New look Challenger with a twist

By Ashlee Pleffer

The Daily Telegraph

15 February 2008

The new Challenger is designed to capture its heritage with a modern twist. Photo Gallery

A reincarnation of a classic American muscle car has made its debut at the Chicago Motor Show.

Chrysler lifted the covers on the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 for its first official public outing, after releasing images and pricing towards the end of last year.

Powering the Challenger is a 6.1-litre Hemi V8 engine, producing 317kW and 569Nm. The two-door, rear-wheel-drive coupe races from 0-100km/h in the low five second mark.

Chrysler Group Australia spokesman Jerry Stamoulis says there will be other engine variants in the future, but the complete line-up hasn't been announced. But there are still no foreseeable plans to bring the muscle car here.

“At this stage it's for North America only,” Stamoulis says.

And it's already proven to be popular, with 4300 people putting their name down on the first day of orders in December.

When it came to designing the new Challenger, design executive Trevor Creed says the aim was to portray the emotion of the original model.

“Our designers wanted to capture the minds' eye view of what people remember about the Challenger from 35 years ago,” Creed says.

The result is an unmistakably Dodge product, drawing inspiration from its heritage. Among the traits adapted from the original Challenger are a full-width grille and fog lamps, a hood with a raised centre, stripes and functional dual scoops, and the A-line and beltline.

The rear spoiler also draws on the previous character, but serves as a functional feature as well, generating significant rear-down force.

And it's not just the exterior that used the old-school inspiration, with the trapezoidal theme of the door and gauge cluster, the dark headliner and the slanted shifter console on the interior all based directly on the original Dodge Challenger. The original model was launched in 1970 and was phased out five years later.

Comments on this story

Displaying 3 of 7 comments

Page 1 of 1

Sean i think that you just don't get it do you?

John Posted at 19 February 2008 10:44pm

I see Dodge just got 6 of 8 places in this years Daytona 500 including 1st and 2nd . Toyota got the other 2 places. Looks like Ford and GM are not just bankrupt financially, but I would hate to see Holden and Falcon lose parent company support as they are great cars deserving of more support from Aussie buyers. As for Aussie buyer support one does wonder why would anyone want to buy ugly (subjective ), overpriced ( objective ), euro crap ( objective - see quality ratings ) ? BTW do BMW have longer than a 3 months warranty yet? I guess perceptions fed by most of our motoring press and the demonstrated propoganda skills honed in WW11 especially by the Germans helps a hell of a lot.

Pedro Anderson of Cunnamulla Posted at 19 February 2008 12:09pm

Has potential, as long as the handling is improved over the last one

MIke, Stone Posted at 17 February 2008 1:12pm

Jerry Stamoulis should give up fighting for this car to come to Australia. The sale won't work out. I do like the Challenger. It should be the next General Lee replacing the old 69 Charger in next The Dukes of Hazzard Movie. That old General Lee( 69 Charger) had it day.

Coolio Hunt Posted at 17 February 2008 10:08am

Who cares how long the original car was on the market, or that Chrysler decided to bring back an old nameplate ... its much closer to the original than the New Beetle or Mini, which are mere caricatures of the originals! All enthusiasts should be happy that there are car companies out there who will continue to make cars to sell to the people who want them, and not bow down to the greenies who'd have us all driving electric buzz boxes forever!

Stephen Krech of Brisbane Posted at 16 February 2008 4:05pm

We all remember the orginal Dodge Challenger. Appeared in Vanishing Point,the Shaft the Big score,& then Daisy Duke Car opposite Bo & Lukes General Lee (69 Charger). The production Challenger has come out Cool but forget it coming here. It won't work out good. It should be the next General Lee replacing the old 69 Charger in the Dukes of Hazzard Movies. Charger is also a good & cool car but not with 4 doors. Charger should also have 2 doors like Challenger has.

Coolio Hunt Posted at 15 February 2008 5:06pm

Read this: The original model was launched in 1970 and was phased out five years later. It must have been a loser. Chrysler must have run out of new idea.

sean Posted at 15 February 2008 2:41pm

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