Challenger Is Back!

Dodge Challenger Concept

After numerous rumors and leaks, DaimlerChrysler officially announced the new 2007/2008/2009 Dodge Challenger Concept, on display last week at the Detroit auto show. The car features a 425 horsepower 6.1L Hemi, capable of propelling the car to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, and through the quarter mile in 13. Top speed is 174 mph. "Challenger draws upon the initial 1970 model as the icon of the series," said Tom Tremont, Vice-President of Advanced Vehicle Design at Dodge. "The 1970 model is the most sought after by collectors. But instead of merely recreating that car, the designers endeavored to build a Challenger most people see in their mind's eye-a vehicle without the imperfections like the old car's tucked-under wheels, long front overhang and imperfect fits," he said. "As with all pleasurable memories, you remember the good and screen out the bad."

"We wanted the concept car to evoke all those sweet memories," Tremont said.

Getting the right proportions was critical, according to Micheal Castiglione, principal exterior designer. The Challenger concept sits on a 116-inch wheelbase, 6-inches longer than the original. But its width is 2-inches greater, giving the car a more aggressive stance. Thanks to its increased cabin length, the new Challenger is a true four-seater with plenty of rear room, according to the carmaker.

"We wanted to stay pure," said Castiglione, "with simple, minimal line work, but with everything just right."

The five-spoke chrome wheels — 20-inch in the front and 21-inch in the rear — are set flush with the bodyside, giving the car a muscular stance. The signature side view "thrust" accent line is higher up on the body, running horizontal through the fender and door and kicking up just forward of the rear wheel.

Bumpers are smooth, body-color, and flush with the body. "This is something we would have loved to do on the original Challenger," said Jeff Godshall, "but the technology just wasn't there." With the Challenger concept, however, the Pacifica Studio designers were able to realize "what we wanted in our perfect world."

All glass is set flush with the body without moldings, another touch the original designers could only wish for. The car also has no B-pillar.

Although the flat seats of the original Challenger didn't offer much support for aggressive cornering, the front seats in the Challenger concept car boast hefty bolsters much like those found on Dodge's famed SRT series cars.

With its thick, easy-grip rim, circular hub and pierced silver spokes, the leather-wrapped steering wheel evokes the original car's "Tuff" wheel, as does the steering column "ribbing." The floor console, its center surface tipped toward the driver, is fitted with a proper "pistol grip" shifter shaped just right to master the quick, crisp shifts possible with the six-speed manual "tranny."

"We designed the in-your-face gauge holes to appear as if you are looking down into the engine cylinders with the head off," relates Barrington. These are flanked outboard by a larger circular "gauge" that is actually a computer, allowing the driver to determine top overall speed, quarter-mile time and speed, and top speed for each of the gears.

The hood reprises the original Challenger "performance hood" and its twin diagonal scoops, now with functional butterfly-valve intakes. Designed to showcase the modern techniques used in fabricating the car, what look like painted racing stripes are actually the exposed carbon fiber of the hood material.