Dodge Charger

Jason C · 10-03-2004, 02:48 PM

The 2006 Dodge Charger will have Hemi power as an option.

Dodge unveils sketch of new Charger, car to bow at '05 Detroit show

Dodge has confirmed with this first sketch that it aims to again recreate some of the company's early muscle-car magic conjured by the Charger name.

The 2006 Charger, a stout and roubust four-door that carries a rakish roof line and the large, egg-crate face of the company's performance car and truck division, also replaces Dodge's Intrepid NASCAR entry. It looks "almost like a four-door coupe" said Dr. Dieter Zetsche in an exclusive interview on Friday.

The Charger will debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2005, and is expected to enter showrooms in the spring of 2005. True to its power image, it will carry with it the much-vaunted, 340-hp Hemi engine under the hood as an option. Its base engine is expected to be a 3.5-liter V6 making 250 horsepower.

When the Charger first appeared in 1966 it was an enthusiasts' dream with high power, great performance and slick style that competed and won on oval tracks as well as drag strips.

In the early 1970s, however, thanks to government-mandated emissions constraints and rising gas prices, the Charger began a long and steady fall from car guy grace. It reached its nadir in 1981 when the company took the once-proud name and attached it to a thoroughly dreadful front-drive coupe in an effort to capitalize on its heritage and move units.

The new regime at DaimlerChrysler understands it doesn't have the benefit of overpromising and underdelivering. "We have to get the product right everytime," Zetsche said.

Pricing for the car will likely start at just below the Chrysler 300, at around $23,000.

Considering how tough this beast appears in sketches, can you imagine what the high-end SRT-12 version will look like?

Surprise, surprise! The official sketches looks EXACTLY like the drawing on the recent issue of C&D - minus the retro-fugly paintjob. I'm sure the actual model won't come with 22-inch wheels as seen above.

Eh... I dunno, doesn't it seem like a reskinned 300C? They said that the 5.7 Hemi is an option, and that it starts "just under" the Chryslers $23,920 MSRP. The 300C with the Hemi is $33,495, so just how much of a price difference are we talking about, V8 to V8? Enough so that the Charger doesn't compete with the 300C for sales?

Meh. It would be a nice daily driver, if my other car was a S2000/Vette. But it'll probably be over the 2-ton mark.

blee · 10-03-2004, 03:38 PM

Well, I'm glad they're offering a car like this, anyway. For my money I'd rather save up a bit and get the 300C, which is a more compelling styling exercise IMO. This does look like a reskinned 300, and it probably is, but the usual things that will make it a Dodge rather than a Chrysler will probably add up to disappointment. That said, I think I'd rather own a Magnum than any potential 300C-like Chrysler variant of the wagon.

Jason C · 10-03-2004, 04:00 PM

Lol, it looks like C&D got their sketch from a DCX guy.

lemming · 10-03-2004, 04:46 PM

this is a stupid question (and i admit that i'm dumb a lot), but is the 300C/charger based on the former E class?

or some new global DC platform?

just curious. am wondering where all of the weight is coming from on these behemoths.

JST · 10-03-2004, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemming

this is a stupid question (and i admit that i'm dumb a lot), but is the 300C/charger based on the former E class?

or some new global DC platform?

just curious. am wondering where all of the weight is coming from on these behemoths.

Former E-class bits; how much of it really would be familiar to a Mercedes tech, I really don't know, but it's generally credited that the suspension design and driveline (other than the engine) are the same. My guess is that the 300/Charger is "stretched" in key dimensions.

It's a big car, at least if its the same size as the 300. 4000 lbs and no stick reduce its appeal for me to zero, but I am glad DCX is building it. I agree with Blair--I'd probably save my pennies and dimes to get the 300C, but what I'd really get if I were in that market is the 300C SRT-8.

blee · 10-03-2004, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemming

this is a stupid question (and i admit that i'm dumb a lot), but is the 300C/charger based on the former E class?

or some new global DC platform?

just curious. am wondering where all of the weight is coming from on these behemoths.

Former E-class bits; how much of it really would be familiar to a Mercedes tech, I really don't know, but it's generally credited that the suspension design and driveline (other than the engine) are the same. My guess is that the 300/Charger is "stretched" in key dimensions.

It's a big car, at least if its the same size as the 300. 4000 lbs and no stick reduce its appeal for me to zero, but I am glad DCX is building it. I agree with Blair--I'd probably save my pennies and dimes to get the 300C, but what I'd really get if I were in that market is the 300C SRT-8.

Yes, that.

Jason C · 10-03-2004, 08:02 PM

No 3rd pedal? Not even on the SRTs?

JST · 10-03-2004, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Morgan

No 3rd pedal? Not even on the SRTs?

No sir. Not yet, if ever.

Lame lame lame.

killerdeck · 10-03-2004, 09:48 PM

Well alrighty then! I will be sure to post pictures of it when I return from the show in January then.

Thanks for the info!

*clyde* · 10-03-2004, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killerdeck

Well alrighty then! I will be sure to post pictures of it when I return from the show in January then.

Thanks for the info!

That reminds me, blee...are we going again?

10-03-2004, 02:48 PM	#1
Jason C Carmudgeon Join Date: Jul 2004 Carmudgeonly Ride: Invalid Carriage Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,932	Dodge Charger The 2006 Dodge Charger will have Hemi power as an option. Dodge unveils sketch of new Charger, car to bow at '05 Detroit show Dodge has confirmed with this first sketch that it aims to again recreate some of the company's early muscle-car magic conjured by the Charger name. The 2006 Charger, a stout and roubust four-door that carries a rakish roof line and the large, egg-crate face of the company's performance car and truck division, also replaces Dodge's Intrepid NASCAR entry. It looks "almost like a four-door coupe" said Dr. Dieter Zetsche in an exclusive interview on Friday. The Charger will debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2005, and is expected to enter showrooms in the spring of 2005. True to its power image, it will carry with it the much-vaunted, 340-hp Hemi engine under the hood as an option. Its base engine is expected to be a 3.5-liter V6 making 250 horsepower. When the Charger first appeared in 1966 it was an enthusiasts' dream with high power, great performance and slick style that competed and won on oval tracks as well as drag strips. In the early 1970s, however, thanks to government-mandated emissions constraints and rising gas prices, the Charger began a long and steady fall from car guy grace. It reached its nadir in 1981 when the company took the once-proud name and attached it to a thoroughly dreadful front-drive coupe in an effort to capitalize on its heritage and move units. The new regime at DaimlerChrysler understands it doesn't have the benefit of overpromising and underdelivering. "We have to get the product right everytime," Zetsche said. Pricing for the car will likely start at just below the Chrysler 300, at around $23,000. Considering how tough this beast appears in sketches, can you imagine what the high-end SRT-12 version will look like? Surprise, surprise! The official sketches looks EXACTLY like the drawing on the recent issue of C&D - minus the retro-fugly paintjob. I'm sure the actual model won't come with 22-inch wheels as seen above. Eh... I dunno, doesn't it seem like a reskinned 300C? They said that the 5.7 Hemi is an option, and that it starts "just under" the Chryslers $23,920 MSRP. The 300C with the Hemi is $33,495, so just how much of a price difference are we talking about, V8 to V8? Enough so that the Charger doesn't compete with the 300C for sales? Meh. It would be a nice daily driver, if my other car was a S2000/Vette. But it'll probably be over the 2-ton mark.

10-03-2004, 04:46 PM	#4
lemming Western Anomaly Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: White Orca Posts: 16,646	this is a stupid question (and i admit that i'm dumb a lot), but is the 300C/charger based on the former E class? or some new global DC platform? just curious. am wondering where all of the weight is coming from on these behemoths. __________________

10-03-2004, 03:38 PM	#2
blee Doctor Mudgeon Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 6,433	Well, I'm glad they're offering a car like this, anyway. For my money I'd rather save up a bit and get the 300C, which is a more compelling styling exercise IMO. This does look like a reskinned 300, and it probably is, but the usual things that will make it a Dodge rather than a Chrysler will probably add up to disappointment. That said, I think I'd rather own a Magnum than any potential 300C-like Chrysler variant of the wagon.

10-03-2004, 04:00 PM	#3
Jason C Carmudgeon Join Date: Jul 2004 Carmudgeonly Ride: Invalid Carriage Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,932	Lol, it looks like C&D got their sketch from a DCX guy.

10-03-2004, 08:02 PM	#7
Jason C Carmudgeon Join Date: Jul 2004 Carmudgeonly Ride: Invalid Carriage Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,932	No 3rd pedal? Not even on the SRTs?

10-03-2004, 09:48 PM	#9
killerdeck Crotchety Join Date: Nov 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: 2016 BMW M3 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,376	Well alrighty then! I will be sure to post pictures of it when I return from the show in January then. Thanks for the info!