Dodge Reprises Another Classic With 2006 Challenger Concept
Date posted: 01-04-2006

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Dodge designers say they drew on the 1970s model for inspiration but stretched the new 2006 Challenger concept and made it a "genuine four-passenger car." The rear-wheel-drive Challenger concept sits on a 116-inch wheelbase, 6 inches longer and 2 inches wider than the original.

Dodge resurrects the original Challenger "performance hood" and its twin diagonal scoops — now with functional butterfly-valve intakes — on the new concept. The front end features the signature Dodge crossbar grille and four deeply recessed headlamps. In the rear are twin-rectangle dual exhausts.

Dodge designers skipped the racing-type gas cap, hood tie-down pins, louvered backlight, and body-side striping, saying, "Such assorted bits would detract from the purity of the monochromatic body form."

The black interior draws on Dodge's current SRT cars and includes hefty seat bolsters and a floor console with a "pistol grip" shifter.

The Challenger is powered by a 6.1-liter Hemi engine that makes 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

What this means to you: Hee-haw. Get ready, Daisy Duke. Your new ride has arrived!

I have a sick feeling that because of this car we're going to have a sequel or two to the Dukes of Hazard movie.

B) This baby is SWEET!!! Yea this is so much better than the Mustang. I take one of these. :)

The front end looks all right but the rear is nasty and, overall, the car looks overweight. Too retro for my tastes.

I like this car way better than the Mustang...better proportions. I really like the rear....glad to see full width tailights making an appearance...always liked that look.

I like the Challenger concept. Except the interior, but otherwise it looks great. I hope the Camaro looks even better though and maybe a little less retro.

This concept is much closer to the original car then the Mustang was to it's own. On top of that, the stance gives just the right amount of sportiness to the car to make it sexy-modern and retro at the same time. Something that the Mustang doesn't have.

Just think of the Avanti reproductions that could be made off of this!!!

glad to see full width tailights making an appearance

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Yes! I have missed full-width taillights. I hope they make a comeback.

I love it. Mustang will still kick its ass though

The Challenger looks great!....but it's very literal in it's retro-ness. What I like about the new Camaro is that it has Camaro cues but is very sexy contemporary. If Chevy can keep this intact in the production car, they will have a winner.

the Challenger concept looks OK.. i like the front.. don't really like the taillights.. the interior is good.. it's a shame that even though it's on a shorter wheelbase, its longer than it's LX sister cars the 300C and Magnum.. wider too.. this thing is huge, gonna be heavy i bet

I have always liked the side crease where it bumps up over the rear wheel....it's become such a Challenger cue.

This and the Camaro make the Mustang look almost bland. I bet this comes out at least a year before the Camaro (if Chevy even finds a chassis for it).

Jeez I didn't know it was longer and wider than the 300C, thats too bad.

I have always liked the side crease where it bumps up over the rear wheel....it's become such a Challenger cue.

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everything i read says this is gonna go into production in 2008.. that probably means 2009 model year.. it will beat the camaro by at most a few months..

best case scenario for the camaro.. the solstice went to production in 19 months.. do that for the camaro and it could be out by 3rd quarter 07.. wouldnt that be somethin.. i doubt that'll happen though

The car looks good but being so retro how long till we tire of a familiar look? The problem I also see is it is too big and too heavy. Also if they can't sell it well equipt for 25k-30K it will never sell in great numbers. Is this Chryslers new Prowler?

The Challenger always was much bigger than the pony cars, although not quite this big. If and when they build it it will be much closer to the GTO than the Camaro and Mustang.