This is especially true of the concept's stunning interior. It captures '70s themes, no doubt, such as the horizontally ribbed seats, a tightly
clustered, high-mounted instrument package with cylindrical dials, a small and seemingly insignificant audio and HVAC head unit, a row of toggles on the centre stack, and the aforementioned pistol grip shifter, but unlike the past this new Challenger makes sure that those seats, now covered in leather instead of vinyl, are designed for comfort and superior lateral support, that the instrument panel features electronic gauges with integrated telemetry, showing stats for 0 to 60 times, quarter mile time and speed, top-speed overall and top-speed for each of the six forward gears, to be displayed in
the large, left-side dial, immediately available to the performance-minded enthusiast.
"We designed the in-your-face gauge holes to appear as if you are looking down into the engine cylinders with the head off," commented Alan Barrington, principal interior designer.
Interior surfaces are highlighted by bright satin metal but mostly covered in plastic, the latter hopefully of the soft-touch, high-quality variety, so that those same boomers Dodge is trying to attract, who are now driving BMWs and other high-priced premium cars, won't be turned off by cheap execution.
"Though the 1970 model was looked to for inspiration, we wanted to capture the memory of that car, but expressed in more contemporary surfaces, materials and textures," added Barrington.
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| The new Challenger captures '70s design themes, but does with better quality materials, tighter fit and finish, plus seats that are supportive enough for spirited driving through curves. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
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| The instrument panel's left-side dial shows stats for 0 to 60, quarter mile, top-speed overall and top-speed for each of the six forward gears. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
"We designed the in-your-face gauge holes to appear as if you are looking down into the engine cylinders with the head off," commented Alan Barrington, principal interior designer.
Interior surfaces are highlighted by bright satin metal but mostly covered in plastic, the latter hopefully of the soft-touch, high-quality variety, so that those same boomers Dodge is trying to attract, who are now driving BMWs and other high-priced premium cars, won't be turned off by cheap execution.
"Though the 1970 model was looked to for inspiration, we wanted to capture the memory of that car, but expressed in more contemporary surfaces, materials and textures," added Barrington.