Mustang Watch Out, the HEMI Challenger is Back!
DaimlerChrysler's large rear wheel drive LX cars have been smash hits for the brand. These muscle-savvy machines have been on sale for
a little over a year now, yet are still amongst the hottest, attention grabbing vehicles on the streets today. The lineup, which started with the Chrysler 300 and soon after the Dodge Magnum sports wagon, extended in 2006 to include the four-door Charger sedan and high-performance SRT-8 variants of all three, but soon the LX lineup will receive a fourth addition - at least in concept form.
DaimlerChrysler announced Monday that it will debut a two-door muscle coupe concept - one of ten concepts for 2006 - at the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Appropriately, fitting in with the automaker's
popular muscle-car scene, the car will bear another famous name from the '70s era: Challenger. VP of Advance Product of Design, Tom Tremont, said, "With Charger we have a muscle sedan, with Challenger, a muscle coupe."
As far as the concept goes, it rides on a shortened version of Chrysler's LX platform, its wheelbase chopped from 120 inches to 116 inches to improve cornering, agility and body rigidity. As with all other LX cars, the Challenger will ride on a tuned version of the double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension, providing good stability and cornering prowess. Production versions will most likely be V8-only, although some inside the company will no doubt be pushing for a V6 to go head to head with the less expensive and therefore popular Mustang V6.
DaimlerChrysler's large rear wheel drive LX cars have been smash hits for the brand. These muscle-savvy machines have been on sale for
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| DaimlerChrysler released an artist's rendering of a new two-door muscle car concept, which will show up at Detroit in January bearing the Challenger name. (Artist's Rendering: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
DaimlerChrysler announced Monday that it will debut a two-door muscle coupe concept - one of ten concepts for 2006 - at the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Appropriately, fitting in with the automaker's
 |
| The Challenger concept will ride on a shortened version of DaimlerChrysler's LX platform, which also underpins the new Charger sedan. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
As far as the concept goes, it rides on a shortened version of Chrysler's LX platform, its wheelbase chopped from 120 inches to 116 inches to improve cornering, agility and body rigidity. As with all other LX cars, the Challenger will ride on a tuned version of the double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension, providing good stability and cornering prowess. Production versions will most likely be V8-only, although some inside the company will no doubt be pushing for a V6 to go head to head with the less expensive and therefore popular Mustang V6.