I would hope they don't change it because of that...If the new car is a worthy successor to the old one, the name should stick...I mean when I hear Challenger I just think to myself "bada$$"...and that's the way things should work when one thinks of an American muscle/pony/sports car

 

To clear up a few areas:

1. Challenger will not come out in the 2007 model year. Perish the thought.

2. There is no internal debate about which chassis it's going to use. Period.

3. The LY is simply a shortened LX.

4. Government crash standards are done years in advance, and are phased in over time.


Another note regarding people who like to use "future safety standards" when talking about adittional weight, changes in cars being developed, or cars under development that have to be somehow changed. You can always go to www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules and find out yourself exactly what these supposed new standards are.

Be aware that there are some people who like to spread rumors on these standards that is either hearsay, they don't quite understand themselves, or is made up. I've had plenty of these "new standards' claims passed on my way that turned out to be something totally different from what I was told.




Currently, these are the only new regulations regarding automobile manufacturers:

FMVSS 111: Rear detection system for trucks (backup sensors).
May also be required for large SUVs
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...VSS_No111.html

FMVSS 216 (571):
Roof crush standards:
Geared mainly towards trucks, SUVs. Large cars were previously exempt to avoid excess cost to manufacturers, but now they want every car to be able to withstand 2.5X it's unloaded weight on the roof. Some people would have you believe this is going to be a burden that will produce heavy cars. However, the Lincoln LS ALREADY meets this standard, as do just about every new car that's come out over the past few years. Even the ancient Crown Vic does 2X it's weight. The current car standard is 1.5X.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...-FR.html#VII_A

Fuel System Integrity:
Basically being able to withstand a 50 mph rearender without rupturing the fuel tank. Just about all cars currently out now are in compliance (save maybe the current Ford Panther chassis.
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/ruli...PRM/Index.html

Phased in Side Impact protection:
Basically protects you when you slide sideways into a tree or telephone pole (Current airbags inflate to the old standard...90 degrees...but the new standard will be 20mph @ 75 degrees), and also to protect your head & pelvic area in side impacts with moving vehicles. This rule essentially mandates side airbags that protect your head and changes the collision angle, and strengthens side door beams. To show you how far off track doomsday sayers are about this, consider that the Ford Focus meets the new mobile side impact standard already, yet last year's Impala did not (the new one does).
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...act/index.html


Outside of the interior occupant protection (that's doing in the GTO) that goes into effect September 1, 2006 (it's actually been continually phased in since 2002.... it's the exact same standard that helped kill the F-body), that's the extent of proposed changes on DOT's safety rule making calendar for automobiles. Chances are about as good as warm weather in Hawaii that any car that's come out in the past couple of years already meets or is easily adapted to all upcoming vehicle standards.

Remember, automakers have to show complience YEARS before their vehicle hits the streets, and rules are phased in. If NHTSA were to come out with new rules tomorrow that affect vehicle structure, it couldn't take effect till 2011, and even then it would have to be phased in over a certain number of years.

 

So Guy, whats your bet on the death of the W-body?

 

The "W" body's a goner. Impala and LeCrosse are the last revisions you'll see of this chassis.

There's a really good reason why this "Chevy-Zeta" is a high priority at GM right now.

 

[Mr. Burns]Excellent[/Mr. Burns]

 

The was a BIG debate over on Allpar about the Challenger name and the space shuttle. They came to the conclusion that most will not make that association. Even me being 23, I don't even make that association. When someone say Discover, does everyone think of the space shuttle or something else?