While this picture may not accurately portray the massive crowds surrounding the car at almost all times during the public viewing days, many found it difficult to get near the new pony car concept while the Challenger made its week-long NAIAS debut. That same excitement was obvious in the press as just about every automotive media source, from internet blogs and forums to the big name motoring magazines worldwide featured the Challenger, even though little information was available at that time. The only real information numbers available were the very basics such as the specifications and estimated performance numbers.
Over the months following the debut of the Challenger, speculations of what 'could be' with the revamped classic were available all over the internet, and just as discussions began to die down, the Challenger popped up at a handful of car shows on the west coast, and then at a huge Mopar show at the Walter P Chrysler Museum.
Again, rumors flew over when the new car would be announced, as the public and the media alike were certain that this modern muscle car would find its way to the showroom floors of your neighborhood Dodge dealership. One of the most popular rumors, which may have been forgone since it made its way to the public well before its time, was that the Challenger would be debuted at the Woodward Dream Cruise in Metro Detroit, which is a massive rolling car show, but on June 30, 2006 newspapers hit the stand, from the Detroit Free Press to the Wall Street Journal; the Challenger was "a-go", and it would be made official the following day at the Pepsi 400 NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway. Mopar faithful and the performance world eagerly waited as there was a short presentation with NASCAR Legend Richard Petty, current NASCAR and Dodge Motorsports star Kasey Kahne, and Chrysler Group President and Chief Executive Officer Tom LaSorda, and with them was a 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A. Among the display there was a starting line-like setup, and with the throaty roar of the 6.1L Hemi engine, the Challenger Concept drove around from behind two large semi trailers and Mr. LaSorda waived a green flag, and made the move of the Dodge Challenger from Concept to a production vehicle official.
While full details are still somewhat sketchy, what we do know per Mr. LaSorda's comments during and following the official announcement, is that the Challenger will be released as a 2008 model, and it should hit the showrooms early in the 2008 Calendar year. What we are yet to know for sure are things like what aspects of the Concept will be excluded from the production model, production numbers, and retail price. While it is assumed that the 6.1L Hemi engine and manual transmission displayed in the concept will make their way to production, it is unknown whether other engines will be offered. However, DCX's new marketing campaign of "ask Dr. Z" in which questions pertaining to the corporation can be directed to Dieter Zetsche, the head of Daimler Chrysler, has opened up to some interesting information. When the question of 'what engines will be offered in the 2008 Challenger' is sent in to their inquiry address, this is the reply:
"Dear Patrick:
Thanks for contacting Dr. Z. Your message has been forwarded to us for response. The all-new Dodge Challenger will make its debut as a 2008 model, in calendar-year 2008. It will have the available 5.7-liter or SRT-engineered 6.1-liter HEMI® V-8 engines coupled to either a five-speed manual transmission or five-speed automatic transmission with Auto Stick"
While this bit of information is not exactly official, it does come from a member of the DCX marketing team, so it would lead one to believe that the Challenger will be offered in multiple trim lines. It is assumed that Dodge is releasing the Challenger in 2008 anticipating the release of the Chevrolet Camaro, which is also currently just a concept, but GM executives have said that the Camaro will make it to production in the coming years.
All in all, this announcement and the information surrounding it paint a promising image of a new alternative for both lifelong Mopar enthusiasts and performance car buyers to cars such as the Ford Mustang, and the Pontiac GTO. It appears as though even with fuel prices getting increasingly higher, we are in for another exciting horsepower war, similar to that of the 1960s and 1970s, and this one is rapidly shaping up to be every bit as thrilling as the past horsepower war. Now, all you have to ask yourself, is do you wish to enter that war yielding the 4.6L packed automotive equivalent of a handgun, or a 6.1L packed automotive equivalent of a Sherman tank? The Challenger is a-go and while it will be roughly a year and a half before it becomes available we are certain that this new weapon in the horsepower war will make a lasting impression on its opponents.
