Oh, agreed 100% percent. This is NOT a pony car, or even a mid sized coupe. The precedent would be the Hurst Fury's , SS409 Impala's, Galaxie 500's (with the 427) and Polara's. Having said that, I think the Challenger being as large as it is makes it real easy to justify (like I really needed any justificaiton) purchasing BOTH a Challenger AND a Camaro.

 

In that context, I'm completely on the same page with you.

 

It should be noted that even though the Challenger is "suppose" to weight 4100lbs, it should still run low 12s. Put it through some the HP and weight calculators and you get some suprising results. I know that the calculators are not accurate, but it don't think it a stretch to think that this car will run 12s with the 6.1, and if the 392 does make it into the car...

 

The car willo be lucky to run high twelves at a non-ringer track, IF that weight is accurate. My basic problem with the reports is that I don't believe it (the reported weight). Time will tell, but I am still betting under 4k (though not very much, either in weight, or the bet )

 

Well, considering that it's no smaller than a 300, and considering it's a pillarless coupe, and considering how hefty the A and B pillars look, (in order to pass rollover)....it may very well be 4,100 lbs.

 

Why is the Charger such a blasphemoous use of an iconic nameplate while the Challenger at every initial impression is not the second coming nor soul bearer of the original OK?

Me thinks I see problems with "The Emperor's new Clothes."

 

So if this car is advertised at 425hp, does that mean that the Camaro will be advertised at 425+hp? (A figure that we'll never see)

 

Yep. The Charger became a 4 door sedan reincarnation of a large '60's coupe and the Challenger will become a full sized, 12/10ths scale version of an early '70s ponycar.

Anyway, the first 5 passenger, (regardless of number of doors), RWD, manual trans, V8 car for around $30K gets my money.

But I still want a real ponycar though.....so if all goes well, it will share garage space with a 5th gen Z/28.

 

 

Why?

 

Thanks for posting those Charlie! Man that car looks sweet

 

I don't think so Tim. The stats on the 1970 hemi Challenger were as follows:

Height 51"
Length:191.5
Width: 76.5
Weight: 3801 (hemi 4 spd car)

Yes the new one is a little larger, but IMO it is well within the spirit of the original Challenger. It may have been called a pony car, but the thing was huge back then, by way of comparison the 1970 hemi roadrunner weighed 4K.

General Rant to all:
If people don't like the Challenger, that's cool, but I think peoople need to quit trying to make it to be something it isn't and never was. The 'Cuda had a shorter wheelbase and was overall the smaller car, the Challenger was more of a GT style car, and I think that it carries on this tradition in the (hopefully) new version.

James

 

The Challenger is actually a good bit bigger in all the wrong places, most notably the height and weight. The "new" Challenger is almost 8" taller than the old car! That is insane. It is 300 lbs heavier than an old muscle car, great progess. I won't even mention the horrendous gas milage (it doesn't have to be great but somewhat respectable might be nice).

The point is, it seems that Dodge did not set out to create a great Challenger, they set out to quickly get a 2 door vehicle out (using recycled styling to move things along quickly?) and slap a revered nameplate on it and call it a day. I am sure that all the shortcommings of the Challenger are not intended but necessary to have this vehicle out quick and on a platform that already is in production.

 

Charlie,

I am going to back track on this statement. Looking up the stats on the 1970 hemi Roadrunner shows that the new Challenger is ALMOST EXACTLY the same size and weight (down to the fact that they both rode on a 116" wb and both weighed at least 2 tons). So, as big and bloated as it may be, it is well within the historical precedence fo a mid-sized high-powered coupe from Chrysler.

 

You know now that Charlie posted the big pics, IMO that's really a bland car. No dynamic or striking detail/styling lines, large flat horzontal expanses (inside and out), slab vertical sides, and overly simplistic front and rear details

The only thing that seperated it from todays 'boring' cars is it's a characture of the past.

Additionally, didn't the Barricuda and Challenger ride on the same platform, thus were equal in size and weight?

AND, if those hood scoops are real, are they real functional? Notice their location in reference to the location of the open filter element. That's either one bastardized route to the intake (like the '98-'02 SS cars) or they're just for looks.