As usual, none of the dealers around here (upstate NY) know anything about the Challenger - debut, trim levels, pricing, availability, options - nothing other than that it's expected in spring to summer of '08.

We have a car show scheduled here March 23-25 (the week after the Minneapolis show / open weekend in the concept car show schedule), and I can't even get a denial / confirmation of whether the Challenger will be at the show. I've been asking around for three months and still no one knows.

News issued today is that CAW rejected a "give back" offer to DCX, which would have probably added a fifth car on the Brampton line for 2009/2010. Although that rejection can be readdressed, liklihood is that DCX will look at putting the "5th car" (suspected to be the Imperial concept / production car) on a different line / plant.

None of this has any bearing on a lack of news on production of the Challenger. Yes, DCX DOES need this car as much as GM needs the Camaro on showroom floors to generate traffic. Regardless of the source of customer interest, showroom floor traffic is the key to getting DCX back in the black.
What feedback I HAVE gotten from the dealerships is that they're all looking forward to getting the Challenger on their lots. Some (very few) are making lists of potential buyers (a list) with vague guidelines for getting on these lists ($1,000.00 deposit was one reply).

I'm still taking a "wait patiently" attitude and plan on sitting with a fistfull of cash until I can order the car I want at a price I'm willing to pay. I've waited for prices to fall on appliances before I'd buy (LCD and plasma TV's are almost there now), and I intend to do the same thing with the Challenger. If it takes a year or two to get the motor I want in it, with the options I want in it, at the price I want it for, then I'll ride out the storm and wait for things to level off. I might be paying $4.00 a gallon for gas by that time, but that wouldn't change regardless of what I'm driving then anyway.
Whether it's at the point of sale, or at the gas pump, there's someone ready to try to rip us off. Might as well eliminate as many thieves along the way as we can.