Challenger Powertrain Question - Part 1 - Choose your Powertrain

[MikeF]

I am hoping that the weight comes in at about 3600-3700 pounds on the LY chassis. If it does, there is a real good chance that the 6.1 will be faster than the Shelby and it will be much more durable and better handling. A 6.1 with a 6-speed will be a good handler, better in a straight line and look much better. I would like to see some sort of wing/front air dam option though to hold the car down at speed and iin curves. Other than that I want cloth seats, AC, power steering and brakes and basic radio/CD package and that's pretty much it. I do want smaller wheels too, like 18" all around, the show car's are just too big.

[thegypsyfox]

HEY DCX, YEAH I'm talking to you!!!
When you build the new challenger, consider all of the cool things that you did with the original e-bodies way back when.
The original challengers and barracudas came with 9 different engines to choose from and every engine could be had with either an automatic or a manual transmission. Customers could choose from a long list of options AS WELL as assorted packages. Have packages, but don't forget to let us pick and choose the exact options that we want, don't force us to get some optiosn taht we don't want just to get some optiosn taht we do want. Include cool stuff like High impact colors (mmm plum crazy. . .) and fun stripes like stobe stripes and billboards andall of that wacky stuff that someone came up with after a smoke break in their old VW van with all of the flowers painted on the sides. Let the customers build the exact challenger that they have been dreaming about for the last 32 years. Don't make us wait for the reaaly nice options like an SRT-8 or a rag top. Lay everything on the table right out of the gate. If we all buy the first year only to turn around and sell them to buy a second year convertible, the resale value of the cars will take a serious hit and that will seriously uindermine the long term viability of the model, as well as hurting the resale of your whole lineup. Give us all of the goodies the first year out.

You've got those cute little 4 banger world engines (like the ones in the new caliber), put those in the base model and start it off at around $16K bare bones. Offer several V6 options (for the love of god, please don't put that craptastic 2.7L (the stupid thing is the single worst engine brought to market in the last 9 years in the whole freaking world. . . fix the oil starvation issue or don't make it)) Offer several hemi engines, from a couple versions of the 5.7 to the 6.1 to the 6.4 and maybe you should surprise us with something that puts out about 600 ftlbs across the band. . .
Do not make the car without the option to put a manual transmission in the car. I won't buy a car with a sludg-o-matic, a lot of people won't more than you think.
Don't add a B-pillar and give us a rag top with an optional removeable hard top too. and don't mess it up.

[Gargoile]

I hope they offer the T/A option as the SRT8. I would rather have the T/A hood scoop as compared to the standard twin scoops in the photos. Also it would be nice to have the exhaust pipes run out just in front of the rear tires.

[Mike Penner]

<points at thegypsyfox> what he said. especially the stuff about the options. when you take a 1970 challenger you had (i'm estimating here)

9 engine options
14 exterior colors
6 interior colors
5 rear gear ratios
2 tranny options
6 or 8 other options (shaker, go-wing, etc)

and you wind up with 9 x 14 x 6 x 5 x 2 x 8 = 60480 (!) different possible cars. This number is probably too low, although some combinations were ruled out because they were hideous (purple car, green interior?? ack). Permutation is a wonderful thing, don't underestimate its appeal. The car is special and deserves special consideration.

[Legion681]

Ok here's my $0.02.

I would like to buy the 6.1L 425hp (or well... the most powerful engine DCX would want to put in it. But nothing less than a V8) either with auto or stick, it doesn't realy matter to me (honestly I'd prefer an auto with manumatic or something similar: I have driven stick for almost 20 years, kinda tired of it now...But if only a stick would be offered, allright I will buy it anyway).
I hope as well that the weight will not exceed 4000 lbs., the optimal level for a car of this size ought to be something like 3800 lbs.; in any case the lighter the better...
I also wish that a GPS Navigation System be offered as an optional, as for me it's quite essential and I would prefer not to have to buy an aftermarket product.
As far as what the car ought to look, I hope you will keep it very similar to the NAIAS concept car as I believe it was spot on (if you ... "chargerize" it, I mean make it 4 doors and with a modern look, for sure I will not buy it).
And last but not least, seen this car ought to be a throwback to the glorious muscle car era, definitely I wish that DCX would offer some ... retro colors as well, especially SubLime (it would be my choice), Vitamin C orange and B5 Blue...please don't go with the usual lame colors only, it would be such a lost occasion for DCX to do the right thing...
Allright, back to praying for DCX to produce it (I confirm it: if you build it, I will buy it)...
Thanks for listening, guys.

[EVERRET]

I voted for the: 425 Horsepower V8 Hemi with 6-Speed Manual option. When I buy the Challenger I will get the biggest engine available with a manual 6-speed if available, I would settle for the Auto though, if that was the only choice. If you are worried about the cost effectiveness of making the manual, don't worry, there are plenty of us out here who will buy it. On the Corvette website they had a similar poll asking how many people would buy a "Automatic Z06" if they made one, about 1,200 people responded and it was about 50/50 auto/manual. If you make a manual there will be plenty of buyer's for it.

[VRFury]

I just want to say I think it's very important that DCX build a car that has the following options:
Cheapo v6 so units are sold;
VERY potent V8(i.e. the 425hp 6.1L);
Choices like not leather seats on every high end model, etc.;
LOW COST!!!! - THERE HAS TO BE A WAY TO TOPPLE THE MUSTANG AS WELL AS things like Evo's and STI's;
STICK SHIFT,
and a good factor to consider is the vehicle weight.
The up and coming 20-30 somethings dont always want to keep fighting the stupid "I have luxury, but it takes all my horsepower to move it" scenario. Like I believe someone stated earlier, if I want fast with a bunch of luxury, I'd buy a Lexus or Benz. It doesn't take a genius to realize that fast and at least mild weight (2500-3500 lbs) is what is enticing to the performance crowd of today. Hell, look at that little experiment DCX did with the SRT-4 Extreme Lightweight or whatever they called it.

[Sublime 340]

Originally Posted by M3SMG02

I will, of course, go for a Fully Loaded Challenger, with a 5 Speed Autostick, 425HP Hemi. Perhaps I will go with the 6 Speed Manual, but the WA580 Trans in my SRT8 is better than I am...

However, I must stress the utmost importance of of D/C producing an attractively priced V6 model, with Manual Trans, worthy of the "T/A" designation. Here's how I see this MOST IMPORTANT MODEL:

It should NOT be a single exhaust, secretary special like the Mustang V6.
Smaller, Dress Tips should peek out the back, set into the rear splash apron.

It should start as a minimally optioned car, compared to the loaded one I'll be purchasing.

...and, it should be priced to sell.

LJB

PS: What about a "Baby Hemi" at 4.7L, to one-up the Mustang 4.6?

Clipped for space, but i agree 100% with LJB ;
a base car that is affordable and respectable,
with extra value above the market competition,
is essential to making a fullscale production,
everyday driver car that secretaries, first-time buyers,
and blue collar guys can buy, and feed, and insure.

Prowlers and Vipers are cool,
but i've never known anyone that owned one.
And i know lots of people with pricey German cars and Vettes.
Ford screwed the pooch in targeting the T-Bird at
greyhaired empty-nesters and pricing it $40k;
[and no SC version with the Jag "S" engine at all],
so now they're killing it for not gaining even enough
market for a specialty car.
Chevy's SSR truck will be next to get axed.
Remember Typhoon & Cyclone trucks back in 89 or so?

Detroit has made way too many Neat Cars Nobody Can Buy.

The cool thing about the musclecar era was,
you didn't have to be a Rock Star to buy a Hemi Cuda,
if that's what you wanted instead of a Coronet sedan.

I will prolly opt for a 5.7 /M6 myself,
but if Challenger comes to market ONLY as a 425-500HP
overpriced "Specialty" item, it won't mean squat to me or
99.99% of other sports coupe buyers.

If that happens, well,
another new Mustang isn't too bad a thing, at all.

[Kruzn]

I'd buy the 350hp Hemi R/T with autostick. Wife needs to be able to drive it too and she doesn't drive manual. The Challenger needs to cover all the bases from affordable entry-level V6 to 500hp/manual SRT-8. I would LOVE to see a T/A version, maybe with 360-370hp auto and manual options. If a T/A is offered, I would consider that over the R/T.

[Tedman5]

All I can say is, keep it real!!! The concept looks hot, don't screw it up like you did the Charger.
6 speed manual tranny.