Challenger officially revealed!

[r0tor]

Who cares?  It's faster then I can actually use on public roads anyway and it looks so...damn...sexy!

your right, as long as its a shiny turd its ok

[Cookie Monster]

Wow, that is fugly!

[J86]

Goo no thanks....functional I guess, but it just doesnt stir me- it looks kinda chysler cheap from the photos.

[LonghornTX]

Not my favorite of the three muscle/pony cars, but it is definitely appealing in its own way.  Definitely way too heavy for my tastes though, and it will likely not get much lighter with the less powerful versions.

[SVT666]

My top 3 muscle/pony cars in order are:

1. Shelby GT
2. Mustang GT
3. Challenger R/T (only version with a manual)

[omicron]

The black Challenger looks outstanding!

The dashboard isn't anything special, it seems. I can forgive conservative design for soft-touch plastics and sound ergonomics, but that might be expecting too much of Chrysler Corporation products, given recent history. Still, it's a bit better than the Charger dashboard.

[omicron]

Actually, I don't hate that.

[CALL_911]

Actually, I don't hate that.

I expected a better interior. The exterior looks fantastic, OTOH.

[TheIntrepid]

I expected a better interior. The exterior looks fantastic, OTOH.

I agree. I'm not surprised, though, just disappointed.

[93JC]

Gross proportions.

You're off your fucking rocker Sean, this car is ridiculously well-proportioned.

[280Z Turbo]

You're off your fucking rocker Sean, this car is ridiculously well-proportioned.

My response to that is:



Can you say that about this rear 3/4 view?! Looks like they did the best they could in this era of high waistlines and big wheels to make it not look weird.

As a 280Z 2+2 owner, I know a thing or two about "two-face" cars. It looks great from some views and hideous from others.

[93JC]

I maintain you're insane. Perhaps years of owning the goofy-proportioned Zed has discombobulated your sense of car-sexiness?

[280Z Turbo]

I don't have to listen to you!

You think the XJ is sexy.

[Cookie Monster]

It still looks like crap!

[ChrisV]

Can you say that about this rear 3/4 view?! Looks like they did the best they could in this era of high waistlines and big wheels to make it not look weird.

I still maintain it has idealized musclecar proportions. Chunky looking, agressive and muscular, long nose - short deck, turret top. The C pillars are typical of musclecar coupes of the era they are trying to evoke. It's not trying to be a european GT, nor should it be, like the Z was.

[omicron]

I don't have to listen to you!

You think the XJ is sexy.

The XJ is not just sexy; it is sex.

This new Challenger is an oustanding effort, too; I simply must have a black one, although I might be demanding an interior re-trim in black leather and some sharp aluminium highlights here and there.

[Nethead]

" Is the sheet metal made of lead? 4140 pounds? "

Laconian:  LacoDude, where did you find the 4,140 pounds figure?  That's a figure precisely in line with what came out soon after the concept hit the autoshow rotundas ("4100--4200 lbs."), but supposedly DCX was gonna lighten the Charger chassis still further after they shortened it for the Challenger's wheelbase.  Evidently, this didn't happen... 

If this truly weighs 2.07 tons, that alone is excellent rationale for cutting production to only 6,000 or so units the first year and then re-assessing the numbers to be produced in later model years.  Motor Trend tested a Charger SRT8 with the hemi and the automatic which weighed in at 4,266 pounds--after shortening that chassis for the Challenger and trashing two superfluous doors they could only save 126 pounds????

[SVT666]

It still looks like crap!

You look like crap.

[SVT32V]

Also considerably cheaper. 

In this price range the difference in MSRP between the two is trivial.

There will be many comparison tests between them, they are direct competitors.

[SVT32V]

your right, as long as its a shiny turd its ok

You would think they would at least try to equal the competitors performance (GT500), especially in this nut-swinging musclecar class.

[Raza]

In this price range the difference in MSRP between the two is trivial.

There will be many comparison tests between them, they are direct competitors.

This is going to be what, 30-35K?  A GT500 MSRPs at 50K?  I've never seen one cheaper than 75 grand.

You're telling me that 15 to 20 to 45 thousand dollars is trivial?  That's ridiculous.  In almost any market, 15 grand is a sizable amount.  I mean the difference between 215 and 230 is 7%.  35 and 50 is 43%.  Either I'm way off on what this car will cost, or you're insane. 

[Raza]

Oh man!  You're right.  Carbon copy.  Which one is the new one again?

[FoMoJo]

Oh man!  You're right.  Carbon copy.  Which one is the new one again?

I like the old one.  The new one looks inflated.

[Raza]

I like the old one.  The new one looks inflated.

I like them both.  Perhaps if they brushed up the paint on the old one and it wasn't that awful two tone, I'd like it more, but in that picture, it's the new one that I want to take home.  It just looks so muscular.  Although you can see how basic styling has changed over the years.

[SVT32V]

This is going to be what, 30-35K?  A GT500 MSRPs at 50K?  I've never seen one cheaper than 75 grand.

You're telling me that 15 to 20 to 45 thousand dollars is trivial?  That's ridiculous.  In almost any market, 15 grand is a sizable amount.  I mean the difference between 215 and 230 is 7%.  35 and 50 is 43%.  Either I'm way off on what this car will cost, or you're insane. 

Intersting math.

If you read the link you would find the MSRP for this car is $37,995.  The MSRP of a 2008 GT500 is $41,930.  So yeah, comparing MSRP the difference is not so significant.

The GT500 usually gets more than invoice, so may the Challenger SRT, so you can't make any assumption. 

Do you really think these cars won't be comparison tested in every mag and are not direct competitors?

[Raza]

Intersting math.

If you read the link you would find the MSRP for this car is $37,995.  The MSRP of a 2008 GT500 is $41,930.  So yeah, comparing MSRP the difference is not so significant.

The GT500 usually gets more than invoice, so may the Challenger SRT, so you can't make any assumption. 

Do you really think these cars won't be comparison tested in every mag and are not direct competitors?

Magazines also compared the Mustang and Charger and the GTO and Charger.  Doesn't mean they're proper comparisons.

[Laconian]

Laconian:  LacoDude, where did you find the 4,140 pounds figure?  That's a figure precisely in line with what came out soon after the concept hit the autoshow rotundas ("4100--4200 lbs."), but supposedly DCX was gonna lighten the Charger chassis still further after they shortened it for the Challenger's wheelbase.  Evidently, this didn't happen...

From the article:

... blah blah blah...

Drag Coefficient.....................................................................0.353 (9.01 CdA)
Curb Weight, estimated, lb. (kg) ............................. 4140 (1878)
Weight Distribution, percent F/R..................................... 55.6/44.4
Fuel Tank Capacity, gal. ...................................................... 19 gal.


etc.

[Eye of the Tiger]

A 0.35 drag coefficient on a newly-designed sports car is just disgusting. 

[Nethead]

Intersting math.

If you read the link you would find the MSRP for this car is $37,995.  The MSRP of a 2008 GT500 is $41,930.  So yeah, comparing MSRP the difference is not so significant.

The GT500 usually gets more than invoice, so may the Challenger SRT, so you can't make any assumption. 

Do you really think these cars won't be comparison tested in every mag and are not direct competitors?

Totally correct.  MSRPs are basically $38,000 and $42,000, with the demand for the Shelby still selling well above the $42,000 MSRP. Chrysler hopes the Challenger will be popular enough to sell at over MSRP.
 
Performance figures for the Challenger published by Chrysler put it equal to the Shelby in braking distance from 60 MPH, but not really close in the other areas for which figures were published--essentially Bullitt performance but with possibly a higher top speed with the top speed governors that both cars are equipped with.

Yes, RazDude, magazines will compare top-model Challengers to GT500s, Bullitts, and regular Mustang GTs.  The Mustang is the iconic V8-powered, RWD, two-door coupe--and the Challenger is an imitation of the Mustang (again)--or have you missed that somehow?  Of course they'll be compared--if it weren't for the success of the current Mustang there wouldn't even be a resurrected Challenger this Spring and supposedly a resurrected Camaro years from now...

[Raza]

God, Nethead.  Just buy a fucking Mustang and stop making me read about how awesome they are.