So I’m thumbing through one of the latest “here are the new cars” periodicals (I don’t spend much time with them…I don’t care much if a Mazda sedan and out perform a VW sedan…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz) and ran across that stated “Chrysler looks to the ‘Cuda to replace Dodge‘s Challenger.”
Ok…come on heee…er (New York accent). Didn’t we just have the conversation about the “Dodge Dart“??? Like how it looked more like a Neon!!! And correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t we all agree that the Charger was a cool as “Honda Accord“? Yes, I believe we did!
So now lets take the Challenger the one they got “right’ in a retro sense. So why replace it? Well some could argue in the 70’s the Cuda was a better looking car and you know they bring a lot more money. So just maybe….but read this!!!
“A Barracuda replacement would be much more trim, though still on a RWD platform. Chrysler and…(cough) Fiat are said to be jointly developing a new platform that’s smaller the current Charger… Gille’s Barracuda will be far less literal interpretation of its namesake.”
So let me see if I have this straight….you’re gonna take the Challenger that looks somewhat similar the orig…and you’re gonna replace it with a car that won’t look like this original?
Smart? What do you think?
Tim
When Plymouth was axed by Daimler, all of the Motorheads and MOPAR-heads asked not only why, but even made the point that bringing back cars such as the Road Runner and Barracuda was now impossible.
The original PT Cruiser was supposed to be a PLYMOUTH. That car alone could have brought the brand back. The line up of a low cost mini Van, the Neon, PT cruiser, and Prowler could have survived under the Chrysler dealer’s second line of cars.
GM is faced with the same sort of issue with Ponitac gone. The current Camaro could be a great Trans Am spin off.
If I were calling the shots at Chrysler, or Fiat, or whatever, I would keep the Charger/Challenger line up as it is today, and try to introduce a ‘de-contented’ variant Road Runner and Barracuda in the Dodge brand. The Road Runner would be a Charger, Hemi and auto trans, and roll down windows, base radio, perhaps AC, and bench seats. Think Charger fleet, or police versions with even less stuff, for a $22,000 sales price.
The Barracuda would follw the same path. Challenger body, Hemi V8, auto trans, and NOTHING ELSE. Same for the $22,000 sales price.
This was the original ‘muscle car’ formula. Throw out all of the electronic crap that fails weeks out of warranty such as Navigation, 600 Terabyte hard drives, BlueTooth, and heated seats and go with a V8 and a bench seat with four wheels.
If only I could run a car company……..
Bill,
I’m not sure that the PT Cruiser was going to save anything. It looked great in the marketing brochures, but that’s where it stopped for me! The Plymouth voyager was plagued with problems and was cheap to boot, the 90’s models being horrible under powered and engine problems were numerious. The Prowler was great looking, but I don’t think they ever planned on making it main stream.
I like your idea about the Road Runner and Barracuda…but manual roll down window????!!!! Additionally, I’m a member of the “NO BENCH SEAT” CLUB OF AMERICA.
Thanks for note.
Tim