The new Dodge Challenger, Hemi powered is for real. This car has created the most amount of excitement coming out of Detroit in years. Chrysler LLC unveiled the car this week at both the Chicago and Philadelphia auto shows. The cars shown at both shows are actual production vehicles and not concepts. First reports in are that people have jammed the areas where the cars have been displayed.
Dodge spokesmen say so far, more than 8,000 orders have been taken for a limited number of the 6.1 liter Hemi powered SRT 8 Challengers. The new car is expected to be available in dealer showroom sin two months. Published photos easily exhibit the many styling features borrowed from the popular original 1970 model. Among them, the grille, flip-open gasoline cap, and the exhaust tips. Although the tips resemble more the Cuda style, they are nevertheless stunning.
The new cars are already selling for upwards of $60,000 on the Internet, and one of the first was sold recently at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale for $400,000. All of those proceeds went to charity.
Steve’s Comments-
Ford and GM had better try harder. The Challenger excites would be buyers. They can actually see themselves owning one. The evidence of enthusiasm is well demonstrated by the $60, 000 prices being closed on the Internet and the way-out in left field Barrett-Jackson winning charity bid of $400,000 for one. Although the new Shelby Mustangs and the soon to be available new Camaro are exciting, it seems hard to imagine the same kind of fervor the Challenger has already shown.
