Dodge Challenger News: 2009 R/T and SE Models Debut

  • Thread starter Thread starter YSSMAN
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Well, the Mustang looks fat.

Now this, doesn't.

I was seriously thinking putting my name down for a Camaro... I secretly hoped the Challenger would be slightly less sexy. Hmm. This buggers that plan up.

Mind you, if you put a '70 Challenger and a '69 Camaro next to me and said take one, I'd have to flip a coin.

Maybe it is time to consider cap-in-hand to the bank and buy one of each, import them both, then the sale of one can subsidise the other?..
 
TheCracker
Like all the interesting US models - it just means that it will be the import companies making all the profit instead. If Chrysler don't want the $/£'s that's their business. It's not like they were ever going to make a RND version for the UK/JPN/AUS markets anyway.
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Which is interesting; Rumors continue to fly that Chevrolet will produce a RHD version of the Camaro for official export to Europe and Australia (given the interchangeability of the Zeta chassis).

I think Dodge is missing out on a big opportunity here. I mean granted, we knew it was going to be a limited production car from the get-go, but it does a lot for interest in the brand. Just having the car in dealerships might get more people to consider a Caliber or an Avenger (you guys don't have the Charger, right?), so thats their loss.

I'm sure, like someone said, importers are quite giddy right now. My guess is that these will go for more than double what they cost here, quite a large amount over whatever you guys are paying for Mustangs right now. Obviously, less than a Corvette though.
 
YSSMAN
(you guys don't have the Charger, right?)

I'm sure, like someone said, importers are quite giddy right now. My guess is that these will go for more than double what they cost here, quite a large amount over whatever you guys are paying for Mustangs right now. Obviously, less than a Corvette though.
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Right, and right again. And as for more than Mustangs, yeah, quite right too. IRS, hello, important! I fully expect both Camaro and Challenger to be far better forms of transport than the Mustang. Now I like the Mustang, I like what you can do with it, and the cost, and the interior (although a bit plakky) is fun. And the Shelby, well, real nice, but still agricultural.

Camaro, with Corvette power... droolworthy.
 
Remind me later to post the story about the new GenV engines that are reportedly going to debut in the Camaro...

Outline:

- Still an OHV Small-block
- Drop in displacement
- DIRECT-INJECTION
- 350-500 BHP with less than 7.0L
 
Re: Challenger not arriving in Europe-> I would think that is a wise decision by Ceberus, not only that the Challenger would be laughable in Euro standards, it will also serves as a money-pit for the newly aquired company. Maybe they saw that with their pitiful Crossfire. :indiff:

:dunce:-> But limited numbers here in the US? I would think that it is silly to come up that statement. I mean come on, this brute is designed to compete with the Mustang and Camaro for that matter. I mean, its not even a halo-car, the Viper takes that spot. I can understand if thats the Chrysler Firepower, but for a Challenger? I thinks thats just plain stupid.
 
Jim Prower
It doesnt' really strike me as a car Europeans would drive, though. I mean, look at the Mustang's success abroad....
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When it somes to American cars, the Challenger is exactley what we'd buy. None of Americas small and medium size cars mit so much a tiny dent in our market, we don't like them. The Mustang sells okay for a car that isn't officially sold here, the Challenger has already been tested in Evo, they drove a test car and they loved it. Even if the handling isn't as good as a TVR T350C's, the Challenger still has a hell of a lot going for it in all the areas that you'd probably be buying the car for. By that comment, I'm not saying it doesn't handle as well, or it won't, I'm just saying that the Challenger has a lot going for it, it looks fantastic, it's just a desirable car and if it was brought here in low volume, I don't think they'd have a problem shifting them.

YSSMAN
350-500 BHP with less than 7.0L
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I should hope so.
 
Between the new Camaro and new Challenger I honstly think that Europe and Australia will prefer the Camaro. And, obviously I do. But since so many 300's have been sold in Europe maybe I'm wrong.

I must be the only one in the world who doesn't like the new Challenger. Yes the noise will be awsome and the torque will be fun...but I just don't like the interior and exterior. If I had to choose between a slower Charger or Magnum or the Challenger I'd definately choose the Charger or Magnum.

No really, I think I'm all alone in not liking the new Challenger. But, mind you, I do like the fact that it is almost here and the name has been resurrected. Its definately better than some other tin can that Chrysler has out...which is almost everything else.
 
YSSMAN
- 350-500 BHP with less than 7.0L
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Dave A
I should hope so.
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QFT. Of course, we should remember that these engines will have tons of torque. I don't think european sports car companies can spell torque.

Even so, I'd still rather have a small engine that screams. But the Challenger will be awesome nonetheless.
 
Well when you think about it the North American market has missed out on an extremely large amount of cars from the European market. Europe can afford to miss out on one. They can just pay the premium to import it and call it day. Or they can just complain; whatever floats their boat ;)
 
The Vanishing Boy
Re: Challenger not arriving in Europe->
... limited numbers here in the US? I would think that it is silly to come up that statement. ...
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Obviously the numbers are only going to be limited to the demand.

To cover their ass they start with a small planned production run and if it takes off then production ramps up.

We start running them at the end of September here and we have quite a substantial production order for them.

3 shift rotating schedual running 24/7 which will be keeping our guys busy for quite a long time.

We'll keep making them as long as you keep buying them.
 
More news on the Challenger:

Autoblog
We feel a "Thank you, Captain Obvious" is in order for this piece of news that was published all the way back on July 12th within the walled garden of Ward's Auto. The news is simply that Chrysler has confirmed it will build an SRT-8 version of the upcoming Challenger pony car. Chrysler, sorry, the NEW Chrysler, has never issued a release to our knowledge confirming it will sell the Challenger SRT-8, but again, we don't need one because they'd be crazy not to.

All current SRT-8 products use Chrysler's 6.1L HEMI V8, so we would expect the same powerplant for the Challenger SRT-8 producing 425 horsepower and 420 ft-lbs. of torque. However, considering how many high-powered variants of the Mustang are offered, and that Chevy will certainly offer a comparably high-powered version of the Camaro, we expect the SRT-8 to break rank with its siblings and have considerably more power than we're used to seeing in an SRT-8 product. In fact, we may reasonably expect all SRT-8 models to get an commensurate bump in power after the Challenger SRT-8 debuts in late 2009, especially with some like the Dodge Charger, Magnum and Chrysler 300 switching from the current LX platform to a new one code named LY.

BTW - Less than 159 days remain until the production Chrysler Challenger debuts at the Chicago Auto Show next February.
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Like we didn't already know? My guess is that the Challenger will still have three trim levels;

- Challenger R/T: 345 BHP 5.7L HEMI V8, six-speed manual standard, five-speed slushbox optional. Standard 18" wheels all around, optional 20" wheels available.

- Challenger T/A: 425 BHP 6.1L HEMI V8, six-speed manual standard, five-speed slushbox optional. Standard 20" wheels and high-performance rubber.

- Challenger SRT-8: 500+ BHP 6.1L HEMI V8, six-speed manual only, 20" wheels with summer-only rubber.
 
Duphman
Well when you think about it the North American market has missed out on an extremely large amount of cars from the European market. Europe can afford to miss out on one. They can just pay the premium to import it and call it day. Or they can just complain; whatever floats their boat ;)
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It's not a case of complaining, we can live without it, it's more a question of what goes through the minds of the people that make these decisions. It's a reversal for your side of the pond, who at Ford decided it would be better to rehash the MK1 Focus than to give you the MK2, why don't you get the Mondeo etc, etc. Your getting Vauxhalls rebadged as Saturn's, great. Although on the Saturn thing, I do see a bit of planning for the future in that one.

It just seems odd that American's for the large part send the cars over here that won't stand out, or compete with thier rivals and then whine that they don't sell anything over here and hold back the stand out cars. Really, the Corvette is the biggest, and possibly the only exception to the rule, at least with the C6 because that's actually a damn good car and would sell very well if it was rhd. We don't need American sedans like the CTS and the 300C, they will never win over here against the likes of Maserati, BMW, Mercedes and co. American cars the would sell well over here an dones that is good on it's own merits, something that stands out.
 
Very good points indeed.

But do you really think everyone would be interested in a Camaro or Challenger if we offered it? Granted, we've sold the Camaro in the UK before, but I thought we were talking about fewer than 50 car a year, if even that...

Our cars tend to be rather "crude," so I assume then that it is this "crudeness" that makes them appealing by comparison to the "refined" European standards?''

EDIT:

is the T/A gonna have the side exhaust like the old style challengers
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Well, that I'm not certain of. I was guessing on the model setups, mainly because I really don't think they're going to be able to get by with only the $30K+ SRT-powered models...
 
YSSMAN
Very good points indeed.

But do you really think everyone would be interested in a Camaro or Challenger if we offered it? Granted, we've sold the Camaro in the UK before, but I thought we were talking about fewer than 50 car a year, if even that...
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I see a Mustang once a week easily. There must be getting on for 5,000 of them in the UK already, if not more. A more handsome and capable competitor would sell similar numbers, or displace Mustang's volume.
 
YSSMAN
Very good points indeed.

But do you really think everyone would be interested in a Camaro or Challenger if we offered it? Granted, we've sold the Camaro in the UK before, but I thought we were talking about fewer than 50 car a year, if even that...
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That would depend largly on the drivers side I guess. If they didn't offer a rhd variation then they might shift 50 cars a year. If they did offer a rhd variation then a couple of hundered cars a year at the right price wouldn't be out of the question.

Our cars tend to be rather "crude," so I assume then that it is this "crudeness" that makes them appealing by comparison to the "refined" European standards?''
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If done right then yes, a crude car attempting to be rifined just doesn't work. A true muscle car like this pretty much sells on it's crudeness. It's simple, and deliberately so. No only that, but it looks absolutely fantastic.
 
AFAIK, we don't know anything official about the Challenger other than a rough idea of what kind of models there will be (I'm sticking to the three-tiered line for now), and that the official production model will debut in Chicago, production beginning shortly thereafter.

My estimate in price?

Given that the Charger SRT-8 starts at about $37K, I'd expect the same for the "basic" model with the 6.1L V8. The more-powerful model (thats expected) would probably start north of $40K, give or take. IMO, Chrysler needs to make a "base" model ready for $30K to be able to steal sales away from Ford and Chevrolet.
 
About the production, remember kiddies, Lee Iaccoca said in April 1964 he'd be elated if they sold 100,000 Mustangs that year...
 
You know whats awsome? If the Challenger doesn't have something in the 500~600bhp range stuffed under the bonnet the Camaro's sales will walk all over the Challenger's. Which would put the largest grin on my face.

2009 Camaro FTW!
 
I'm doubting seeing any kind of Camaro with over 500 BHP, just to keep it a safe distance away from the Z06 and "Blue Devil." My guess is that the top-engine will be the LS7 in that case, the LS3 as the Z/28 option, and then the LY7 as the V6 (don't know if it will have DIG or not). Although, if they are to debut the DIG Gen V engines in the Camaro (like some are saying), that may change significantly.

Dodge is going to have to work hard to be able to beat-up on the Camaro and the Mustang at the same time. My guess is that the Mustang will be the cheapest, the Camaro will probably handle the best, and the Challenger will come with the most power.

...We'll see though...
 
I see a 500bhp (or more?) Camaro happening. It just makes sense to do it since the benchmark will be set higher with the Blue Devil and the GT500KR Super Snake.
 
Nothing today... My guess is that it will continue to come at a trickle until the official debut in Detroit or Chicago, by which production will begin shortly thereafter.
 
First off, good to see Rumple on the boards.
Second, I notice the Monocoque frame.
I wonder if it will accomodate the V-6 and Both hemi V-8's?
And will that frame be able to support the inevitable convertible.
I'll take my 'vert in Yellow with a white interior, and a Shaker hood (ala Nash Bridges).
 
I'm pretty seriously doubting a V6, given that what Chrysler has to offer is pretty much trash to begin with. The best guess is multiple V8s, but even that may be a stretch these days. The convertible question is largely dependent on how well the coupe sells overall, and probably wether or not ASC could build one for Chrysler or not.
 
Chrysler's 6cyl engines are rubbish. The HEMI V8's only sound good but don't produce enough power per litre for my tastes. And this is considering they've had AMPLE time to design and impliment some high output variants before they resurrected the HEMI name. But, being fair GM and Ford aren't doing much better in that department. I think its lazy and costs them little money to do it this way. "oh, lets just increase the displacement to get a little more power" Drives me up the wall sometimes.
 
YSSMAN
I'm pretty seriously doubting a V6, given that what Chrysler has to offer is pretty much trash to begin with.
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It hasn't stopped them in the past.:sly:
Remember the early Caravan/Voyager was available with a seriously under powered I4.
The current Magnum and Challenger are available with the V-6.

One can hope that they exhibit good sense and not even offer the V-6.
But, even under new management, this is still Chrysler we're talking about here.
 

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