MotorAuthority

No convertible for Dodge Challenger

Posted Wed Oct 8 2008 9:31 AM by Nelson Ireson

The SRT8 version is where the Challenger's muscle car image comes to life

The era of the muscle car may be waning, but Dodge's Challenger is working to stay relevant with a broad range of engine and trim choices, including a relatively efficient V6 engine. One option that won't be available on the Challenger, however, is a convertible top.

Ranging in price from $21,195 in V6 SE trim to $37,995 in Hemi SRT8 trim, the Challenger spans a wide range of tastes in coupe format. Some enthusiasts had hoped Chrysler would see fit to include a drop-top version of the car for good-weather cruising, but new information reveals it didn't make sense in the car's development, reports Kicking Tires.

"We considered a convertible when we were developing Challenger, but the extra weight needed to beef up the car when the top was removed was too much of a penalty,” said Mike Accavitti, Dodge's director of brand marketing. “And that was with a manual soft-top. A power-retractable hardtop would add even more weight."

The Challenger is an already heavy car at about 4,100lb (1,860kg), being the first coupe built on the large LX platform shared by cars like the 300C and Charger. Adding to that total would only hamper performance further and drive down fuel economy. On top of that, Dodge didn't find much of a market for a convertible version in their research.

To see what a convertible Challenger might have looked like, check out our coverage of the 'Cuda' Concept.

story Tags:

• Challenger
• Convertible
• Dodge
• Dodge Challenger

Reader Comments

• Wed Oct 8 2008 9:39 AM

  www.mywheelsonwalls.com says

  Curiosity got the better of me this past weekend and I wondered into a Dodge dealer to go see the new Challenger. What blew me away was that the dealer had a $10K markup on the Hemi RT models. They sticker for $32, 500 and he's sticking a 30% markup on them and still cant keep them on the show room floor!
  
  And apparently Americans are rushing to buy fuel efficient vehicles? I love it!!!!

• Wed Oct 8 2008 11:05 AM

  NoNameDenton says

  How about a glass roof version and a targa and trage convertible

• Wed Oct 8 2008 11:46 AM

  Gus says

  Well, that kills it for me.
  I wonder why not, the Mustang convertible is almost all you see here.

• Wed Oct 8 2008 11:47 AM

  Gus says

  As for the markups, yeas, that is difficult to fathom. Here the still want $20k above sticker for a GT500. I told them "it's just a Mustang with some bits bolted on" but they said people will pay that, so beware the fools, I guess...

• Wed Oct 8 2008 2:51 PM

  TaeKwonDonkey says

  No convertible?! this thing was made to be convertible