What's the deal with the Challenger ?

About a year ago, I was under the impression that the Challenger would
be available in Feb, March or April 2008 (at least in Canada).

There was even a Chrysler web-site that had a count-down to it's
introduction.

There doesn't seem to be any buzz at all right now about this car.

Is it available anywhere?

In the US maybe? (if so, not sure why not Canada - we can afford it
here much more than the average American I'm thinkin).

Is it true that they're only making it available as an SRT (ie some
big V-8 version) ? If so, who's responsible for that bone-head
decision?

 

from their web site



PRESS RELEASE:

a.. Highly anticipated 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8® production begins at
Brampton Assembly Plant
b.. Employees, guests join Chrysler executive Vice President Frank
Ewasyshyn for festivities
c.. Manufacturing expertise contributes to product quality
d.. Modern muscle car offers best of past, present
Auburn Hills, Mich., May 8, 2008 - Chrysler LLC today celebrated the
production launch of one of the industry's most highly anticipated
vehicles-the all-new 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8®. Dodge Challenger is back
in Chrysler's line-up as a modern muscle car with a new SRT8 model. A full
line-up will follow in the 2009 model-year. Consumer interest in the Dodge
Challenger has been some of the highest seen at Chrysler.

The all-new Dodge Challenger is built at Chrysler's Brampton Assembly Plant
on the same assembly line as the Dodge Charger and the award-winning
Chrysler 300.

"Even though the development time for this Dodge Challenger SRT8 is one of
the shortest in Chrysler's history, the wait for this exciting car has been
too long, and as of today, the wait is finally over!" said Frank Ewasyshyn,
Executive Vice President - Manufacturing. "Dodge Challenger represents the
best of Chrysler's past and future. The teams that worked to bring this
vehicle to market with quality and speed have done an excellent job."

Nearly 1,000 employees and invited guests joined Mr. Ewasyshyn for the
celebration.

Quality Manufacturing
To ensure quality targets were met and to foster a smooth manufacturing
launch, a team of Brampton employees spent months helping to build pilot
vehicles at Chrysler's Auburn Hills Technology Center. Then, early
pre-production models were built on the Brampton assembly line-rather than a
pilot facility-which allowed engineers to more realistically test the
production process.

"The vision of rolling launches on lines that build multiple and variant
models is becoming a reality as demonstrated with the Dodge Challenger at
the Brampton Assembly Plant," said Fred Godetel, Vice President - Car and
Minivan Manufacturing. "Chrysler's Flexible Manufacturing Strategy, little
more than a theory a few years ago, is being proved out at plants across
North America."

The Brampton Assembly Plant features Chrysler's Flexible Manufacturing
Strategy which provides for the production of higher quality products at
lower cost. This unique system combines off-the-shelf robotics with
customized and interchangeable tooling to build a variety of products on a
single assembly line. This manufacturing expertise also allows the Company
to more quickly and easily balance vehicle production with customer demand.

Dodge Challenger
The return of the iconic Dodge Challenger combines unmistakable design cues
reminiscent of the original Challenger with world-class performance.
Approximately 7,000 2008 model-year vehicles for North American markets will
be produced before 2009 model-year vehicles begin production in August. For
2009, the Company will offer three models: Dodge Challenger SE, Dodge
Challenger R/T and Dodge Challenger SRT8.

Dodge dealers have seen a tremendous interest in the Dodge Challenger and
2008 models are already sold out.

Although the original Dodge Challenger muscle car lasted only five model
years, the Dodge Challenger became one of the most storied muscle car
nameplates in automotive history, with meticulously restored and rare
examples today selling for six-figure prices.

The U.S. MSRP for the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 starts at $37,995,
including the $675 destination charge.

Customer First
With world-class products like the Dodge Challenger, Chrysler can respond to
customer insights and expectations with vehicles that truly capture the
essence of the Company's bold spirit while exceeding customer expectations.

The New Chrysler LLC is more nimble than a publicly held company and is
moving quickly to deliver more quality and value to Chrysler, Jeep® and
Dodge customers. The Company initially approved 260 line-item product
enhancements representing an investment of a half-billion dollars. The
product changes continue to grow and are currently at more than 400.

The Company also launched last month the industry's first on-line Customer
Advisory Board to establish two-way dialog with our customers, and thousands
of people have already applied to be part of this board. As we move beyond
focus groups to gain insights that we can share throughout the Company, this
Advisory Board will be used to stay in touch with our customers.

Brampton Assembly
The Brampton Assembly Plant was built in 1986 and was later acquired by
Chrysler Corporation with the purchase of American Motors Corporation in
1987. The Chrysler Concorde and Dodge Intrepid began production in 1997 and
the Chrysler LHS and 300M in 1998. Production of rear-wheel-drive vehicles
started in 2004 with the launch of the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum.
Production of the Dodge Charger was launched in early 2005.

The 2.95 million square-foot facility along with the Brampton Satellite
Stamping Plant occupies 269 acres and together employs approximately 3,200
workers, many of which are represented by the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW).
The satellite stamping facility was completed and production started in
December of 1991.

 

How can this be?
Didn't the LH cars start production in '93 in Brampton?
Mine was built there in '95.

A simple Google found this more accurate info online:

Unfortunately Chrysler downgraded a great car because they needed change:

If only they had looked at improvement rather than just change sales
would have stayed up, even I would have bought another.

Then with the 300 replacing that follow on LH in the next decade,
Chrysler had a hot product for a few years more, but lost their LH
customers.

 

my 94 Concorde is Canadian car too, but I don't think it was built at that
plant until 97

not sure though. anyone know?

 

It would have been useful to include the date of that press release.
No indication of the date in the quoted material.

No mention as to specific US / Canadian availability.

I have seen NONE of these cars at my local Canadian Chrysler
dealership.

Woh - hold on there.

It's still 2008 last time I checked. What is the model breakdown for
2008?

Ok, that's nice.

But I still want to know the CURRENT (2008) model availability, and
any differences between US and Canadian availability.

That's a pretty lame statement.

Not exactly hard to sell them out if you're only making 7000 of them,
and they're a brand-new model.

What about the 2008 Canadian MSRP?

And why do they only show 1 model (the SRT8)?

How much for the other 2008 models?

How about posting a URL to the website hosting that board?

Does this mean that Chrysler is reading this news group?

Are you reading this - Chrysler?

 

well since it came from Chryslers web site, I guess I forgot to do that,

http://media.chrysler.com/newsrelease.do?id=7804&mid=1

 

Back in Feb 2007 the plan was to show the production version at that
show, which apparently they did, but that didn't seem to get any
exposure in the press at the time. Don't see any TV commercials for
it either.

This current round of PR seems to have happened around May 10 - 12.

http://www.ontariostreetcar.com/showthread.php?p=5500#post5500

I think the hood is too short.

And yes they're only making the 2008 model as SRT-8. Just in time for
$4 gasoline (and higher, if this thing needs premium).

And the thing is a tank. Curb weight is 4140 lbs. I think only the
old Imperial weighed as much.

 

300 and charger are no light weights......and that's where it gets its
framework

 

The extra weight is partly in the additional sheet metal needed to
pull off the Fisher-Price / Tonka-Toy look, but mostly in the drive
train.

Curb weights:

300M 3.5 L 3580 lbs
300 base model (2.7L) 3712 lbs
300 with 3.5L 3766 lbs
300 with 5.7L v8 4066 lbs
300 SRT8 4160 lbs

Yea, the post-2004 300's should have good resale value at the scrap
yard if commodity prices keep rising.

 

seen the 09 trucks yet? same guy helped redesign those changes for next
year. don't think it looks too bad!

http://www.allpar.com/model/ram/2009-ram.html

I saw an interview with Ray Giles at the Detroit show. looked good overall
but we'll see with the current economy

 

It would be insane to introduce another gas guzzler now with $4/gallon
and rising gas prices. If I were running Chrysler I'd kill it.

 

NO new full-size car is particularly lightweight compared to
similar-sized cars of the past. Synthetics, sprayed-on coatings,
plastic-clad steel stampings, structural plastics, and composites are
great for safety and quietness, not always so great for weight.
Counter-intuitive, but true. I was very surprised that my wife's 1993 LH
car weighed slightly more than my '73 Satellite 4-door, and things have
only gotten porkier since then!

 

yeah my 96 LHS is not much lighter than my 68 coronet

 

4100 lbs is where the normal Chrysler Newports "titled" at in the middle
1960s and then grew to about 4200 lbs with the Fuselage '69-'73 C-body
cars. Imperials were heavier. They gained another 100 or so pounds
with the '74-'78 C-body cars.

Seems that our fascination with 5-star safety ratings made the Pacifica
heavier than it should be (being based on the minivan platform, then
upgraded to meet the safety ratings rather than being a 300M-based
"wagon"). Probably similar for the 300/Charger LX platform, which is
about the same size as the prior LH cars.

As a shortened LX car, the Challenger is heavier than it probably should
be. Makes it harder for the engine to do it's thing.

ALL first-year Challengers will be SRT-8s. Even at that, they were all
sold out. Some dealers got "availability" charges from the customers
and others sold them for MSRP (USA). Mopar Action has a good article on
the various versions of 2009 Challengers (and what makes each one unique
from the others). UPgraded HEMI in 2009, too.

Latest "news flash" on the Camaro is that it's been seen with the
"sedan" B-pillar and fixed rear quarter windows as the Challenger has.
When those cars finally do hit, it'll be about the right time for
Mustangs to be traded-in on them.

Magnum goes away and Challenger takes its place.

Enjoy!

C-BODY

 

The deal is Chrysler is building another gas guzzler in the wrong era.
I'm wondering how much they will lose on them.

Chrysler would be much smarter if they put some effort into changing the
Compass slightly so it didn't look like an ugly Jeep from the front.

 

Wouldn't you have the Patriot then?

News reports are rife with rumors which models Chrysler will trim
beyond those announced (Pacifica, PT Cruiser convertible, Crossfire,
Magnum). Which ones should go?

My votes: Commander (who buys it over a GC? The third seat is
useless.)
Compass. Ugly and drags down the Jeep name.
low-end Chrysler models (low-end versions of 300, Sebring, Town &
Country) -- they duplicate Dodge offerings too much.
Aspen (heck, just put the interior into the Durango Limited)

 

My impression here is that so much of the investment in bringing the
car to market was paid before the price of gas skyrocketed that at
this point they lose less by bringing it out and selling fewer than
expected than they would be cancelling. Also, it's such a niche
vehicle that its sales might not be hurt as much as we think.

 

My impression here is that so much of the investment in bringing the

yep especially sine the first run is supposedly sold out already

 

Aren't they both a Jeep from the front.
I can appreciate Jeep people liking the Patriot, it's a nice little Jeep.
The Patriot and Compass are competing with one another.

However I happen to prefer the Compass's profile and rear to the
Caliper, so giving the Compass a more car like front would IMO give
Chrysler a nice small SW.

No more heavy large engined cars, they just won't sell enough to make
money. I'd like to see Chrysler survive and money making cars are needed.

As it now is I agree, but as I said modifying the front could do wonders.

True. Chrysler can't afford to market overlapping vehicles, those days
are past.

 

If they make money on each additional car sold I agree.