June 2005


Dodge Charger R/T


Forget Chevrolets, Thunderbirds and Mustangs; anyone who watched television back in the Eighties will tell you that America's most famous automobile is the Dodge Charger...

Star of cult series the Dukes of Hazzard, and painted bright orange with a Confederate flag on the roof, the 1969 two-door General Lee roared its way into the living rooms of millions, and gave the UK an unforgettable taste of American muscle cars. The question is, can Dodge do it again in 2005?

The early indications are not good. Launched at this year's Detroit Motor Show, the brand new Charger is not a two-door like the vehicle of the same name that thrashed around on TV in the early Eighties. Instead, it is a reinvention of sister firm Chrysler's 300C, on which the Charger is based.

Even so, the gentle rise of its C-pillar and its snarling nose are reminiscent of the superstar car. Reassuringly, this motor never fails to turn heads. Atidle, the 5.7-litre V8 HEMI engine sucks in enthusiasts at the same spectacular rate as it guzzles unleaded petrol, and pumps out a throaty roar that makes the £16,406 American price seem like a joke to buyers in the UK.

Acceleration is impressive, partic-ularly from the 340bhp R/T edition



which we got behind the wheel of. It is also worth noting that an entry-level 250bhp V6 model is available too, with a bargain price tag in the US of the equivalent of £12,576. This base variant is a joy to drive... until you have sampled the V8.

The noise only gets better if you opt for the £17,776 Daytona. This current flagship version appropriately gets the loudest paintjobs available in America, namely GoManGo! orange, Top Banana yellow and the self-descriptive SubLime. On the road, however, the Charger's long wheelbase and overly light steering bring back memories of the Seventies. This is no sports car, despite the straight-line muscle on offer.

Perhaps all the finely tuned suspension settings are being held in reserve for the 425bhp SRT8, which we have yet to drive. But even the R/T model, equipped with a 'performance package' of stiffer roll bars, feels floaty and lacking in body control.

While Dodge-branded vehicles are set to arrive in the UK early next year, the Charger will be produced in left-hand-drive form only, which is likely to limit its British appeal. That said, if bosses change their mind, we would expect buyers to be Charging into dealerships demanding a test drive...

Charger: (Evolved) - Die-Hards hate it. It's too early to tell the general publics feelings on it.

This is party the reason I have mixed feelings about the next Chevrolet coupe to be called a Camaro. If they feel they have to go retro and not deviate from the "Camaro" legacy then for god sake call it something else. If they are comfortable evolving the Camaro (IRS, etc) I think they will have a much better seller as you will be appealing to the masses - not the Die-Hards. But again, court is not even in session yet (or even on the planner...)

I made a post here at the end of April in which Chrysler had over 20,000 orders for the Charger already. Higher than the advance orders on the 300 at the same period befor introduction. Rapper 50 cent already is trying to get one.

Camaro has been a hatchback, a coupe, a grand tourer, and a high performance track racer. It's alsop had blunt nose looks, it's also been a chisled wedge as well as a curvy but large car with a Corvette like greenhouse.

Outside of being a low priced, V8 powered, rear drive, medium sized, 4 seat sporty coupe, there is no "Camaro" legacy unless you rewrite history.