Pony Car Talk

[Mr.DJ]

Pony Car Talk

- NASCAR looking for ways to differentiate the Busch Series -

NASCAR continues to look for a way to differentiate the Busch Series from the premiere Nextel Cup Series, in answer to critics who suggest Busch has become Cup Lite, with near-identical cars and a plethora of invading Nextel Cup drivers.

One possible way: Change the Busch Series cars from sedans to the manufacturers’ “pony” cars—the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Toyota Solara.

Sound farfetched? It isn’t.

“It’s under discussion with NASCAR,” said John Fernandez, director of Dodge’s racing operation. “It isn’t to what I’d consider the serious stage, but it is under discussion.”

Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology, said, “We’ve discussed it. And I’d like to see it. We need to do something about the Busch Series.”

So, might 'the cat' finally 'be out of the bag' with the folowing statement?

Given the production schedule of the Camaro and Challenger, it is unlikely those cars would be able to enter the Busch Series before the 2008 season, with 2009 a more likely scenario.

By then Nextel Cup’s Car of Tomorrow redesign should be in place. One scenario would have the Busch pony cars built on modified platforms from the Nextel Cup cars used now, thus helping team owners who say the Car of Tomorrow seriously reduces the value of the old cars.

Manufacturers are hoping that if it happens, NASCAR will allow the pony car racers to resemble their production counterparts, with parity achieved through front and rear spoiler adjustment and weight. It’s also possible the reinvented Busch cars could be the first to use fuel injection.
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Source: Automotive News
April 17, 2006 - 1:50 pm

[l3it3r@gmail.com]

I hope that's EXACTLY what that means!

[PhantomR/T]

the solara is a pony car?

[mike the tiger]

DCX IS ALL MIXED UP!

The CHALLENGER is no pony car: look at the size! It is a 1970 CHARGER in a CHALLENGER skin! DCX is going niche market because they cannot compete in the pony war: too much weight and too much expensive for that market...the CHALLENGER is a MUSCLE CAR..that will compete with the upcoming GTO! DCX is not in the pony market period! Pony cars were for the mass market!

The CHARGER is no CHARGER with its four doors...it is a reskinned 300 built for DODGE.

DCX is simply using the retro names to sell cars..and they do not respect what those names meant in the past...they just want to sell cars! Their GOD is not the MOPAR fans..nor their heritage...their GOD is their SHAREHOLDERS and the mighty BUCK! They are using the heritage to sell cars. I respect that and I understand business..I own one myself! BUT the way they are going about it will bite their corporate behind soon...and they will loose all credibility!

BUT THEY SHOULD STOP PULLING OUR CHAIN..they have NO EMOTION like us ..they have stategies to make money by using their heritage!

FORD is building MUSTANGS that are MUSTANGS and GM will build a CAMARO that is a CAMARO!

I for one will not get fooled by DCX...and I have decided that I will buy the toy that suits me...CHALLENGER, MUSTANG, CAMARO, GTO, BMW..and~or...!

ANYONE ELSE THINKS LIKE ME!

[Honda2Mopar]

Not exactly. I do not believe they will market the car as a niche vehicle. If they do that why buy one. They will more than likely make a v6 base then a r/t version with a 5.7 litre hemi with cylinder deactivation good for 24 mpg and a srt 8 version with the 6.1 litre hemi in it.

70 percent of mustangs sold have the v6s in them. In order to have a mass produced challenger, they have a charger with a 3.5 litre v6, my bet is that will be the same engine in the base challenger with a step up to r/t which will be in the mid to high 20 grand range and a srt8 which will list somewhere in the 30s.
I could be wrong but this info comes from a top 5 dodge usa dealer and if they make the car at all it will be to compete against the mustang just as the 1970 model did. If not then they do not need to build it. Anybody remember the Prowler, Conquest/ Starion, Crossfire (still in production) all sport model niche cars that sold for high 20 to lower 30 grand price tags and whose resell values where/ are laughable.....

[nextchall]

Sadly, I think that the above post by Mike the Tiger is right on the money. But I do hope that all we are reading pointing in the direction of a niche market is wrong and that Honda2Mopar is wright. If the Challenger wants to be considered a pony car, it better be on a serious diet both in weight and price (based on the Charger). Perhaps on the LY platform and with better production capacity, we shall have the car and options most of us are waiting for. If not, DC will have to sell it as a muscle car and forget mass market. Then we better have lots of $$$ in the bank if we want a Challenger!

[Honda2Mopar]

I really wish they would make an announcement soon. I have had to really stop myself from just buying a 03-04 Mustang Cobra convertible. I can afford 22-32 grand anything more than that and the challenger is outta my ballpark. I have a gut feeling that they will make something called the challenger just do not know what that something is exactly??????????

[Ragamuffin]

'Given the production schedule of the Camaro and Challenger, it is unlikely those cars would be able to enter the Busch Series before the 2008 season, with 2009 a more likely scenario' { mr. dj } == Well ,if this is the time frame for the Challengers to enter the Busch Series, then I hope the race tracks used are at least doubled in size as well as a reduction in the number of cars allowed to start a race ! It seems more and more there are just too many cars on the track and with the ever increasing speed and bumping-like Pitman manuvers is making this sport ever increasingly dangerous ! I mean, yeah I like speed and the excitement , but don't like hearing and seeing top drivers [ or any drivers] killed or maimed due to inadequate race tracks and/or reckless or unsportsmanlike tactics ! I believe the tracks need to be greatly enlarged and /or redesigned .