Production Dodge Challenger Spied Without Camo!
The Chicago Auto Show is rapidly approaching, and the hottest debut will be the Dodge Challenger. Glenn Paulina and his crew have captured these incredible images of the production car several weeks before it's scheduled debut, and it's completely free of camo.
We already knew the production car would be almost identical to the concept seen at Detroit two years ago, but there are certainly a few little changes that had to be made to bring it up to production standards and meet various governmental requirements. It doesn't look like any of them significantly changed the car's character. Seeing the complete car without camo is a most welcome treat. We'll bring you the first official photos in just a few weeks when we head to Chicago to cover the show.
(Click through to read our spy's words and don't forget to check out the gallery below.)
We just caught the first completely uncamouflaged prototype for the Dodge Challenger running outside of the Chrysler Tech Center. Perhaps with the Media days of the Detroit Auto Show officially behind them, the Chrysler folks were eager to put the finishing touches on their next big unveiling. The production Challenger will take its official bow next month in Chicago.
As noted before, the Challenger stays very true to the icon-inspired concept, but this is our first clean look at car, with no vinyl camo and in show-worthy silver paint. This new Challenger encounter also gives us our first at the full-width tail-light design, and how it works with the rest of the surrounding design elements.
Comments
Ramcasabutt
Looks good, nice stance with little wheel gap. Still need to see it up close, it looks rather large in pictures, and need to see how it looks next to the new Camaro.
Reilly
I think it looks good, but when will companies learn that when you preview a product for years, it loses it's effect when it goes on sale?
Paul In Jersey
What a weird sense of proportions, like a Chunky chocolate bar, but slightly smooth as if it's been microwave for 5 seconds.
You gotta love that blindspot that's big enough to hide a Pontiak Aztec (sic). And what's more...it'll be available at your local dealer, just when gas prices hit $4 per gallon!
FisH
the front left tire looks a bit low... other than that, I will take mine in orange! (wishes)
john
The proportions seem very weird. The hood is too long and the cab is too short. I am already bored by it. It just doesn't have the "POP" it should. As stated before, it is big.
hwyhobo
I find its looks quite attractive. Unfortunately, it is yet another gas guzzler in the $100 per oil barrel market.
Big three just don't get it.
Hollywood
I love it!!! I think it was risk with Dodge bringing back the Challenger, but they definitely hit the nail on the head here. I'll take one in orange please!
Rex
Look folks! It looks like it does with the Camo.
I wonder why they didn't show this in Detroit?
Maybe ZR1 really sucked all the air out of Detroit?
or Did Dodge not want to upstage the Viper ACR in way?
Ducati Minor
"Big three just don’t get it."
I care to disagree, hobo. When Infiniti is boasting of its QX and FX sport-utes, and Toyota of its massive trucks, I don't think there's a problem with Detroit not "getting it." The Challenger SRT-8 is a low-volume production coupe. The base and R/T models will have smaller engines. This is meant to be a fast, powerful car for a small number of buyers willing to fork over that amount. Dodge isn't using this as its alternative to the Honda Civic or the Toyota Camry. As long as there are buyers, there is interest. By the rather vague judgement you made, the Dodge Viper, Chevrolet Corvette, Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo, and Porsche 997 shouldn't even exist because they are gas guzzlers.
On to the car itself.
The Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro appear to be nice executions from the initial concept stage. When you compare them to the watered-down retro 'Stang exterior that "devolved" from the very handsome Shelby-inspired concept, Chrysler and GM have learned well not to follow Ford's step. They have kept production goals below the Mustang's, and kept the great show looks intact. The Challenger looks like what a Dodge should be--primitively handsome. Nothing fresh, but no one says it needs to be. Just ask Porsche styling department.
Throopspeed
Yeah it looks remarkably similar to the original. Probably will sell just as well..
Steve
Ick. It looks like the Camaro... But fatter, with a strangely short wheelbase, and most of the good looks rubbed out of it...
Bert
@Ducati Minor - I'd buy the Corvette, F430, Gallardo and 997 if I had the money - because they are worth buying even if they are gas guzzlers. And I wouldnt compare this car the ones I mentioned I would buy - coz it's not a fair comparison now is it?
This car I might buy (again if I had the money) but I definitely wouldnt buy a Viper.
And you also brought up the Infiniti QX/FX and Toyota "massive" trucks as another comparison? Maybe you didnt notice that this is a "car" - not a "sport-ute".
Hwyhobo (spell his name correctly "Minor") is correct - the big three dont get it because instead of concentrating on keeping the sales of their year-round-high-volume vehicles up, they're out making small-volume-sale cars.
Bert
You know what - the back of the Challenger, especially with the brake lights on, really looks like an old Nissan Silvia or Cefiro 2.4GTS-R.........
Pats MT
Thank God they didn't screw it up! It's about time detroit brought back the muscle coupe, maybe now all these stupid Honda tuner kids will realize how ridiculous they look in their civics. It's just a shame it took so long, and thanks for waiting until the price of oil is at an all time high. Timing is everything. Ford jumped on it early and sold tons of mustangs, now dodge is on board and will sell out, and by the time GM gets the camaro in the showroom, they'll have to cancel production for one of several predictable reasons.
Ducati Minor
Bert, I don't know if you are hobo or trying to be someone else because your words are so jumbled hinting at any possibility. There should be an I.Q. standard before letting people post here.
You or hobo or whoever you are, I didn't call it a sport-ute or an exotic car. There was a complaint about the Challenger being a gus guzzler. Well, a Ferrari and a Lambo are gas gazzlers, and those firms only sell gas guzzlers. Should they stop building them? Detroit isn't the only place building huge vehicles with poor mileage. I pointed out two Japanese examples.
When you can actually process a thought, contact me. Keep up hope: you're a reason we need more funding for public education.
Ducati Minor
Oh, wait, you're a Nissan fan. That explains it.
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