Challenger weight

[MikeF]

There has been a lot of discussion about the weight of the prototype Challenger and the production car when it happens. If you have read any of my posts you can see that this is the major concern for me in my decision to buy a Challenger. There are a few smaller issues too, but weight is the main thing.
I would like to hear from views on the weight and whether or not it is a concern to you. If it is a concern, what do you think could be done to drop the weight? And I really don't want to read impractical or too expensive suggestions like a carbon-fiber body. Also, what is the maximum acceptable weight for you?
One more thing, please keep this thread civil. I don't want have to put up with rants.

[allhemi]

I'm with you I hope that it's not to heavy but with all the stuff that they have to put on these days I think it will be around the 4000lb mark. I know the new shelby is going to weight 3900 lbs + so I dont see the challenger being much lighter than the mustang because it's longer and wider than the 'stang. It would help if they had a stright axle insted of the IRS, and they could use some aluminum in place of steal in some places, but it will be hard to drop alot of weight.

[firstmethod]

I'm *praying* for 3900 but we'll probably be lucky to get 4000 given what we're hearing. I would be *thrilled* with 3900 if its a modern body given the engines that are destined for use in the car.

The key to weight is size and materials.

The size is fixed by the LY platform. The LY itself is an unknown so there may be significant weight savings to be had there (and hopefully there will be, as well as some size reduction as well). Time will tell.

In the absence of real weight savings from the LY they can:

jettison sound deadening materials which may shave some poundage (you want to hear that sweet hemi right?)

use light weight mags

use light weight spare

The sad part is that's about all I can think of. Short of acid dipping the body or using exotic materials like carbon fiber or titanium what else is there?

Edit: the more I think about it the more I feel the only hope of getting the weight down is to shrink the size of the car - even if only by a few inches. So for example instead of being 6 inches longer and 2 inches wider make it 4 inches longer and 1 inch wider or some such.

[Dodgeram44]

Well, to quote myself from another thread:

Also, according to edmunds.com, the wieght of a 5.7 charger is 4031 lbs. Now, with that in mind, a 6.1 is exactly the same block but with a different intake and few other things which dont affect it's weight. Furthermore, manuals wiegh less than autos. The challenger is shorter and has 2 less doors and less equipment. So I would be very surprized if the final car wieghed more than a 4-door charger. I would expect it to be about 3900 lbs. Either way, it's killer looks still make it the best muscle car!

As far as things you can do to save wieght:

1: Lighter smaller wheels
2: use run flats, and get rid of spare and the tire jack
3: carbon fiber or aluminum hood, since most ppl want a different hood anyways.
4: Light weight drive shaft. (assuming aftermarket makes one)
5: Never go to a drag strip with a full tank of gas.

[RamRon]

Doesn't matter to me. I don't plan to take mine to the drag strip. I'm used to driving my Ram Quad with the 5.7 every day, so having 425 HP in the new 4,000 lb Chally sounds pretty good to me. But, I do plan to hold out for the 2nd or 3rd year convertable option, so that should actually cut some weight, but who knows how much?

[Dodgeram44]

Originally Posted by RamRon

Doesn't matter to me. I don't plan to take mine to the drag strip. I'm used to driving my Ram Quad with the 5.7 every day, so having 425 HP in the new 4,000 lb Chally sounds pretty good to me. But, I do plan to hold out for the 2nd or 3rd year convertable option, so that should actually cut some weight, but who knows how much?

Convertibles usually add wieght.

[MikeF]

Regarding the weight, there is one question that I have never seen what I consider an authoritative answer. Is the prototype car built on an LX chassis or on a mule LY chassis? In other words, is the prototype basically a 300 coupe or is it an actual Challenger?
This distinction is pretty important because the final form of the LY could be different in a lot of ways from the LX. At 4" shorter, the weight will be less and it could allow for a lower sleeker form instead of the more upright prototype. I would love to see 3800 pounds or even 3900.
Like I have said before, I am hoping for a semi-stripper special edition T/A type car with a light hood, smaller wheels and a base interior. It would be perfect with only an ac and base sound system offered on it.
My favorite Challenger is the #77 Trans Am car that Sam Posey drove. I would love to have a stripper car with that spoiler and front air dam.
A quick edit: this is not for racing, I want a muscle car with a bare minimum of creature comforts for long ditance touring vacations.

[RamRon]

Originally Posted by Dodgeram44

Convertibles usually add wieght.

There I go thinking again! Good thing I'm not going to race it!

[Dodgeram44]

MikeF, dont get yer hopes up, i highley doubt there will be a stripper version, because it seems like this car wont have much more than a radio and a/c anyways. Plus the limited production will make it even less likely. And also i'm sure dodge would rather sell thier own performance parts as seperate upgrades like lighter hoods etc...

[Mike Penner]

Originally Posted by Dodgeram44

MikeF, dont get yer hopes up, i highley doubt there will be a stripper version, because it seems like this car wont have much more than a radio and a/c anyways. Plus the limited production will make it even less likely. And also i'm sure dodge would rather sell thier own performance parts as seperate upgrades like lighter hoods etc...

Of all the conjecture about engines and trannies and various options on this board probably the last thing you're likely to get is option deletes. I can't even remember that last time I saw them offered with a new car.

The point MikeF makes about the LY is critical. To answer the question based on all resources I've read (basically all available on the internet) the concept is built on a hacked version of the LX. They cut 4 inches out of the wheel base. It is NOT the LY by all accounts or even a prototype of it. I'm praying they put the screws to the LY and make it lose size and weight because its telling you can cut 4 inches out of the LX and still the concept weighs in at over 4100 lbs. I think the only hope we have is if they make weight reduction a major priority on the LY platform. From what I've heard their main goal is flexibility, but maybe they can make it a strong #2 priority?