Muscle Car: Dodge Challenger Concept

 

The goal of designing the modern Dodge Challenger concept was to capture the essence of the 1970 Challenger icon while removing the idiosyncrasies of the original design. The new Challenger has larger wheels, 20-by-9-inch front and 21-by-10-inch rear, wrapped in 255/40R20 front and 265/45R21 specially made Goodyear tires that are placed further out from under the car. The car body is thicker with lower profile "greenhouse" more the trademark of today's Chrysler sedans, such as the 300C and the Charger. The paint color is a loose interpretation of the original Hemi Orange.

Challenger Performance

The 425-hp, 6.1-liter V8 that the Challenger Concept borrowed from a Dodge Charger SRT-8 is treated to Hemi Orange accents on the valve covers. The Hemi is run through a six-speed manual transmission, capable of 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds, runs the quarter-mile in 13 seconds and quickly reaches a top speed of 174 mph.

Challenger Interior

Interior features that capture the essence of the '70 Challenger include the pistol-grip shifter, the inline gauges, and the three-spoke steering wheel. The gauge cluster, aligned like cylinders in an engine block, revisit the Mopar performance feel.

Consensus is that this is one concept car that will be a hands down winner as a production model. Leaks have been disseminated that the Challenger has the green light for production in 2008.



Muscle Car: Chevy Camaro Concept

Camaro Concept appeared at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show in January. The car is set for production as a 2009 model, sources say. The Camaro concept's design is based on the classic 1969 Camaro.

The Camaro concept has a particularly mean, aggressive look with high flared fenders and tumescent hood. Large wheels (the front wheels are 21 inches in diameter and the back wheels are 22 inches), exposed high-performance brakes, and prominent fender shapes add to the "muscle car" theme.

Camaro Performance

Under the hood, the concept Camaro shares a 400-hp 7.0 LS7 V8 aluminum-block V8 engine engine with the Chevrolet Corvette C6 race car. Peak output is 505 hp (377 kW) at 6300 rpm and 470 ft-lb at 4800 rpm with a 7000 rpm redline.

Camaro aficionados and machine heads in general are enthusiastically waiting for the arrival of the Camaro in 2009. It represents long overdo homage to a classic whose legacy has been reincarnated. Fans have thus far had to visit their favorite auto show to catch a glimpse of the Challenger and Camaro concept cars.

J. Prinz