[Challenger_Nut]

I hate to be the one that bust the bubble but the concept car is a PIG!

According to CAR AND DRIVER it weighs 4100 lbs.
Not only that it's, 197.8 Legnth
57.0 Height
115.9 Wheelbase

Compare that to the following:

1970 Challenger
3600 to 3800 lbs (depending on the source and motor)
191.3 Legnth
50.9 Height
110.0 Wheelbase

2005 300C SRT-8
4160 lbs
196.8 Legnth
57.9 Height
120.0 Wheelbase

2005 Mustang GT
3483 lbs
188.0 Legnth
55.4 Height
107.1 Wheelbase

I love the original Challenger but always wished it was a bit shorter. So when I heard of the possibility of a new Challenger to compete with the new Mustwang. I thought great it should be comparable in weight and size to it. Unfortunatly I was wrong it's as as big as the 300C. This should not be a two door Chager or 300C. It should have the dimensions of a Pony car.

I like the over all look of the car and give credit to the design team However I have some comments.

-It is too tall. Look at the front view with the guy in the driver seat. Look how tall the sides look and how high the grill opening is from the ground. It needs that ground hugging look not like it's walking on it's tip toes.

-The roof is too long and raises up ay the rear when it should be sloping down.(I know this is for rear headroom but this ain't a family sedan DCX).

-The back end needs to be a little lower. BTW the tail lihts and bumper look phenomanal! The bumper just needs to tuck under a little more.

-Due to the height of the car the front and rear from the side view look too blunt. Not enough rake to the approach and departure angles. The side view of the grill opening (upper part) looks amazing with it's deep recess and pointed mouth.

- The sides of the car need a little definition, as in a lower accent line similar to the orig. car.

-The dash and interior needs to look sporty not so generic.

I have other observations most of which would be corrected with smaller proportions. I uderstand this is a concept and could change. If the car was scaled down I uderstand some of this would be taken care of.

Hopefully DCX would do some focus groups with some diehard Challenger fans before finlizing the production version. However if the introduction date is 18 t0 24 months out the finalization has pretty much already been done.

I applaude DCX for doing this and don't want anyone to think that I don't want this car. I just feel that it needs to be done right. Us Chrysler fanatics have waited over thirty years for this.

I hope DCX is listening and make it a proper Pony car not some overweight full size two door.

Sincerly, Ed