Dodge has high hopes for Challenger

Posted Thu Feb 7 2008 10:21 AM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

There’s been a lot of excitement surrounding the launch of the new Dodge Challenger, and officials are hoping this excitement won’t die off soon after the car hits the road as is often the case with hyped up sports cars. Chrysler lags its Detroit rivals in sales by a significant margin and desperately needs halo models like the Challenger, like the 300 before it, to be a hit with the public. If initial sales are anything to go by it appears Dodge may have pulled it off.

Officials expect to sell between 20,000 and 30,000 Challengers per year once the full lineup goes on sales, a modest target it seems considering the first full year run of the flagship SRT8 model (priced at $37,995) has already sold out. The information comes from Chrysler Vice Chairman Jim Press, who spoke recently with the Free Press. He also revealed that a waiting list has already formed for the 2009 model.

The Challenger’s closest rival is the popular Ford Mustang but Dodge is touting that its muscle car is the better choice, pointing out that it comes standard with antilock brakes, electronic stability control, curtain air bags, six-speed automatic transmission and keyless ignition, and features a five-link rear suspension as opposed to the Mustang’s archaic solid rear axle. "We'd rather run like a thoroughbred than ride like a pony," Frank Klegon, Chrysler vice president of product development, said in a thinly veiled jab at the Mustang.

The standard Challenger models will be revealed during April’s New York Auto Show and will include lower-priced models with smaller V6 and V8 engines. There’s even plans for a convertible version further down the track.

Gallery: Dodge Challenger SRT8

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Reader Comments

Thu Feb 7 2008 7:03 PM
Gus says

Well, I hope it does well, but the Mustang is one heckuva target to shoot at, even with it's archaic live axle... :)
Fri Feb 8 2008 11:16 PM
big L says

big Whoop. only 6400 vehicles? Seventy-five percent of car buying public born way after the car was orig developed. Who'd remember it?
Sat Feb 9 2008 1:18 AM
Gus says

I was born in 70, and I really remember it.

Don't forget, the new Mustang isn't only bought by people who lived in the 60's either...
Sat Feb 9 2008 2:23 PM
SuperSkyline89 says

I was born in 1989 and I love the old muscle cars. They might not be very efficient of handle good but they are cool as hell. 1969-1970 were the best years in my opinion. The 69 Camaro, 69 Charger, 69 GTO, 70 Challenger. I love those old cars, I probably wouldn't buy one but I still think they're cool. This is really the only modern muscle car I think is cool, I don't like the new Camaro and sorry Gus but I don't think the Mustang is as cool as this one. I guess the Corvette and Viper are technically modern muscle also, but I see them as just under supercar status.

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