Flyinlow

Actually, the transition from 2-door to 4-door makes sense in the Charger's case...

... hear me out first...

Keep in mind that the original Charger was not a Pony-car. It was considered an "Intermediate" car, alongside the GTO, Chevelle, and Road Runner. These cars were then what cars like the Acura TL are now-- performance mid-size cars. In fact, the 2004 GTO and the Mercedes-Benz CL-class are about the only "midsize" 2-doors that I can think of. The market has evolved. 4-door models are no longer virtually exclusive to the largest of cars. Along these lines the new Charger will effectively serve the same niche as the old Charger.

The Mustang, Camaro, Firebird, Javelin, Barracuda, and Challenger were smaller than the "intermediate" cars, and, thus, were given their own distinct size class-- the ponycar. The Ponycar was unique in that it was targeted directly at younger buyers craving performance. Incidentally, after the Japanese invasion of the auto market in the '70's and '80's, this formula was revised. The cars got even smaller. RWD gave way to FWD. The market niche once occupied by the Mustang and Camaro were overrun with the Toyota Celica, Eagle Talon, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Mazda MX-6, Acura Integra... you get the picture. These cars, compact and aimed at younger buyers, still retain the 2-door formula to this day.

Hence why it would make sense that the Mustang, Camaro, and Firebird retain a 2-door format. Hence why I would be up-in-arms if Dodge called a sedan "Challenger" or "Barracuda". As for "Charger" and "Road Runner", it kinda makes sense to give them 4-doors if you consider the evolution of the automotive market...

I'm sure many of you disagree, but this is my perspective, and it makes sense to me. [/b][/quote]
But in the 60's they had names for 4 door Chargers (I believe this was the B body platform), they were called Coronets. 4door Road runners were Satellites. 4 door GTO's were Tempests.

Why not bring one of those names back for a 4 door and leave the Charger for a 2door version of the car.

grabbergreen

You do have a point that I did, in fact, overlook.

However, there's a bit of a problem-- "Coronet" and "Satellite" are names fit for an Accord-like, FWD, ho-hum midsize sedan. They're very wussy-sounding names.

Dodge can't afford to do this with their new vehicle lineup-- they would ruin Dodge's efforts at being the "Family cars for Bad-*****" company.

"Charger" is a bold name. Given the fact that the Coronet, at least to my knowledge, never recieved a powertrain strong enough to give it "muscle car" status, it would have been inappropriate for an athletic-looking car with a 340-hp HEMI.

Ever since the HEMI has been brought back to the Chrysler/Dodge lineups, Dodge has been creating a unique niche-- family vehicles for guys who don't want to give up their sport coupes (Caravan, Stratus, and Neon excluded, of course). "Charger" projects an image of strength and gotta-have-it coolness. So do names like "Avenger" and "Intrepid."

freebass55

600?? Which one, the SRT-8 or the SVT?

BlackRiderX

interesting you brought that up.

It seems that when it comes to Dodge, their cars, no matter how poorly built they are, will only sell cuz of the HEMI.

Sad.... this only reinforces how stupid some people are. [/b][/quote]
That was indeed my point. B)

Dr Iven

600?? Which one, the SRT-8 or the SVT? [/b][/quote]
The SVT, of course. Note the "SVT, which" parallelism.

Dodge is in need of a coupe priced well below the Viper with great looks and performance. I say produce a reincarnation of the Stealth, but totally American.

CanadianStang

The camoflagued looks like this '99 concept of the Charger

grabbergreen

I hear a lot of people saying they wished Dodge made the new Charger as per the concept.

I, for one, am glad they haven't. I think that... thing... looks too much like a Camaro... my stomach threatens to reject my supper just thinking about it...