Ralph Giles, the person behind the looks of the LX cars, made a pretty convincing case for the design of the production Charger over the 1999 Charger.

First, he makes the point that the production LX chassis is much taller than the 1999 concept. Not only is the car taller, but things like the firewall (fire event separator) are also relatively high compared with the structure the 1999 car was based on.

He then brings up the fact that they did try to adapt the 1999 concept body to the new LX structure, but it simply didn't work. He states that the proportions made the car look somewhat awkward. In order to get the proportions right, they would have had to strech the length of the car by at least a foot, and it still wouldn't look nearly as sleek as the 1999 concept.

I think this is what they meant by the car looking would look too retro based on the '99 car. It would have looked like a cartoon version or a characture of the Dodge Charger.

Once it was obvious to them this wouldn't work, they went for a broad shouldered, muscular look. The idea was to create something identifiably American and "extroverted". The new Charger has a "scowl" to the headlights (looks like a pair of mean eyes) and unlike the other LX cars, the rear bodywork doesn't taper. Next to one of the other LX cars, the Charger looks much wider in the rear. This is emphasized by the bulge creases at the upper rear of the rear doors that continue to the rear of the car.

The fastback isn't recessed like the '99 concept or the 60s era Chargers because it destroys aerodynamics. The interior of the Charger very closely resembles the 1999 concept, though it's based on the Magnum.

The Charger has just 2 engines, the 3.5 and of course the Hemi. In the Charger, the Hemi has a lower restriction exhaust that gives a bit of rumble to it's note. Also, unlike the computer program in other LX cars, this one is programed to allow wheelspin. Unlike other LX cars, the Charger will not be sold in AWD.

Overall, the Charger sounds like a promising ride. I now understand that the designers gave the '99 concept a go, but it simply didn't fit the structure that was destined for the LX cars. The goal was to create a roomy upright car that would make people used to driving minvans and SUVs to feel comfortable, which ended up killing the prospect of the low-slung structure of the 1999 Charger concept.

Sales volume dictated the Charger being a 4 door sedan. Seems people wanting a big roomy car, also prefer 4 doors. "Big roomy" 2 door cars simply don't sell.

Although the production Charger hardly looks aerodynamic, it has a .33 drag coefficient, putting it right in there with the low sleek 4th gen Camaro (mainly by body sheetmetal details and undercarrage wind management).

Finally, though pricing won't be announced for up to a few more weeks, a Hemi Charger will start in the upper $20K range, and there will be a even higher performance version later this year. If you'll settle for the V6, it will be just a hair over $20K.

I now feel much better over the whole thing.

 

But no word on a rwd hemi powered coupe....... So its a restyled 300C. I have no problem with it, its just not exciting in any way!

 

If they couldn't make it look like a Charger because of the dynamics of the LX platform that's fine with me. Why you still insist on calling it Charger is what I don't understand. Didn't it seem a bit cryptic to anyone at DCX that they tried to make it look more like a Charger but couldn't? Shouldn't that have given them a clue?

 

Beat me to it...That would be a badass car if it was called, say, Coronet...But Charger? Wrong number of doors bub.

 

Do we have any idea how much this thing weighs yet?

 

A reall scary thought is if you substitute Camaro for Charger and Zeta for LX...............

Z28Wilson hit the nail square on the head.....this should have been called a MAGNUM Sedan and NOT a Charger.

 

Or here is a thought....... Intrepid!
Well, at least Zeta will have a 2 door coupe varyant. Its noplace near as off as the LX Sedan 300...er...mag.... Charger. Yea thats it Charger.

 

So in other words, even if we saw an LX coupe....it wouldn't be very sporty.

Doug, your analogy is chilling.

 

Doug that is the stuff nightmares are made of.

 

The rumor is that the 6.1 when it makes it into the Charger will have more power then the 6.1 in the 300C.

 

Makes sense because even now the exhaust is freer flowing in the Charger.