one can dream:alchi: ). I'll take my Challenger in plum purple with the R/T package.

Bitchin! This is wayyyy better than the Charger!

I hope they don't screw it up when they take it from concept to production.....that dreaded "chain clearance" in the wheel well can make a nice concept goofy lookin in a hurry

Best looking retro car yet, hands down.

It will look even better sitting in my driveway :highfive:

They really did make it look like an old school.... They have to keep it like that.... Yea, two thumbs down on that charger...Two way up on this one

Once they are available for pre-order, I will be one of the many waiting in line. :thumbsup:

What I've heard is they are NOT going to be available with a V6 & I'm afraid to say that if it's a V8 only car, it'll die a fast, but painful, death.

DCX STILL doesn't "get" it... :thepan:

What I've heard is they are NOT going to be available with a V6 & I'm afraid to say that if it's a V8 only car, it'll die a fast, but painful, death.

DCX STILL doesn't "get" it... :thepan:
care to elaborate??


Right now, I find DCX product line to be the best out of the big three. They have some real power, and nice designs coming out.

On a car that size, a V6 would be a horrible choice. People buy muscle cars for just that, muscle! A V6 also would make the car underpowered for it's weight and size, a V6 wouldn't fly. If I had to take a wild guess, this is what will probably happen:

Dodge Challenger R/T- base price $28,000, 5.7L 340 HEMI V8
Dodge Challenger SRT8- base price $34,000, 6.1L 425 HEMI V8

It's possible that a Challenger SE will be offered with a standard V6 or maybe V8 but since this is a specialty vehicle, I wouldn't count on it. I also suspect that the R/T will be the most popular model because of a) the price and b) the history.

So far we have 7 historical muscle cars in or scheduled for production and 1 in limbo:

Fort GT (if you count it)
Pontiac GTO (goodbye, lousy excuse for a 'Goat)
Ford Mustang
Shelby GT500
Shelby GT350H (if you count it)
Dodge Charger
Dodge Challenger

and the Chevy Camaro in limbo. This is sounding more and more like the 60's as we go along!

A V6 Challenger would be great for rental car companies. Something to do battle with the Mustangs.

care to elaborate??

"Speciality Vehicle" = low production #'s & high $$$. With a base car V6 priced just above the entry level Mustang, they could make a killing, likely selling 10 (or more) V6 cars for every V8. Instead, they are going the Viper/Prowler route; exclusive. Is it even/ever going to be offered with anything other than an auto trans?

Personally, I'll be amazed if they bring these things to market at less than $35K, & then there's the insurance permium on a "performance car" on top of it.

I think they are shooting themselves in the foot my not offering an entry-level Challanger. After all, the original Challanger was offered with the venerable slant 6 (a friend has a 225 /6 convertable) & even offered in a value package called the "Deputy."

Sure, it's a good looking car, a VERY good looking car, but without VOLUME sales (read: V6) IMHO, it's doomed to go the way of the new GTO.

And I wish the '06 charger wasn't listed as a current "muscle car" reincarnation. It's a Magnum SEDAN (a body style "real" Chargers were never offered in). IMHO, the only thing this new car has with the originals ('66-'74, after that they were "tape stripe" cars) is the name.

I agree with DBartman.

"Speciality Vehicle" = low production #'s & high $$$. With a base car V6 priced just above the entry level Mustang, they could make a killing, likely selling 10 (or more) V6 cars for every V8. Instead, they are going the Viper/Prowler route; exclusive. Is it even/ever going to be offered with anything other than an auto trans?

Personally, I'll be amazed if they bring these things to market at less than $35K, & then there's the insurance permium on a "performance car" on top of it.

I think they are shooting themselves in the foot my not offering an entry-level Challanger. After all, the original Challanger was offered with the venerable slant 6 (a friend has a 225 /6 convertable) & even offered in a value package called the "Deputy."

Sure, it's a good looking car, a VERY good looking car, but without VOLUME sales (read: V6) IMHO, it's doomed to go the way of the new GTO.

And I wish the '06 charger wasn't listed as a current "muscle car" reincarnation. It's a Magnum SEDAN (a body style "real" Chargers were never offered in). IMHO, the only thing this new car has with the originals ('66-'74, after that they were "tape stripe" cars) is the name.

:yeah:

Is it even/ever going to be offered with anything other than an auto trans?

It's only being offered as a 6 speed, an auto isn't a choice as far as I know.

Instead, they are going the Viper/Prowler route; exclusive

The Viper is an $80,000+, V10 sports car and the Prowler wasn't built to compete with the Mustang, it was as you said, an exclusive, specialty vehicle.

I think they are shooting themselves in the foot my not offering an entry-level Challanger.

Here's where I have mixed feelings. It would be a good thing to have a V6 Challenger IF there is a niche for one. The Challenger is not supposed to be a long-term vehicle, it's a specialty vehicle such as the Prowler. Having a V6 option would defeat the purpose of it being a specialty vehicle. On the other hand, Dodge would sell more Challengers if there was a cheaper version that more buyers could afford. I see both sides, but it's all up to the Daimler-Chrysler executives to decide, either go the exclusive side in which prices would inflate or go the other way where more people could afford them but it would defeat the specialty market.

Personally, I'll be amazed if they bring these things to market at less than $35K, & then there's the insurance permium on a "performance car" on top of it.

The first few months after its release, prices will be significantly higher but they will settle eventually (for example the GT500). I expect the MSRP prices to inflate by $5000-$10,000 and then simmer to normal levels. Again, I'll take my R/T in plum purple:D.

If they want a Mustang competitor (sales wise) then a v6 is mandatory. Mustang GT sales will drop sharply after the Challenger is released. Unfortunately the car will only be "cool" for a short while. Once they are all over the place like the Mustang its just gonna be the norm. So in that respect, bringing it as a V8 model might be good for someone like me that would never consider a v6 model anyway and would offer a little more exlusitivity than seeing Challengers with v6's and v8's everywhere. If profits are the only concern then yes a v6 is necessary but its cool that this thing will be only available with a V8. The SRT version will be the one to have. At this point I like the styling of the Challenger more than the Camaro concept and definately over the current Mustangs. I think the best styled American cars are from the 60's-early 70's so I'm loving this retro thing. I even like the SSR even though its a pretty useless machine that doesn't do anything extremely well.

What I've heard is they are NOT going to be available with a V6 & I'm afraid to say that if it's a V8 only car, it'll die a fast, but painful, death.

DCX STILL doesn't "get" it... :thepan:

wait, what? Ummmmm...the V8s are doing quite well my good man..


F

"Speciality Vehicle" = low production #'s & high $$$. With a base car V6 priced just above the entry level Mustang, they could make a killing, likely selling 10 (or more) V6 cars for every V8. Instead, they are going the Viper/Prowler route; exclusive. Is it even/ever going to be offered with anything other than an auto trans?

Personally, I'll be amazed if they bring these things to market at less than $35K, & then there's the insurance permium on a "performance car" on top of it.

I think they are shooting themselves in the foot my not offering an entry-level Challanger. After all, the original Challanger was offered with the venerable slant 6 (a friend has a 225 /6 convertable) & even offered in a value package called the "Deputy."

Sure, it's a good looking car, a VERY good looking car, but without VOLUME sales (read: V6) IMHO, it's doomed to go the way of the new GTO.

And I wish the '06 charger wasn't listed as a current "muscle car" reincarnation. It's a Magnum SEDAN (a body style "real" Chargers were never offered in). IMHO, the only thing this new car has with the originals ('66-'74, after that they were "tape stripe" cars) is the name.

DB,

Actually quite a persuasive post.....


F

"Speciality Vehicle" = low production #'s & high $$$. With a base car V6 priced just above the entry level Mustang, they could make a killing, likely selling 10 (or more) V6 cars for every V8. Instead, they are going the Viper/Prowler route; exclusive. Is it even/ever going to be offered with anything other than an auto trans?

Personally, I'll be amazed if they bring these things to market at less than $35K, & then there's the insurance permium on a "performance car" on top of it.

I think they are shooting themselves in the foot my not offering an entry-level Challanger. After all, the original Challanger was offered with the venerable slant 6 (a friend has a 225 /6 convertable) & even offered in a value package called the "Deputy."

Sure, it's a good looking car, a VERY good looking car, but without VOLUME sales (read: V6) IMHO, it's doomed to go the way of the new GTO.

And I wish the '06 charger wasn't listed as a current "muscle car" reincarnation. It's a Magnum SEDAN (a body style "real" Chargers were never offered in). IMHO, the only thing this new car has with the originals ('66-'74, after that they were "tape stripe" cars) is the name.
thanks for elaborating...i agree