ORIGINAL: awsure
Just my opinion but I have been in sales & marketing for 15 years and I expect these numbers will be driven by a couple things initially: capacity and demand.
1st - Dodge only has so much capacity at the plants that produce the platform that the Challenger will be built on. It makes sense that they will, in an attempt to get more profit per unit, start with the higher end models in year one. Based on the excitement surrounding this car I definitely agree that the first year buyers will pay a premium. However, there are options for the muscle car fan that are not die hard Challenger nuts (like us). Mark it up too much and you will have prospects going over to buy a Mustang (or something else). I think realists at DCX understand that the Challenger does not compete in a vaccum...there are alternatives.
2nd - As demand increases (as I am betting) DCX will begin to shift production to more Challenger units and more options (IE - V6 models) which will drive the price down. Once the Camaro joins the fray you will probably see prices tighten even further.
I know it stinks to wait (Every day I am on the road I imagine rolling in my Challenger and letting out a throaty HEMI rumble as I ease up to an intersection) but I am betting by year two and beyond you'll see some more rational pricing.
This is my theory also. It is better that they under produce at first than over produce. Remember what happened in the 70s to Chrysler. They over produced and it just about killed them. They tend to be very cautious and they should be. They are entering a market they have not been in for 22 years and they witnessed GM getting their tail kicked just four years ago. It is a good idea to check the water first before you dive into it. I heard the production for the U.S. is supposed to be around 50,000 which I don't think is too bad. Remember that coupes don't sell like they used to.