Anyone read Hot Rod magazine? I've been reading it since before most of you were born....and I think it's new format is awesome.

Anyhoo.....just got the August issue. They have a story in it: "5 CARS DETROIT MUST BUILD NOW".

-2008 Pontiac Tempest
-Chrysler 300 SRT-10
-New Chevelle
-Cobalt Rally
-2007 Cougar

The story is complete with Thom Taylor illustrations.

I'm torn between the Tempest and the 300 SRT-10. The Cougar is a runner up.

The Tempest would use the G6's Epsilon platform as a starting point. Add Kappa's rear suspension....and presto (well not really, but work with me), a new inexpensive RWD platform. It would range anywhere from a base two door Ecotec, 5 speed for $15K (yeah, again work with me)......all the way up to a 400hp turbo 3.6 V6 for $29K. It looks pretty cool too.

The 300 SRT-10 would get the Viper's 8.3L V-10 and six speed.....with all the necessary sporty upgrades for around $60,000.

I love stuff like that......

 

I'll add fuel to the fire on the SRT-10 300.

There is a rumor that there will be a longer wheel base 300 car, possibly named Imperial or NEw Yorker, that will get a SRT version and get the HEMI V10. Add that to the rumor that it will also get all the upgraded brakes and everything from the SRT8 300C/D and Chrysler could position themselves right up against the new M5 and performance cars form MBs AMG divsion. That price range also sounds right.

 

Personally I don't think they should proceed beyond SRT-8 for the 300. One - Viper engine gets cheapened if you put it everywhere. Two - SRT 8 should be plenty quick with 400+ HP.

 

i thought the Viper engine was to be phased out in favor of the HEMI based V10 in the works. So technically it won't be THE Viper engine.

 

Uhhh....I'd buy that in a bloody heartbeat

 

The Tempest sounds very interesting, in perhaps both coupe and sedan (as was discussed last week).

I would like to investigate other possible names though, being from the newer generation.

 

I too am a subscriber to Hot Rod, and I have been totally enthralled with the last few issues.

I got a great read out of the Muscle Car Rebirth article last month. Very insightful about the colors, graphics, and unusual pattern that were fad in the 70's becoming fad again today.
Seen any lime green Honda rice-buckets lately? Compare that to a Grabber green 70 Boss 302 or a Lime green 440 'Cuda. The are absolutely "beautifugly" to me! (The old cars - NOT the ricebucket.)

And I agree with the call for Detroit to make the new iron too.
I am actually wondering if we can go from too few muscle-type rides (in 2000-2004) to too many (in 2006-2008). Every new market entry detracts from the sales of current players, ya know?

 

I found the cougar part in the article rather intriguing and the drawing would be almost a perfect car. Seeing what that car once was in the 60's based off the mustang, to what it became in the late 90's was pitiful. Bringing it back with familiar old school styling but with 21st century technology would be awesome. Im not usually a ford car lover, but the few old cougars ive seen were awesome and having those on the road staring at the headlights of my 2008 Z/28 would be a really cool thing. Now all they have to do is modify the new stang and build her!

 

I dunno about that list, but here is what GM needs to build...

1- A "Commodore" like Grand Prix (to go along with the "Monaro" GTO)
2- A Camaro in 3 flavors
3- A Velite 4dr sedan and vert.
4- A 3dr and 5dr hatchback Vibe/Sunfire replacement
5- A large S/7/A8 series luxury sedan for Caddy.

 

Someone is making it. They are taking a few GTO's and making Chevelle models. They are also making a 454 model.