Insider Confirms Dodge Challenger Production Status?

[TeeWJay426]

Originally Posted by AmericanMuscle

PS- 4100 lbs isnt "reasonable"

Gotta agree.... 4100 lbs for that car is a porker.... probably a good 600 lbs over the original, and a few hundred more than the Mustang. The extra power doesn't do a lot of good if it is expended hauling extra bulk around.

[octoberX]

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[firstmethod]

I did some research and the original 1970 Dodge Challenger w/426 hemi was 3801 lbs curb weight according to what I turned up. It appears the 3500 lb Challengers had 340s, etc

http://www.engine-power.com/dodge/19...r_rt_hemi.html
http://www.supercars.net/cars/424.html

[Vanishing Point]

Originally Posted by Mr.DJ

An '08 model to be available during the middle to late '07 sales year seems plausible to me, as this has been the sales trend for quite sometime now. Hey, that means that the 'Challenger' just might become available for order/purchase sometime next year...I'd better begin saving a lot more aluminum cans.

DJ, you hit it right on the mark...when I was at show the dcx rep for the challenger was telling several of us off record,to expect the middle of '07 release as an '08 model.

[redsled]

Originally Posted by AmericanMuscle

We'll you have to think, what is Dodge trying to make. Are they only trying to make a car that is nastaglic, and fast in a strait line? Or are they wanting to make a sports car that will be respected by the racing community? And if you think about it, you get to the end to the drag strip and what do you have to do.... turn around!

Either way, this car is going to get respect on the street.. Plus, a huge majority of Mopar enthusiasts are "straight line" racers. I would expect it to be built for the strip. That is the market that Chrysler has targeted for years. If you want a "sports car" go get a Porsche---they aren't worth a **** for Drag Racing though. Of course the first Vipers(early '90's) were built as straight line cars and have managed to do well in the twisties too.

[Challenger_Nut]

Originally Posted by redsled

Either way, this car is going to get respect on the street.. Plus, a huge majority of Mopar enthusiasts are "straight line" racers. I would expect it to be built for the strip. That is the market that Chrysler has targeted for years. If you want a "sports car" go get a Porsche---they aren't worth a **** for Drag Racing though. Of course the first Vipers(early '90's) were built as straight line cars and have managed to do well in the twisties too.

Ok if it is built for the strip what is the first and least expensine thing you can do to get you ET's down? Would it be lighten the car. DA HA!

We are living in the new millenium where a nimble sporting car is just as important as horsepower. I actualy have more fun going through some twisties than going fast in a stright line. If this turns out to be something that appeals to me once I drive one. I plan on having some fun with it! Not just look at or cruise it around.

Also it takes more power make a heavy car go as fast as a lightweight car with less horsepower. Take the 05 Mustang GT, with the standard SOHC V-8 @ 300hp and 320 ft lbs at a stock weight of 3483lbs it will run 13.8. The 300C SRT8 with it's 6.1 425hp and 420ft lbs at 4160lbs runs the same 13.8.
And the lighter car will get better fuel milage. I beleive the SRT8 gets 20 Highway and I am not sure about the Mustang but I would guess 27 Highway.

Another thing that puzzles me is that DCX claims the 6.1 Challenger will do a 13.0 1/4 with the same motor and near identical weight (4160 for the 300C SRT8 and 4100 for the Challenger) as the 300C SRT8 yet the info I have read from magazine tests state that the 300 will do the 13.8 as I stated previously. Go figure!
Either this means DCX made those Horses a lot bigger just for the Challenger or that the production car will be smaller and lighter. Lets hope it's the latter as I don't want get my clock cleaned in my 425hp Challenger by a stock 300hp car.

Now that will be a real shame to have all that power just to keep up with a 300hp Mustwang. Wouldn't you agree. Especialy since "Chrysler targets this market and most Mopar enthusiast are straight line racers!"

[firstmethod]

One possible explanation for the difference in qtr mile is maybe the Challenger has a higher (numerical) rear gear ratio... maybe 308s in C300 and 355s in challenger? or perhaps the tranny is geared for performance. not sure. get the impression you're looking for a small, sporty car when even the original didn't fit that bill. 3801 lbs curb weight w/426 isn't a featherweight by todays pony car standards and maybe that 2005 mustang would even beat an original. the car is what it is, i agree with you 4100 lbs is absurd but 3500 lb w/6.1L seems unrealistic. Put the right rear gears in the car and it will destroy the mustang and thanks to the 6 spd still have a nice top end cruising rpm (which can't be said for the original). strictly IMHO

[Blah2008]

Originally Posted by Challenger_Nut

Another thing that puzzles me is that DCX claims the 6.1 Challenger will do a 13.0 1/4 with the same motor and near identical weight (4160 for the 300C SRT8 and 4100 for the Challenger) as the 300C SRT8 yet the info I have read from magazine tests state that the 300 will do the 13.8 as I stated previously. Go figure!

Different gears.

I agree with you that this car needs a diet. If they can get it around 3700 pounds it will be sweet.

[Challenger_Nut]

Originally Posted by firstmethod

One possible explanation for the difference in qtr mile is maybe the Challenger has a higher (numerical) rear gear ratio... maybe 308s in C300 and 355s in challenger? or perhaps the tranny is geared for performance. not sure. get the impression you're looking for a small, sporty car when even the original didn't fit that bill. 3801 lbs curb weight w/426 isn't a featherweight by todays pony car standards and maybe that 2005 mustang would even beat an original. the car is what it is, i agree with you 4100 lbs is absurd but 3500 lb w/6.1L is unrealistic. Put the right rear gears in the car and it will destroy the mustang and thanks to the 6 spd still have a nice top end cruising rpm (which can't be said for the original). strictly IMHO

No, just a car that would be comparable in size and weight to the mustang or the Concept Camaro. No one has stated a weight for the Camaro yet but with demensions (186.2 L 110.5 W.Base 79.6 W 53.0 H) similar to the Mustang. It should weigh about the same. Maybe a bit more.

I agree the original Challenger was no small car. That is one of the reasons why I was hoping the new one would be shorter. Even though I have three 70 Challengers. I have always thought the car should have been 186" in legnth like the 'cuda instead of 191" (Let alone the the concepts 197.8" legnth. Heck thats a foot longer than the Mustang or Camaro concept). The car (original Chally) can tend to look a little long and thin if it dosen't have the proper stance and wheel & tire size. All of the other demensions of the orig I like. Especialy the 50.9 Height of the orig vs the 57.0 of the concept. Thats a tall car. A car looks more muscular if it's low and wide IMO.

3801 for a car with a 950lb motor is still less weight than the concept. The 6.1 with the aluminum heads should weigh around 600 to 650lbs. Remember the 6.1 HEMI is a small block not a BIG BLOCK. So let's compare it to a 340 Challenger at 3500lbs.

I agree that this car will be better to live with than the orig. That is why a car like this appeals to me. Classic muscle car looks with todays technology.

As a matter of fact one of my 70 models is in the process of modernization. Keisler 5sp. Willwood discs 6 piston front 4 piston for the rear. Alterkation K frame and awaiting the 392 HEMI crate motor. Updated interior with Monaco leather buckets. Blah Blah Blah. You get the idea. So a new Challenger that looks like the old is very welcome.

If you guys haven't figured it out yet. I am an analytical person.

[allhemi]

Originally Posted by AmericanMuscle

PS- 4100 lbs isnt "reasonable"

You got that right!