A Worthy Challenger

Tasked with the enviable assignment of developing a hot-looking performance coupe using Chrysler Group LLC's advanced rear-wheel drive LX platform and its fabled HEMI® engine, the designers explored a variety of options, eventually gravitating to "something" for the Dodge brand — appropriate given that brand's bold performance image. The idea of reinventing the highly-collectible Challenger quickly came to mind.

Eager to begin, the designers drew up a "short list" of the essential attributes of a muscle car: distinctly American; mega horsepower; pure, minimal, signature lines; aggressive air-grabbing grille; and bold colors and graphics.

"Challenger draws upon the initial 1970 model as the icon of the series," said Tom Tremont, Vice President — Advanced Vehicle Design. "The 1970 model is the most sought after by collectors. But instead of merely recreating that car, the designers endeavored to build a Challenger most people see in their mind's eye — a vehicle without the imperfections like the old car's tucked-under wheels, long front overhang and imperfect fits. As with all pleasurable memories, you remember the good and screen out the bad."

"We wanted the concept car to evoke all those sweet memories... everything you thought the Challenger was, and more."

One of the key characteristics of the original car the designers wanted to retain was the exceptionally wide look of both the front and back ends. To achieve this the designers increased both the front and rear tracks to 64 and 65 inches respectively, wider than the LX, wider even than the 1970 model. To realize the long horizontal hood the designers deemed essential, the front overhang was also increased.

In contrast to the bright Orange Pearl exterior, the interior is a no-nonsense, "let's-get-in-and-go" black relieved by satin silver accents and narrow orange bands on the seat backs. "Though the 1970 model was looked to for inspiration, we wanted to capture the memory of that car, but expressed in more contemporary surfaces, materials and textures," said Alan Barrington, principal interior designer. As with the original car, the instrumental panel pad sits high, intersected on the driver's side by a sculpted trapezoidal cluster containing three circular in-line analog gauge openings.

Rethought, reworked, re-proportioned and redesigned, the Challenger concept car offers iconic a HEMI®-powered performance coupe derived from a classic American muscle car.