Challenger: Revived muscle car concept a big hit
07-13-2006 | 10:17 AM
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Challenger: Revived muscle car concept a big hit
Lansing State Journal
Challenger: Revived muscle car concept a big hit
Chrysler on mark with remake of its '70s legendary car
Published May 20, 2006
By Matt Nauman
KRT News Service
CARMEL VALLEY, Calif. - Why do Chrysler executives bother calling the Challenger a concept car? I mean, they're going to make it. How could they not?
Influential AutoWeek magazine proclaimed it the best concept at Detroit's January auto show. It was the hit of the winter auto-show season.
Much of the mechanical parts of the Challenger already are in use in production cars such as the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum and Charger models. Plus, it looks fabulous, borrowing its shape and attitude from the 1970 muscle-car hall-of-famer. Its Challenger Orange paint job almost hurts your eyes, it's so bright and sunny.
Another car with '60s and '70s muscle roots, the two-door Ford Mustang, quickly became a certified hit.
Designed at Chrysler's West Coast studio, the Challenger has a pure, authentic feel. Designers say they corrected flaws of the legendary 1970 model - recessed wheels, a too-long front end and shoddy build quality - in making the new one. It's a bit longer and wider, too, but the proportions look low-slung and right.
The face, thankfully, echoes the vintage model and shies away from the horse-collar grille used on the Ram, Magnum and Charger. A neon tail lamp extends across the entire back of the vehicle and is a design highlight. Dual black stripes and big wheels (20-inchers in front and 21s in back) complete the look.
The inside is a study in black, with an emphasis on performance and function and not on creating some quasi-luxurious cabin.
Under the hood is the 6.1-liter Hemi V-8 that makes 425 horsepower. Attached is a six-speed manual transmission.
"If we wanted to go into production, and with the response we've been getting, we could pull the trigger and go," said Sam Locricchio, a Chrysler design spokesman.
Chrysler is well-known for putting its concepts into production, with models from the Dodge Viper to the PT Cruiser making that trip in short time. Based on those past exercises, you could see a Challenger as early as the 2008 model year.
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Copyright 2006 Lansing State Journal Use of this site signifies your agreement to the
Terms of Service (updated 12.20.02)
Challenger: Revived muscle car concept a big hit
Chrysler on mark with remake of its '70s legendary car
Published May 20, 2006
By Matt Nauman
KRT News Service
CARMEL VALLEY, Calif. - Why do Chrysler executives bother calling the Challenger a concept car? I mean, they're going to make it. How could they not?
Influential AutoWeek magazine proclaimed it the best concept at Detroit's January auto show. It was the hit of the winter auto-show season.
Much of the mechanical parts of the Challenger already are in use in production cars such as the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum and Charger models. Plus, it looks fabulous, borrowing its shape and attitude from the 1970 muscle-car hall-of-famer. Its Challenger Orange paint job almost hurts your eyes, it's so bright and sunny.
Another car with '60s and '70s muscle roots, the two-door Ford Mustang, quickly became a certified hit.
Designed at Chrysler's West Coast studio, the Challenger has a pure, authentic feel. Designers say they corrected flaws of the legendary 1970 model - recessed wheels, a too-long front end and shoddy build quality - in making the new one. It's a bit longer and wider, too, but the proportions look low-slung and right.
The face, thankfully, echoes the vintage model and shies away from the horse-collar grille used on the Ram, Magnum and Charger. A neon tail lamp extends across the entire back of the vehicle and is a design highlight. Dual black stripes and big wheels (20-inchers in front and 21s in back) complete the look.
The inside is a study in black, with an emphasis on performance and function and not on creating some quasi-luxurious cabin.
Under the hood is the 6.1-liter Hemi V-8 that makes 425 horsepower. Attached is a six-speed manual transmission.
"If we wanted to go into production, and with the response we've been getting, we could pull the trigger and go," said Sam Locricchio, a Chrysler design spokesman.
Chrysler is well-known for putting its concepts into production, with models from the Dodge Viper to the PT Cruiser making that trip in short time. Based on those past exercises, you could see a Challenger as early as the 2008 model year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2006 Lansing State Journal Use of this site signifies your agreement to the
Terms of Service (updated 12.20.02)
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