More Dodge Challenger News

Yesterday, news broke in the automags, autoblogs, and on CNN.com of the fact, through "industry insiders", that a new Dodge Challenger is on the way. Exactly, tell me something I didn't know. However, they did add some interesting details. It appears the car will be almost everything I wanted it to be: a two-door coupe, a shortened-wheelbase LX, rear-wheel drive, and available with 5.7L Hemi power.

But there's always bad news...and this bad news is really bad: it appears it will be a 2009 model. 2009! I'm not really an impatient guy, but I can't wait that long! I'm in the market for a second car next spring. No sooner, no later, and I'm definitely not waiting until spring of 2008. So it looks like I'll have to get a fill-in car to make up that two year gap.

But there's more news, automotive instability really, that makes this wait even more agonizing. There's lots of talk of a new Hemi 'Cuda, and on June 8 DaimlerChrysler (DCX) applied for a trademark on the name "Road Runner" for use on automobiles. Keep toying with me DCX, I dare ya! This combined with DCX occasionally squawking about "we need a new entry-level car make", and the mind obviously goes straight to: is Ply***th coming back?!? That's definitely another story for another day.

Focus right now is on the new Challenger. I certainly hope that the 2009 info is wrong. I very much want this car to be a 2007 model, but there's no way to know for sure quite yet. It doesn't seem to fit DCX's recent MO to trademark these names so far in advance (although, maybe they wanted to secure them early this time). The only thing we know for sure is that nothing is official until DCX says it's official, and DCX hasn't said anything yet, besides what they've said through the Patent Office.

For now, one eye stays on the news and rumors, while the other keeps watch on used Mustangs/Firebirds/Stratus R/Ts.