Dodge Challenger Concept

Across the show floor Dodge was not about to be left without all the horsepower love. A veritable riot of journalists mobbed the stand while actress Eva Longoria of “Desperate Housewives” helped unveil the Dodge Challenger Concept car. While that was not necessary to get people’s attention the new Hemi powered muscle car was this year’s crowd pleaser. The bright pearl tangerine paint over a muscular chiseled profile and aggressive 20” wheels made a very modern interpretation of the classic Challenger. The designers used the 1970 Challenger as a starting point, keeping the minds eye DNA but modernizing the shape by pushing the wheels to the corners for a better stance. The car rolls on Chrysler’s successful LX platform that also supports the MTV favorite 300M, Dodge Magnum and Charger. The show car had the SRT tuned 6.1 liter Hemi V8 sporting 425hp and mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The interior was as retro as modern times could allow featuring Dodge’s famous pistol grip shifter on a console that looked right out of the old car. Luckily, the seating is from the 21st century with deep bolstered racing style chairs from the SRT parts bin. This car was said to be only a “concept”, but the safe bet is that a production car is coming to race you and your Mustang within 18 months at the local drags.

He Says: What a shock! Well not really. This car would be so much more significant if Chrysler weren’t already building every sedan, station wagon, and SUV they have with a 425hp Hemi. Don’t get me wrong, it is a gorgeous looking car with great mechanicals. I just think that it will blend into the fleet of SRT 8 vehicles on Dodge showrooms once it comes. It is a huge car too, much bigger than the Mustang. They will need to do something to make the car more special than the Dodge Magnum, Charger, and Chrysler 300M.

She Says: I fail to believe any car with Hemi will BLEND into a fleet. But hey, if it does, what a great problem for Dodge to have! It simply was impossible to improve on the color of the concept. Kudos to the paint guys, and the folks who had the uh,…exhaust pipes to okay it!

Chevrolet was not to be outdone. The Camaro never quite had the following of Ford’s Mustang, going out of production due to lack of buyers. That not withstanding, Chevrolet brought back the nameplate as well as the signature look. The Camaro Concept is as strikingly muscular and menacing to the eye as the Dodge Challenger but it has a sharper edge. Careful creases and bends put just enough 1967-1969 visual into the modern shape to make the car a dead ringer for the old one but enough of a modern look is thrown in to be relevant. Powered with GM’s well known 6.0 liter 400hp LS2 V8 and a 6-speed manual transmission found in the current Pontiac GTO, the car rides on a 110” wheelbase. Inside is a retro interior that almost looks torn from a 1969 Camaro, but resto-modded with today’s modern conveniences like airbags, AC, and an MP3 port. It has an independent rear suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes and 21” wheels. Chevrolet executives said this car is only a concept at this time adding that the car would probably be a success initially, but they want to be sure that 3 years down the road there would still be a demand for it.

He Says: I always thought the original 1967 Camaro was a soul-less copy of the Mustang coupe. This car however pulls it off in a way that is not a copy of the current Mustang at all. In fact, this new design is quite striking and aggressive looking. I like the sharp creases, cuts and angles of the body lines especially where the taillights and exhaust pipes meet chop lines. Mechanically the car is just another GM product, but that is not a bad thing.

She Says: Well first…it was silver. And last…. It didn’t compare to the Challenger. Boooo!