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Dodge & the Dodge Challenger come 2013. Where will they be?

47K views 166 replies 80 participants last post by  HemiDave1399  
#1 ·
Okay. I tried to get someone else to start this thread a couple of times. No takers it seems. Let me see if I can write this simple enough for everyone to understand including myself. Where's my Webster's Dictionary?

The purpose of this thread is to use it as a time capsule of sorts. We'll be able to look back on this thread almost 2-years from today, and use the comments to see who had the most insight and wisdom into what would happen specificially 2-years down the road.

The hard question is as follows: Where will Dodge, the Dodge Challenger, our fuel situation, and this country be come January 2013?

Look into your imaginary crystal ball and put down in as many words as you like on what you visualize. This is NOT a debate thread so please only one observation post! If you don't agree with someone's thoughts you can chastise them for it in 2-years :) .

"The state of the USA economy (including Canada's) in the next couple of years will play a big part on whether or not musclecars will continue to be produced. Fuel costs will be a significant part of the equation. Reading through other posts on this forum, some say the Challenger will be here for years to come. Others say it won't."

What you say?
 
#5 ·
I think that the car will still be around, and it will offer the same trims as those that are currently offered (V6, RT, SRT). They may do some tweaking for each model year but it will still be around.
 
#6 ·
If I recall, the bill or w\e dosen't effect current model cars....only newer design cars....all the "new" designs or "refreshes" have to meet the new EPA standards...I could be wrong though, but that's what I remember, so the Challenger wouldn't technically be effected, but naturally no one is going to want it if Obama makes gas 5$ a gallon, we're going to have a mad max on our hands with post apocalyptic bad ass muscle cars if this guy continues :O, so silly to "force" a nation based on freedom to change, the government was never supposed to have this much impact on this crap.
 
#7 ·
H2 or more commonly known as Hydrogen. Green Power GWE :)
 
#17 ·
What is the #1 Green House catalyst...
Image

CO2 = nope :disgust:
Methane = nope :disgust:
Water Vapor = Ding Ding Ding... We have a Winner!!!!
Image




If they were really convinced we were all going to die from global warming... they would NOT be promoting a way to spew more water vapor into the atmosphere. But alas we all know it has nothing to do with actual destruction... and everything to do with POWER.
 
#8 ·
For 2013 I believe the Challenger will still be around. I think in the future if gas prices continue to stay high and the CAFE numbers get more stringent Chrysler might just offer a twin turbo V6 and not V8s. After 2014 MY it is anyones guess. Sales will probably be the determining factor.
 
#12 ·
Call me doom & gloom but this is how I view the next 2-years. Regular unleaded fuel hits $5.00 a gallon the summer of 2011 and stays there until 2012 where it climbs to $6.99. Remains in this area through January 2013. Premium goes from $5.85 in 2011 to $7.85 by 2012. All gas guzzler cars including the big engine Challengers languish on dealer lots beginning with 2012 models. By 2013 the only thing selling anywhere is small-engine fuel-efficient models and even they're having a hard time due to the worsening economy. The middle east situation is much more intense than 2011. By 2013 Dodge axes the Challenger and Chevrolet cuts the Camaro. Only Ford is bold enough to continue building the Mustang 'though in new 4-cylinder models only.
 
#13 ·
Call me doom & gloom but this is how I view the next 2-years. Regular unleaded fuel hits $5.00 a gallon the summer of 2011 and stays there until 2012 where it climbs to $6.99. Remains in this area through January 2013. Premium goes from $5.85 in 2011 to $7.85 by 2012. All gas guzzler cars including the big engine Challengers languish on dealer lots beginning with 2012 models. By 2013 the only thing selling anywhere is small-engine fuel-efficient models and even they're having a hard time due to the worsening economy. The middle east situation is much more intense than 2011. By 2013 Dodge axes the Challenger and Chevrolet cuts the Camaro. Only Ford is bold enough to continue building the Mustang 'though in new 4-cylinder models only.
Mustang as a 4 cylinder car.......reminds me of the early and mid 80's. History may repeat itself once again. Though if I recall, the 4 cylinder SVO performance wasn't too shabby for the time period.:thumbsup: I can still remember the 4 cylinder turbo going vroooom, vrooom, LOL:jester:

My prediction** for the Challenger is that it will end production by 2014. If it were to survive beyond that, it definitely would need to lose weight, but then it would most likely need to be built on a different platform. So Chrysler/Fiat would have to develop a new platform for it (doubtful due to $$) or downsize/restyle it onto a current one. If they did that, then it wouldn't be the same Challenger (in name only, remember the small sized Charger and Challenger from the 80's?):disgust: It's pretty much a niche car that will be killed off for money reasons: fuel prices+limited sales+lack of R&D $$ invested.
The new Chrysler/Fiat needs to survive on more fuel efficient/alternative fuel cars that appeal to the masses, not a niche market. Like they say "Follow the money". Though a 6 cylinder turbo could be a game changer.:browsmiley:

**I've been known to be wrong more times than I care to remember, LOL
 
#14 ·
Most car manufacturers take 5 to 6 years to amortize the cost of their expenses for a new car. That puts the Challenger at the end of it's run in 2013 or 2014. This is not a high-volume car, so I don't anticipate many changes between now and the end of the run. Maybe a few tweaks here and there, especially if something can be done to shave weight and/or improve fuel economy. One salvation we have is that Dodge can spread any tooling costs for new drivetrain components over the entire LX line and maybe over into the Jeep line as well. That bodes well for more fuel efficient engines and transmissions. Sheet metal will not change during the Challenger's model run.

My prediction: in 2014 gas will be $6.00 a gallon. 93 octane will be gone. All but the most exotic performance cars will be tuned for 87 or maybe 89 octane. The Feds will mandate CAFE at 42 MPG or higher. Turbo V6s will be much more mainstream. V8-powered performance cars will be rare as manufacturers scramble to meet the new CAFE requirements. Future performance cars will not include a V8 in product planning, except in the case of very high end cars such as the top-tier Corvettes. The merger with Chrysler and Fiat will not prove to add a huge amount of profit to Chrysler's bottom line, and given that younger buyers have already shunned 2-door cars, Dodge will not be able to make a case for a new Challenger. The nameplate will be dropped.
 
#18 ·
I think that the Challenger will be a 5 year run which will make the 2012 Challengers the last ones. Just like the Challengers from 1970 thru 1974. A 5 year run.
 
#19 ·
Challenger will be gone in 2012 possibly to 2013. I started a thread a while back about an SRT engineer stating that the Challenger will stop production in a few years. Who knows what will take its place, CUDA, very slight possibility but who knows what the hell this company is thinking. Im hearing of a "MOPAR 11" car now and what was that roller skate Fiat Mopar 10 looking thing?? They are lost and dont know what to do. :) If they make a "Mopar 11" it sure will piss the people off that got the Mopar 10s because they were supposed to be a limited car. Making a Mopar 11 will just kill that whole idea. So, in the end, I still think the Challenger will be gone in a few years. Is that a bad thing for us, naahhhh, just makes us guys that have a Challenger have something a bit more rare.
 
#20 ·
In 2013, no telling what's in store....
My thoughts, a V6 version and will have some weight shed off.

By then, they should be able to squeeze quite a bit of HP out of a V6.
My wife's G37 couple pushes out 328HP.

I don't foresee Chrysler repeating what they did to the Challenger in 1978-1983.

On the plus side, the MPG will be better.
On the downside, we would miss the torque found from a nice HEMI V8.
 
#22 · (Edited)
Here she is, all new for 2013.
Yep. 29/40 MPG. Not bad. Just fugly. :)

Why have we gone so far backwards in MPG since then?

My guess for 2013, assuming there are no major world-changing events before then, things will remain pretty much the same as they are going now.
- gas will probably hit $5, then dip back down to a "low" $4. (They do this to ease the consumers into it.)
- the private central bank is printing money--minimum wage will *have* to go up w/the inflation, a $40k car loan will become cheaper to pay back
- food prices go up with oil prices--all the agriculture is dependent on gas: milk may hit $4/gal
- Dodge (w/Ralph Gilles) will continue the Challenger, even if the exact same as 2011MY, and even if it means relegating to Viper sales numbers and hiking the price. At least it shares a production line w/two other models as opposed to the Viper, so I don't think it's in danger of getting cancelled unless the 300 and Charger also get cancelled.
 
#26 · (Edited)
I 2nd what 2ndgen wrote,

The Challenger is not a top seller, but they're not slouching, and have a shared platform. Supercharging a V6 is a big investment for Chrysler, they don't have one, so it'll take a few years before engineers are confident enough to convince management to pull the trigger and phase out the Hemi's. The later also has to overcome consumer love for the big engine since that is what really sells the car.

Gas can only sell at what the market will allow, given that we have a pretty hefty supply, regardless what the "peak-oil" alarmists say. $7 gas is not viable, demand will plummet, and losing profit will keep prices in the same cycle of up a $1 a year, then down half, and so on, just enough to keep up with mpg creep.
 
#29 ·
Inflation starts rearing its head, and we're all making more money and spending more money, so the $4.50 a gallon doesn't seem too bad.

The Challenger is still around and has nearly identical interior to the Charger and 300, but now it is:
SE = Pentistar w/ multiair @ 320HP $29,000 base price and 32 MPG with the 8 speed auto.
R/T = turbo (twin?) Pentistar with the multiair @ 400+HP and 28MPG with the 8 speed auto or 6 speed manual @ $33,000 base price
SRT = 426 HEMI @ 540HP and 22 MPG with 5 speed or 6 speed auto @ $60,000 base price

They will announce that it is the last year for the Challenger and they will sell like hot cakes. They will have special editions like the "Daytona" Chargers, with runs of many high impact colors.

The next year, we'll see a surprise...The Challenger may have been killed...but a very familiar car emerges...the Cuda based of the same platform...slightly different body panels (retro styled...not the imaginary futuristic retro camaro style), with a very Cuda Hood, front fascia and grill, and rear end.
 
#32 ·
2013:

I will actually have a Challenger.

Gas will be in the $3.00 - $4.00 range.

The 2013 Challenger will be the last year for the current design. It will have an 8 speed automatic. It will have LED tail lights like the Charger. The V6 will be making 325hp and get better gas mileage. There will be a Challenger with the 2013 Viper engine, whatever that may be. The R/T will see a boost in HP (possibly for 2012). The SRT may crack 500hp.

The sky will not fall.
 
#33 ·
The Cajun Nostradamus predicts this:

The Challenger will end production in 2013 mid-year
The first year SRT8's (2008) and R/T's (2009) will be coveted
A pound of good boudin will always exceed the cost of a gallon of premium


Jacques
 
#34 · (Edited)
The Cajun Nostradamus predicts this:

The Challenger will end production in 2013 mid-year
The first year SRT8's (2008) and R/T's (2009) will be coveted
A pound of good boudin will always exceed the cost of a gallon of premium


Jacques
I really like boudin, had the last time that I was in N'awlins for Mardi Gras.
Also enjoy a good king cake :jester: