Charger aimed at grown-up Duke fans

Not only does it handle better, says Love, but with the Hemi V-8 and its Multiple Displacement System (MDS) shutting down cylinders when they're not needed, but the new Dodge Charger also has more power per litre than its ancestors and provides ''all the glory of the muscle car era more efficiently than ever before. With modern technology, this Dodge Charger rides securely on the road, stays planted through the corners, and stops with assurance.

MDS ''seamlessly deactivates four cylinders in just 40 milliseconds - quicker than a blink of an eye - when full V-8 power is not needed,'' explains Love, and that improves fuel economy by up to 20 percent.

Darryl Jackson, the vice-president of Dodge marketing, is enthusiastic about the charms of the modern Charger, which he says ''features comfortable room for five adults and enough trunk space to meet the demands of active, modern lifestyles.''

As a result, says Jackson, the Chrysler Group is ''excited about bringing back the Charger,'' but particularly ''in a modern way that offers more convenience to our customers."

According to Jackson, those customers would include ''trendsetting, young affluent males with incomes from $80,000 to $110,000. People ''looking for the thrilling ride and handling characteristics of a sports car, but with the added convenience of a functional, five-passenger vehicle.''

The Dodge Charger interior has a driver-oriented cockpit designed with a performance mind-set, says Jackson. ''It is sporty, functional and simple, featuring a sleek instrument panel and Dodge Viper-inspired tunneled gauges highlighted with white faces and satin silver accent rings.''

A silver trim bezel surrounding the shifter and additional silver accents in the center stack ''add just the right touch of brightness to the comfortable interior,'' says Jackson, while the two-tone interior ''features a darker upper color and a lighter lower color, giving the cabin an open feeling.''
photo:DaimlerChrysler