Latest Update Part Deux for October

[ErikM3]

Well it just gets worse (long sigh)


As usual we are give the old "ITs A GO" blah blah blah. Then it says it will be built on the "current" charger plat only w/ a shorter wheelbase.

Engine offerings will be the 340-bhp 5.7 as std equip.

Volume will be in the 30-35K units sold vs the 150K sales of the Mustang.
Dodge states that it will be offered in V8 only (jeez last month it was gonna have the V6 as well wtf??) Execs suggust the Vert could be offered down the road at some time.

A year or more later after the initial launch we could see the SRT version powered by the 425 bhp 6.1L Hemi.

OK thats it, I am done, no more ups and downs, what if's or what could be. I'll see y'all in 08 for sure in my E 92 M3 packing 415 Hp from my flat plane cranked 4.0 V-8.

This is ref from Road and Track, the oct issue. It has a hot pic of the Challenger vert w/ the Camaro Vert under it. That Camaro in the vert guise looks damn hot IMO, better than the slab sided Challenger. That plus the for sure LS2 or even the LS7 w/ the top down, oh man the Challenger is not gonna last. The die hards will snap up the first year then the next 2 yrs sales will slide and it will be axed. Meanwhile every Camaro will be sold before it hits the lot. DCX please hire me !!

[Cuda340]

The October 2006 Car and Driver magazine had the following news about the 2008 Challenger:

"Set to go on sale in 2008 at prices from about $22,000 to nearly $40,000, the Challenger will be built on a shortened version of the rear drive LX platform (Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger). Expect a base V-6 version for the poseur and two V-8 versions for muscle-car junkies. An optional six-speed manual transmission is being readied for the Challenger, a first for an LX. Chrysler expects to build fewer than 50,000 Challengers annually, far less than the nearly 200,000 Mustangs Ford is currently turning out."

Which magazine has the latest information

[BigDaddyWiz]

all the mags are doing at this point is ballpark guessing. all they know for sure is that it will be made, just like we all do. theyre all just guessing and the closest one will be considered the "winner." I dont think DCX is goint to announce to the competition what engine they will put in the SRT version. It would only give them time to counter with something bigger.

I have faith that we will see the 5.7 as base, 6.1 as RT and something bigger than the 6.1 as the SRT based on reliable insider info from other forums. By the time it comes out, the RT model could vary well be priced around 30k and the 5.7 in the 25k range, while the new SRT motor could put the price near 40k.

I dont claim to be an insider, I'm just a rabid fan of this car and constantly scan many different challenger related forums for this kind of info.

[Yankee]

Take it easy, Erik. I'm inclined to agree with BigDaddy - don't take what you read in the car mags too much to heart - by the time their news hits the press it's usually already 2-3 months out of date. That same story also said the Camaro still wasn't officially a go, and yet we all know it has been for what - a month or so now? So don't go popping a blood vessel just yet over any potentially distressing news about the Challenger. We've still got 2 more years to go before it hits the streets and alot can happen in 2 years.

[JonW]

I've been in the car business for 35 years. Don't believe what you read in magazines, and don't believe what factory reps tell you.

[EVERRET]

Don't believe anything you read the magazines unless there is a Quote from a active DCX employee that associated with the Challenger in some way.

Also a "even less reliable" source for info is a Dealer, They seem to be the last to know any new info on the Challenger.

[E-Body]

Don't take me wrong here but car manf make stupid bean counter decisions all the time and let down their true "fans", this I know. However I cannot think of any reason why in the world they would release the 5.7 as their top engine choice and make others wait another year or more for a 6.1 or higher option. They did this on the other LX cars because the 6.1 was quite new but by the time the Challenger comes out the 6.1 will be a 3 year old "tested" motor and drivetrain.

If this does turn out to be true and we would need to wait an additional year or more for a higher performance model I don't think I could take it. A few months maybe but no more. There are way too many other options out there and more popping up every day. I think others would agree.....

DCX, Please listen to us... Build a 6.1L+ Model right from the start or you may regret it. Please don't do this to us.

[DubleDex]

I'm guessing that the Challenger wasn't jointly developed with the SRT team. That means, they still have to all the final tweaking on the "regular" version to come out.

You have to give the SRT team a little time to take the "final" version and go over it. Research. Develop. And truly produce a quality, tweaked vehicle.

SRTs aren't your standard model designation. At this point, I'm sure they're pretty much planned right from the beginning, but it's still not a regular part of vehicle development.

I'd rather the SRT guys have the time they need to do it right. If that means waiting a year, then a year I will wait.

[JonW]

Originally Posted by DubleDex

I'd rather the SRT guys have the time they need to do it right. If that means waiting a year, then a year I will wait.

x2 xxxxxxxxxxx

[ErikM3]

Originally Posted by JonW

x2 xxxxxxxxxxx

yeah me to I guess I have ADD though and find waiting very hard. I want things done yesterday which in my business is good but in life maybe not so good.

I know all you guys will be jonesing though if you see Challengers running around while we sit on our hands just wondering/hopeing.