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opticalxarsenal — NAIAS 2006- Dodge Challenger02

Published: 2006-01-15 20:56:53 +0000 UTC; Views: 1500; Favourites: 18; Downloads: 63
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Description The Inside Line from Edmunds.com:

What Is It?
Dodge Challenger Concept

What's Special About It?
"If I had had more time I would have worked a little bit more on the details," says Michael Castiglione, designer of the Dodge Challenger Concept's exterior. "I would have come up with a modern hood pin, revisited the oversized chrome gas cap which was so cool on the 1970 Challenger, and maybe worked a little on the door handles."

Mike. Babe. Don't touch a thing. It's perfect. OK, maybe the gas cap would be cool. Do it up for the production version.

That's right, the production version. Although Dodge hasn't confirmed it will build the Challenger, rumors the car will hit dealers in 2008 just won't go away. And you can't blame the rumor mill, the Mustang is hotter than jalapenos and Dodge built the Challenger Concept on the same rear-wheel-drive platform found under the Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum and Chrysler 300. It even has a production 6.1-liter V8 Hemi V8 under the hood. Yeah, the same 425-horsepower version you get in a Dodge Charger SRT-8 and it's backed by a six-speed manual transmission.

Dodge says the combination is good for 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds, a quarter-mile run in 13 seconds flat, and a top speed of 174 mph.

Although the Challenger is 2.3 inches shorter than a four-door Charger, it's a full 4 inches wider. It's also 1.2 inches lower and sits on a 4-inch shorter wheelbase. It all rides on massive five-spoke wheels and oversized tires that are literally squeezed up under the carbon-fiber body. The wheels, which measure 20-by-9 inches in the front and 21-by-10 inches in the rear, are wrapped in 255/40R20 front and 265/45R21 specially made Goodyear tires.

The coolest part, however, is how Castiglione managed to reverse the basic proportions of the 1970 Challenger to better reflect DaimlerChrysler's modern design language of a thicker body with a shrunken greenhouse. How he did that while still making it look like the old car, we'll never know; but the result is a very modern-looking coupe that perfectly fits in with Dodge's present model lineup.

What's Edmunds' Take?
Mom Mopar would be proud. Build it. Build it. Build it. Just shut up and build it. And give Castiglione a raise. — Scott Oldham
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Comments: 12

fuelie [2009-08-20 04:43:50 +0000 UTC]

What an intense shine! I love how the car colour matches the sign behind it. I'm so happy I got to shoot one of these at a local Dodge dealership. Now if only I could buy one! Hopefully getting an R/T eventually...

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zimaro [2007-12-02 20:37:49 +0000 UTC]

Wow. This is cool. A Dodge Challenger! I love this. Did you see it in real life? The challenger still looks abit like it did back in the 70's.
I am a Challenger and a Mustang lover.

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opticalxarsenal In reply to zimaro [2007-12-14 05:29:04 +0000 UTC]

Yep, they had at the North American International Auto Show. I go every year. You should try to make it if you're anywhere near Detroit in January... it's awesome. But anyway, this past year I noticed a lot of nostalgic cars. Er, well, I'll give the designers the benefit of the doubt and call them "nostalgic" instead of saying "they've run out of ideas." ;D

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zimaro In reply to opticalxarsenal [2007-12-22 20:12:43 +0000 UTC]

Wow. but I live in Iowa. And guess what our car was stolen not to long ago.
But then you are so lucky to go to them.

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Klemb91 [2006-11-22 15:57:29 +0000 UTC]

now that will suceed if they didth the single rear tail light then ill buy it....ill be 17 in 2008

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opticalxarsenal In reply to Klemb91 [2006-11-23 15:38:51 +0000 UTC]

I'm pretty sure Dodge is planning on tossing this into production. It's based on the original Challenger model, that's what the single rear taillight is all about. I'm generally not a Dodge fan, but I have to admit pictures don't do the Challenger or the Chevy Camaro any justice at all. You HAVE to see them in person.

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Klemb91 In reply to opticalxarsenal [2006-11-23 15:43:06 +0000 UTC]

...yea....see them on the track dodge made 3 of the concept cars and you CAN buy the concpet directly from chrysler there just 1 mil for the conpet model dodge made 3 of these

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opticalxarsenal In reply to Klemb91 [2006-11-23 15:55:23 +0000 UTC]

Wow, I didn't know you could actually buy the concept right now. $1 million each? Man, imagine how angry your insurance guy would be if you rear-ended one of those... XD

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Klemb91 In reply to opticalxarsenal [2006-12-01 22:09:51 +0000 UTC]

good nes..i went to [link]


the challenger was thrown the green light for production

looks liek ti wil br produced in its current state,, YES!

to bad for the charger though

the 1999 concept of the charger was 100 times better

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atomic-hedgehog [2006-01-19 09:16:16 +0000 UTC]

futuristic muscle cars are sexy. i was hoping a few years ago, when the concept for the new Mustang and Cobra was being shown on every car-related show, that the muscle car revolution would come back. and it seems to be all going to plan

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opticalxarsenal In reply to atomic-hedgehog [2006-01-19 22:41:06 +0000 UTC]

I do hope so. ^_^ I've got a Pontiac Firebird myself and plan on getting another one when they come out (er... after that... when I have a good job and the money... o_O); you can't go wrong with a big, beefy American muscle car!

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atomic-hedgehog In reply to opticalxarsenal [2006-01-19 23:58:54 +0000 UTC]

true dat

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