RE: 6spd implications for Charger?
What you're saying sounds correct, Jeremiah. But if they can shorten the platform, probably they could adjust it to accommodate the manual transmission for the Challenger. It's probably a case of why bother with the Charger most of them are V-6s, and they're supposed to get the LY platform in 2010. Maybe that platform will be designed to accommodate either transmission.
I think the fact that the Charger four doors and all came out during the Daimler era is key to what the car is today. I seriously doubt the foreign honchos truly understood what the "Charger" name meant in America. From everything I ever read, Dr. Z and his crew were totally against 2-door cars of any type. Hence, that's why we in effect have a family sedan (which actually is a nice car to drive) that has a famous name. I'm truly amazed the Challenger was ever able to exist even as a concept car under them.