You have nailed it - this is a perfect explanation. They could have called the new Chargers anything and consumers would have never known/cared since it was a new design/look.
ORIGINAL: halsflying
Dodge stoped making Chargers in 1974 and have'nt made them again. They make a good looking car now they call a Charger but to me its has nothing to do with the old ones. They stoped making Challengers in 1974 and now there making them again and they are Challengers. The best year for Chargers in my opinon is 1968.
If you we're to call the new Challenger anything other than Challenger (ok or almost Cuda), consumers would say "your crazy look it's a Challenger!"
Eric