Such tech-talk makes Ford's "blown" Shelby Cobra GT500 engine seem almost commonplace, despite its 450-plus horsepower
rating, a supercharger being much less enticing to fans of the mechanical than the Challenger's technically advanced HEMI. OK, it's still an overhead-valve push-rod actuated mill, but Chevy's new Corvette Z06 testifies that there is still a lot of life left in such a robust and oddly, highly efficient engine design.
What the Challenger shares with the Corvette, and by so doing should leave the Mustang-based Shelby in a gust of hot air, is its fully independent suspension. Those who fell for the previous SVT Cobra because of its deft (for a Mustang) handling, were outraged to hear that the next-generation car, despite its dashing good looks and much more advanced body structure, would feature a live rear axle. Dodge will become home to muscle car fans who also appreciate the added cornering control of a multi-link rear setup, I being one of them, and the Challenger's shortened LX chassis architecture should make up for any gains in weight that the more sophisticated undercarriage causes.
While shorter than a Charger, per se, by 57 mm (2.2 inches), the new Challenger concept's 2,946 mm (116-inch) wheelbase is 152 mm (6 inches) longer than the original 1970 model, and just over 50 mm (2 inches) wider. The new concept's front and rear tracks also span a greater distance than the classic muscle car, and are even wider than its LX siblings at 1,626 and 1,651 mm (64 and 65 inches) respectively. In addition
to the new Challenger's shorter overall length than the newCharger sedan, and wider front and rear tracks, it is also a substantial 106 mm (4.2 inches) wider overall, 30mm (1.2 inches) shorter in height, and integrates a very noticeable 103mm (4.1 inches) decrease in wheelbase length. All these factors should result in superior handling over the sedan, aided by massive 20-inch front and 21-inch rear, five-spoke chrome alloy rims surrounded by low-profile performance rubber, flush-mounted to the body side and tightly framed by wheel openings just large enough to squeeze them in.
Still, it is quite a bit larger than the current Mustang and Pontiac GTO, as well as the Camaro concept, which may hamper it on take-off and possibly through the corners, although I doubt this last concern being that the automaker's SRT8 LX cars are superb when the road starts to wind. Possibly the reason for the Challenger's increased length and width is because a longer and wider car gives off a sleeker profile, simply making the car look better, and the tall LX architecture doesn't allow for much modification in height. Good enough reason for me.
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| What the Challenger shares with the Corvette, and by so doing should leave the Mustang-based Shelby in a gust of hot air, is its fully independent suspension. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
What the Challenger shares with the Corvette, and by so doing should leave the Mustang-based Shelby in a gust of hot air, is its fully independent suspension. Those who fell for the previous SVT Cobra because of its deft (for a Mustang) handling, were outraged to hear that the next-generation car, despite its dashing good looks and much more advanced body structure, would feature a live rear axle. Dodge will become home to muscle car fans who also appreciate the added cornering control of a multi-link rear setup, I being one of them, and the Challenger's shortened LX chassis architecture should make up for any gains in weight that the more sophisticated undercarriage causes.
While shorter than a Charger, per se, by 57 mm (2.2 inches), the new Challenger concept's 2,946 mm (116-inch) wheelbase is 152 mm (6 inches) longer than the original 1970 model, and just over 50 mm (2 inches) wider. The new concept's front and rear tracks also span a greater distance than the classic muscle car, and are even wider than its LX siblings at 1,626 and 1,651 mm (64 and 65 inches) respectively. In addition
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| The Challenger concept's shorter length, greater width, lower heightand tighter wheelbase should result in superior handling over thesedan, aided by massive 20-inch front and 21-inch rear, five-spokechrome alloy rims surrounded by low-profile performance rubber. (Photo:DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
Still, it is quite a bit larger than the current Mustang and Pontiac GTO, as well as the Camaro concept, which may hamper it on take-off and possibly through the corners, although I doubt this last concern being that the automaker's SRT8 LX cars are superb when the road starts to wind. Possibly the reason for the Challenger's increased length and width is because a longer and wider car gives off a sleeker profile, simply making the car look better, and the tall LX architecture doesn't allow for much modification in height. Good enough reason for me.