Update: Chrysler Buisness plan reveals upcoming Challenger Refresh for 2011

[Captain Awesome]

Originally Posted by Zeus

13 year old brother? Is that you!?

Whatever you say, Futureboy!

[Zeus]

Originally Posted by Vega

Yeah, i do also believe the 5.0 will up the price of the Mustang some, at least the first year when demand is high, also i think Ford might just keep the current engine in their GT and use the 5.0 to make a new Mach 1 or somethin. As far as the Challenger goes im talkin about a 2012 or so revamping, they'll do updates here and there every year but im really just interested in the bgi picture haha, like this year they added the push-button-start as an option on R/T cars as well as SRT and they added the option to completely shut off the traction control, very nice in my oppinion, especially for people who want all those nifty features while saving the $10k from R/T to SRT

On a side note i think its funny that people always complain about the Challenger's interior, i mean look at the classic Challenger interior, not only did it look almost exactly the same as every other Chrysler sports car interior (such as the 2nd gen Charger or Barracuda) but it looks extremely similar to the current Challenger interior, they just wanted to keep with that Badass menacing attitude haha, really i like the interior i just wish for 2 things, first they need Challenger-specific gauges (be it the same cluster or not i just dont like the gauges they have) and also they should have a color-chooser thing like the Mustangs have where you can customize the back-light of the gauges and ambient lights

Well I wouldn't mind them keeping around the 4.6L for the regular GT, nothing wrong with that engine and there is a TON of aftermarket for it. That being said, it would kill the ''Camaro SS vs. Mustang GT'' comparison for Ford. It appeared as though they had a BOSS Mustang coming in a couple years which will be a middleground between the regular 400+-hp GT and the 550hp GT500.

I don't mind the challenger's interior at all, I think the Seats/Room/Shifter/door's are all top of the muscle car class. However I do think they could do more to distinguish that its the ''challenger'' instead of having to guess, just because they screwed that up in the 70's doesn't give them a bye to screw it up again today.

I'm not a huge fan of the dodge Gauges but I can tell you (through Charger rental car experience) that they do grow on you. That said it would be great if they could spice it up without going too over the top like imo they might have done with the Camaro.

The problem I have with the Challenger... is that you get a car that isn't any faster, is a little nicer, but a lot more expensive than a Camaro for around 10k more..... Where is that money going?

[MrIcky]

I don't see how Ford can justify keeping the 4.6 when their NA V6 engine will put out over 300 hp in the next model year.

I'd love to see Challenger put on it's own Chassis, but I just don't think that will happen given Chrysler's condition unless Fiat has something in the background. I honestly don't know enough about Fiat's whole line up, but they do own quite a few companies so they may have something in the works, and Mercedes keeps squeezing Chrysler, so that may motivate Chrysler to figure something out.

The interior on the Challenger is IMHO, just OK. It's not terrible in any way-but it's not great except for the seats. It's got the best seats in the class.

[Zeus]

Originally Posted by MrIcky

I don't see how Ford can justify keeping the 4.6 when their NA V6 engine will put out over 300 hp in the next model year.

I'd love to see Challenger put on it's own Chassis, but I just don't think that will happen given Chrysler's condition unless Fiat has something in the background. I honestly don't know enough about Fiat's whole line up, but they do own quite a few companies so they may have something in the works, and Mercedes keeps squeezing Chrysler, so that may motivate Chrysler to figure something out.

The interior on the Challenger is IMHO, just OK. It's not terrible in any way-but it's not great except for the seats. It's got the best seats in the class.

I agree, I'd be shocked to see the 4.6L stick around.

Challenger really needs it's own chassis, but I don't see that happening any time soon. It seems as if Dodge has given up on attempting to make the Charger/Challenger any lighter, so..............................

I do love the seats though. Top 5 favorite seats out of any stock car.

1. BMW M5 Performance Seats with inflating side bolsters

2. C63 AMG performance seats

3. SRT Chally's

4. King Ranch

5. F430

[benjj]

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

Whatever you say, Futureboy!

its futureman to you guy

[Zeus]

Originally Posted by benjj

its futureman to you guy

lol

[Captain Awesome]

Originally Posted by benjj

its futureman to you guy

Great scott!

[esperman]

Originally Posted by Vega

Thats gonna be a mean 5.0 too, estimated at 400 horsepower but dont forget the Camaro was too and it ended up being 426 haha, all that in that light Mustang body plus you can get a GT premium for $29k with lots of bells and whistles (better keep a hanky though, thats not including on-screen navigation, *GASP!* -_-')...i hope the Challenger gets redesigned into a smaller, lighter, body and then they can bring the price down some to make it competitive, also i wish GM would have its own platform for the Camaro but meh its already top dog even with the lame 4-door platform, LOL...the Mustang is an awsome deal though, GT premium for $29k sounds awfully tempting to me, then id add a shaker hood and some Mach1 stripes >=}

actually the Mustang platform is built on the old Lincoln LS 4 door platform.
(thunderbird platform too)

[WhiteCrane]

How did dodge go from this car below to the charger of now that is just a box on wheels...



I like the charger, but my god, to tease dodge boys with that beauty above and then give them the charger we have,,, that's ridiculous.

IMO charger is a family sedan. Not a sports car.

[Zeus]

This just came out of MotorTrend Regarding the 5 year plan.....


In 2011...

"*2011 Charger, second-generation LX, launches as planned. Includes all-new sheetmetal, and major “expensive” redo of existing RWD platform.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/auto_news/112_0911_chrysler_five_year_plan/index.html#ixzz0WHlgErVS"


Expensive = Lightweight Performance Platform

[syr74]

Originally Posted by SWAT 79

At this point, that's still a rumor. I think Ford is gonna do something similar to dodge, the 4.6 remaining in the gt, and the 5.0 in a model in between them and the gt500.

Actually it isn't. We've known for some time now that Mustang part numbers exist for both the 3.7L V6 and 5.0L V8 for the 2011MY. In fact, that 3.7L V6 part number is how we initially found out that the Mustang would be using a 3.7L V6 and not the long rumored 3.5L version.

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

Holy Crap! It's 2011 already? Wow, where does the time go???

Close enough. Mustang powertrains will be be officially unveiled in December at the NAIAS, order banks open this month, and production will start in early March and possibly even late February.

[Muscle Master]

This is great .... now we can safely say that the American automakers are starting to get back on there feet .... these next 5 years are gonna be awesome

[syr74]

Originally Posted by Muscle Master

This is great .... now we can safely say that the American automakers are starting to get back on there feet .... these next 5 years are gonna be awesome

Yeah, if Chrysler can address an issue or two on the Challenger then I think the car could really rise in popularity. That said, I don't think the pure, ponycar market is really best market target for this car. My opinion? Ditch the V6 option, make the revised SRT powertrain standard, borrow the PDK automated manual transmission the Carrera uses from Porsche offering the same as the lone transmission, give the car a truly world class interior with phenomenal seats and great materials and finish, throw in magnetically adjustable shocks on top of a more refined suspension setup and market the car in roughly the same price range as the base Corvette allowing the Challenger to honestly embrace the large, upscale GT segment it is inherently better suited to.

Heck, trimmed out like that I might think about buying one myself, and I am by no means a Mopar man.

[Zeus]

Originally Posted by syr74

Yeah, if Chrysler can address an issue or two on the Challenger then I think the car could really rise in popularity. That said, I don't think the pure, ponycar market is really best market target for this car. My opinion? Ditch the V6 option, make the revised SRT powertrain standard, borrow the PDK automated manual transmission the Carrera uses from Porsche offering the same as the lone transmission, give the car a truly world class interior with phenomenal seats and great materials and finish, throw in magnetically adjustable shocks on top of a more refined suspension setup and market the car in roughly the same price range as the base Corvette allowing the Challenger to honestly embrace the large, upscale GT segment it is inherently better suited to.

Heck, trimmed out like that I might think about buying one myself, and I am by no means a Mopar man.

I'd rather they build a new platform, drop it down to 3500lbs, drop the SRT engine in the R/T and put out a 550hp 7.0L for the new SRT.