Check out this blast from the past. Dodge is not blind to the success of Ford’s retro-mod Mustang, and is rolling this Challenger Concept out for the press and public at this January’s 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Flush with confidence after the recent successes of the Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum, and Dodge Charger, DaimlerChrysler is ready to tackle America’s favorite pony-car, the Mustang, in a new 21st century muscle-car war. Styling cues are lifted straight off the original 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, with round quad headlamps, circular fog lights mounted beneath a minimalist bumper where the classic had turn signals, amber side marker lights placed just beneath a crease in the fender that stretches to the rear of the car and mimics the first Challenger, and twin hood scoops separated by a matte-black racing stripe. Even the greenhouse and mirrors resemble the original – all that’s missing are chrome hood clips and a wire mesh grille. Those massive six-spoke alloy wheels, however, belie the modern mechanicals underneath the bodywork. Chrysler’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team has breathed on this concept, which has the same 6.1-liter Hemi V8 under the hood as found in hot-rodded versions of the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum, and Jeep Grand Cherokee. A six-speed transmission puts the power to the rear wheels through a piston-grip shifter that recalls the original Challenger, and the driver sits on a ribbed black upholstery – though in this concept it’s leather instead of yesteryear’s vinyl. The Dodge Challenger Concept sits on a modified 300/Charger/Magnum platform, and could easily be produced. Given Chrysler’s past propensity to put concept cars on an assembly line – Viper, PT Cruiser, Caliber, Nitro – it’s likely that a slightly modified version of this Challenger could land in Dodge showrooms by 2008, with engines ranging from a 3.5-liter V6 making around 250 horsepower to the concept car’s 425-horse, ground-pounding, 6.1-liter Hemi. Photo: Illustration by DaimlerChrysler
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About Christian Wardlaw
Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
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