Car Stuff, Nebulous Rumors, And The Like...

For a while I've been squawking about buying a new Mustang GT about a year from now to complement my Jeep. Well, hold everything. On April 12, DaimlerChrysler (DCX) applied for a trademark on the name "Challenger" for use on an automobile. A new Challenger has been rumored for years, but the application for a trademark means that something called Challenger is now inevitable.

Now what will the Challenger be? The most popular historic Challenger was a pony car that was designed to compete directly with the Mustang. Will they go there again? There are a couple of designs that are front runners in the rumor mill. One would be a Dodge-badged version of the 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse. That seems unlikely because DCX has stated that there will not be a follow-on version of the Stratus and Sebring coupes, which are basically re-skinned versions of the current Eclipse (on the other hand, DCX has lied to us before). Another possibility is that Challenger will be a trim level of an existing model like the Charger, Magnum, or Ram truck.

The most likely scenario, and the one that has me on the edge of my seat, is that Challenger will be a rear-wheel drive coupe based off of a shortened version of DCX's LX platform (Magnum, 300, Charger). What that would mean would be a car similar in size to (probably a little bigger than) the new Mustang, with the engine options of the other LX cars, available in coupe and convertible formats. In short, it would be the hottest mainstream car to hit the street out of Detroit in a long time. The likely trim levels would be SE (2.7L V6), SXT (3.5L V6), R/T (5.7L Hemi V8), and possibly SRT8 (6.1L Hemi V8). And with pricing likely in the sub-$30k range for SE, SXT, and R/T, it would be a big hit.

My only concern with an LX-based Challenger would be the looks. I think the other LX cars look like flying bricks. I'm already disappointed with the Charger, and if Challenger gets a boxy body instead of the coke bottle-shaped "fuselage" it should have, I'll probably look elsewhere for my next car. But that's all still way out in the future.

Factors in favor of the LX Challenger being reality are a glaring hole in the DCX lineup, the runaway success of the Mustang GT (they're unable to build as many as have been ordered!), and the potential to tap into another segment of classic Mopar fans. The main factor against the LX Challenger is a strong anti-coupe sentiment pervading DCX right now. About the only thing that can be read from the trademark application, given the length of time it took the Charger to show up after they applied for the trademark on that name, is that Challenger, whatever it is, will likely appear mid-year 2006 as a 2007 model.

My dream Challenger? An R/T convertible with the 5.7L Hemi, white with a black drop top. If they get the design right, it would be the sharpest car on the road! Although I'm probably the only one who cares, I'll be posting news about the Challenger as soon as it becomes available, as well as stuff about other cars I'm interested in.