Video: Castiglione and Barrington Pt. 5
Dec 14, 2007 at 12:51PMThe fifth part (and the last portion we’ll be posting in 2007) of our conversation with the designers of the Dodge Challenger concept is here…in this edition:
–Alan takes us through the thinking of the concept’s interior
–Micheal talks about some key portions of the concept that were influenced by…wait for it…BLOGS and BLOG READERS.
Enjoy…
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38 Comments
I thought the same thing… I figured the most the 426 would be putting out is 575-600 HP. But unless they are lying on the video, and I see no reason why… its a very credible show and they have very knowledgeable people on there. Let me know what you think when you see it.
YOU GOT ME THINKING…. TRANSPLANT!!!!
820 HORSEPOWER IN A FACTORY CAR SEEMS UNFATHOMABLE.
THAT FIGURE BOTHERS ME, IT CAN’T BE RIGHT.
interesting ! i’ll have to tivo that one. on the same channel , catch musclecars: cuda/challenger. thats the one where they make the claim about horsepower being equal on a stock 440 and a stock 426. i was surprised myself.
the horsepower rating of 425 horsepower was off the this very dodge website. dodge claimed to have pulled the original dyno on the 426 hemi and claimed it matched identical with the 6.1 liter output of 425 hp. this article pertained to the engine that was going into the srt8 charger, so you would have to do a little digging.
RLD PLEASE CHIME IN WITH HORSEPOWER FIGURES ON THE ORIGINAL 426 HEMI DYNOMOMETER TEST.
RLD PLEASE CHIME IN WITH HORSEPOWER FIGURES ON THE ORIGINAL 426 HEMI DYNOMOMETER TEST.
FRONTYARDRESTOGUY… the original 426 Hemi was rated at 425-HP, BUT that was just a guestimate… and back then the car manufactures often time underestimated the HP for insurance purposes. check out “American Muscle Car” on the SpeedTV.
http://www.speedtv.com/programs/172/
If you have DirecTV it is the Speed Channel. They did a show on the “Fastest Muscle Car Engines of All Time.” (The show will air again next Monday Jan. 21, 2008, at 10:00pm.) The engines are original engines (not aftermarket) and had to be in stock format as produced in the late 60’s early seventies. They tested several engines invluding the 427, 429, 409 and the 426 Hemi. The 426 Hemi blew out the competition as expected, but what was incredible was the Horsepower it put out… 820-HP. Yes that is not a typo 820-HP on a stock engine.
Now you know why I want the 426 Hemi back, nothing can touch that.
the 6.1 liter is supposed to produce 425 horsepower, just as the original 426 hemi did. however, it was the aftermarket mods that made the hemi virtually unbeatable.the 440 was a faster motor out of the wrapper, for the record.
BigBadJav… I am that dense, but I am also a mopar fan. I have owned 4 in the past including an awesome 383 magnum 4-speed Cuda w/ hurst pistol grip. I still regret the day I got rid of it. Hopefully (and I honestly think they will) DODGE will go all out in its effort to bring back the Challenger as an Icon and include the 426 Hemi (at least as an option for those of us who want it). I’m sure I am not the only one that wants the 426 Hemi back.
clo, why the heck would you settle for a 5.4 liter Camaro over a 6.1 or 6.4 liter hemi Challenger? If you are that dense, than perhaps you deserve to be a Chevy guy!
it’s like no one has ordered a car before! you order car, car comes in, you don’t like, you take deposit back. simple
Well with the Camaro being on the Challengers heels for the introduction. They are keeping GM in the dark as long as possible. That doesn’t mean that we the consumers like it but it is all about marketing the product for the consumer and out doing the competition at the same time and sometimes sacrifices have to be made.
The needs of the many out way the needs of the few or the one. Sorry I had to quote that to make a point.
I am sure we will know more information in 34 days.
When I heard orders would be taken for the Challenger Decemeber 3rd I kind of laughed to myself. I was asking the dealer about the Challenger a year and a half ago and they had no idea whatsoever what I was talking about and basically laughed me off as if I was dreaming or something.
The potential consumer knows more about the product than the people responsible for selling it. That’s way screwed up!
Now I am supposed to go order one that I haven’t seen and my dealer has no specifics on other than price…C’MON!
I can see Dodge wanting to keep information close to the chest so the competition doesn’t know what’s about to hit them, but when they are soliciting orders they had better be able to pony up more information than a general press release.
I’m a Challenger fanatic but not STUPID!
We all saw what happened with the Charger and the hopes that were dashed by trusting they would do the “right” thing.
I say put up or shut up. Show us the FINAL product Dodge. We’ve been burned once before and now you have to gain back our trust that it isn’t going to happen twice.
Then again I’m a patient man. Maybe if I wait for the hoopla to die down I’ll pick up one with dealer incentives. Get my drift? Do you want to see them on the streets or on the lots?
I’m glad you like those obsolete imperial units. Because the USA has foolishly persisted with those silly imperial units, we now have to throw perfectly good money away buying 2 sets of tools. Its big fun having to waste money buying metric AND S.A.E sockets and wrenches isn’t it? Then having to take up additional space in the tool box to store 2 sets of tools. Ever build anything? its easy to find the middle of a board that is 468 milimeters long, I can do it right off the top of my head. What’s the middle of a 7 and 5/16 inch board? That’s right…you need a calculator to figure it out because inches are stupid. The USA needed to abandon the fractional imperial system during the industrial revolution, and if you can’t see that, you’re blind.
Jeremiah… do you buy gas by the liter or the gallon. Last time I checked no one was selling gas by the liter.
do you buy oil by the liter or the quart
Dodge owners manual states that if the dipstick is low “Adding one quart
of oil when the reading is at the bottom of the ‘SAFE’ range will result in an oil level at the top of the ‘SAFE’ range on these engines.”
So even Dodge uses the quart measurement in its owner’s manual.
Do you buy milk by the gallon or the liter. Trying getting your local supermarket to charge you for the milk by the liter.
Also, look at the MOPAR performance website which offers crate engines 10 of the 12 engines are in Cubic Inches (http://www.mopar.com/performance/index.html).
“You” need to look around before you make a statement.
Finally if you care to read my first posting, my comments are directed to Dodge not to you so unless you are some some bigwhig at Dodge no need to respond to me.
Dodge I hope you are listening.. as noted in my first blog and in those of others with similar experience at dodge dealerships… please get some training out to the local dealers.
Okay clo here my my specific responses to yours.
I went by my local dodge dealer today… the salesman had no useful information. I was inquiring about the 2009 version not the SRT8 special edition.
1. Clo, you have already heard me say the the dealerships are the last to know. Dodge has been so hush hush for marketing reasons and with the Mustang/Camaro around the corner about Challenger information in general why would they want to leak this information out to the sales guys at dealerships who will tell the world. That car is just to too far out to be leaking that information out at this time. Dodge will wait till the last minute and they may be when the production version is unveiled in Februrary or maybe later.
Bring back the cubic inches the metric system never succeeded in the U.S.
2. Now that is a bizarre request. The rest of the world has gone metric and you want the US to be antiquated and where did you get your information about the metric system never succeeded in the U.S. I think you need to look around a little more before you make that statement.
I also want the 6 speed manual transmission.
3. Be patient it will happen in latter 2008.
Hang in there you will get that car of your dreams.
Jeremiah…. I have been following the Challenger since the concept was released in 2006. I have also been on all the website that have info on the Challenger. My point is exactly what you mention at the end of your email (i.e. the dealer is the last to know!!!) That is why I blogged about the experience so Dodge can do something to correct the problem. It is sad that us as average joes know more about the car then the people charged with making Dodge a profit and selling the cars for them.
I am sorry guys (clo/Hopeful/moparlover) but had you done your homework since November you would not have been disappointed by going to your dealership.
All of the information on the Dodge Challenger has been coming out since fall and official news hit in November.
It is almost as if you just recently became interested in the Challenger and decided to visit the dealership. If you are going to spend $40K on a new yet to be released car, I think doing your homework way in advance is in order. FYI - Dealerships are usually the last to know.
Best wishes in finding getting your Challenger and keep trying because it will be worth the wait.
I am sorry guys (clo/Hopeful/moparlover) but had you done your homework since November you would not have been disappointed by going to your dealership.
All of the information on the Dodge Challenger has been coming out since fall and official news hit in November.
It is almost as if you just recently became interested in the Challenger and decided to visit the dealership. If you are going to spend $40K on a new yet to be released car, I think doing your homework way in advance is in order. FYI - Dealerships are ususally the last to know.
Best wishes in finding getting your Challenger and keep trying because it will be worth the wait.
I went by my local dodge dealer today… the salesman had no useful information. I was inquiring about the 2009 version not the SRT8 special edition. He had no idea about production numbers or engine and transmission option. They did NOT even want to take a deposit for a 2009. I asked about a waiting list for the 2009 again the response was “no.” I want the 2009 if I can order it with a 426 Hemi (not a 6.1, 6.4 or any other liter messurement) Bring back the cubic inches the metric system never succeeded in the U.S. I also want the 6 speed manual transmission.
Dodge need to have some training and information sharing with their dealers b/c customers are walking out of the dealers based on their lack of knowledge or interest in selling the Challenger. I know that if I can’t get 426 Hemi and the manual transmission w/ a performance suspension package then regrettably I will go the Camaro. Dodge please don’t make me buy a Camaro!!!
After just getting back from a Dodge dealer, and again being told that there is no waiting list to sign up on, and THEY THINK the Challenger will be released in spring, I came home to see this press release that orders started on Dec. 3rd. All pics in the email from Dodge stated “Concept”, not “production” pictures. I’m going to order a car that I don’t know exactly what it looks like? Or what the exact cost might be? I bought my wife a Charger R/T (had to go R/T to get a better interior than my work truck), we love the performance as well as the comfort. I hope I don’t have to wait untill the showroom models arrives to see what Dodge’s approuch to a $40,000 (or $37,500 depending on which Dodge release you read)car is as far as quality. Dodge could better inform their dealers as to what is really available.
I went to my dodge dealer to find out about challenger only to be dissapointed again.Only 4800 all automatics only 3 colors. There killing it just like they did the legendary charger. DODGE MESSED UP AGAIN Guess Ford gets my business. Hyped up only to be let down again.Very disapointed
I have been waiting since the concept was released on the Challengers. I have made my order today and seen my order go through Chyrsler. SRT-8.
Have you considered designing a 40th anniversary Challenger or ‘Cuda for 2010? It could resemble the 1970 T/A or AAR with a 500+ hp 6.4 Hemi, fiber glass hood, megaphone side exhausts, side striping, hood pins, etc.
It could be a limited edition model sold with numbered dash plates like the 2008 model or the Dodge Charger Super Bee. I think that it would be a big money-make for Dodge.
In an article about the 2008 Dodge Avenger’s interior fit and finish, a writer on CanadianDriver.com wrote the following:
“Tolerances are tight, creaks and rattles non-existent. Now if we can only get the New Chrysler to realize that not every stitch of internal plastic has to double as a nail file, the New Chrysler won’t become the Whatever Happened to Chrysler. As for leather seats, the material is some of the worst on the market. I’ve seen and felt leatherette that trumps it. Mind you, you don’t have to pay anything extra for it at the R/T level. Some people might want to for a premium leather group.”
I went by a Dodge dealership yesterday to ask about the Challenger. The guy’s story was so in direct conflict with everything I’ve seen from Chrysler that I had to ask, where do you get your information? Here is a list of some of what was the most shocking.
I will not buy a car from this guy or Dodge if they support this kind of consumer abuse.
1. The initial release will only be 3000 cars.
2. He is getting 11 of those cars.
3. The cars being built as 2009 not 2008 cars.
4. The next release will not be until the 2010 build.
5. He is selling the cars with a $20K premium.
a. A $37k CAR WITH A $20k MARKUP. THEY MUST HAVE LOST HIS MIND!!! I’LL BUY A MORE POWERFUL, LESSER COST, TRIED AND PROVEN MUSTANG FIRST.
6. There are only two options, sunroof and MP3 player.
7. There are only two (2) colors orange and black.
Ok, so he is confused or has the public been misled. The part that should concern the buying public and Chrysler the most is the $20K markup. If Chrysler really wants to sell this car in meaningful numbers, it better reel the dealerships in. That story about they can not control over the dealerships is silly. Nissan has formally released a statement from its Headquarters that it will take the necessary action to prevent dealerships from overcharging for their soon to be released GTR, a real supercar. If the import guys can do it, so can Chrysler, if they really want to…
This my second attempt at this posting as the moderators did not like me identifing a specific dealer, even if they are ripping off the public and some of the language I used. For the language, I am sorry for the dealership pointed out, I am not.
Greg Anderson
US Army Retired
Yes Norm, you are hitting on something important. I went to the Chrysler dealer recently specifically to inspect the interior quality of the 300C and Charger. The dealer had a 300C SRT8 and a Charger R/T on the showroom floor, and the interior quality was lower than what I expected at that price, it was a bit of a disappointment. Plastic pieces of the dashboard seemed thin and hollow, and I’m not sure that I’m a fan of the indiglo backlight on the gauges.
Here’s a comment on Chrysler interior quality (or lack thereof) from a poster at Autoblog:
“I checked out a few Chryslers at last year’s Montreal Auto Show, and even cars like the 300 in premium trim had cheap and nasty-feeling interior plastics. I couldn’t imagine someone plunking down 35 to 40 thousand for that (yes, we still pay these outrageous prices for cars here, even though our dollar is at a par with the USD; the SRT8 sells for $53k here).
And as an aside, marketing a car like the Charger as a ‘muscle car’, but not offering even the option of a manual transmission is just plain stupid.
When the guys on Top Gear make the (typical) comment that ‘Americans just don’t get car interiors’ I used to shrug it off, but after driving a Volvo for a few months I understand what they’re on about. Yes, it’s still mostly plastic — but it’s better quality plastic, made with feel and appearance in mind rather than having a single-minded focus on giving the contract to the lowest bidder.”
I really hope Challenger breaks the trend of cost-cutting on interiors.
I hope this isn’t going to be like the Viper when it came out! Sky high prices so the normal person is out of the loop. All I have been getting from the Dealers is we don’t know how many we are getting and we can talk. Now I recieve an e-mail to go to my local dealer and place an order and they won’t place an order or look at you. To bad it has to be this way, when the car company’s are not selling. This car will get Dodge out of the funk the rest of the car dealers are in. Maybe looking into a Shelby Mustang or a GM car for the prices the dealers are looking to get rich quick with. Sorry but had to get it off my chest! Thanks for the time. Chris
Norm Kowalski: Good points and I agree with you. The competition has definitely raised the level of quality and we need to match it.
I have an order placed with the factory, I saw pictures of the new wheels which are a lot different than the concept car.I much prefer the concept car wheels
In answer to Chally’s post: “Are you really expecting leather stitched dashes and tight fit and finish throughout on a $28k musclecar?” My answer is basically yes. An $18k Hyundai Sonata has a better interior than a Ford Mustang, so does th ‘08 Chevy Malibu. No one expects leather stitched dashes, Wilton lambs-wool carpet or Bowers & Wilkins sound systems at this price point, but tight fit and finish throughout? Yes, definitely. Soft-touch plastics with minimal cut lines, good color dyeing, and no rattles and squeaks are now common place on most cars other than budget buckets. Challenger should be no exception.
From the photos that I have seen from the pre-sales brochure, you guys did a great job in designing a production car that closely mirrors the concept car.
I really like the rear spoiler, the clean grill (but get rid of the rams’ head), the racing gas cap,and the updated SRT wheels. Please consider the following as standard equipment or options:
1. Ram-air hood scoop. (To save money, have a manual control like the one on the 1970-71 shaker hood scoops). Also consider a shaker hood and/or T/A hood.
2. Chrome hood pins.
3. Rear window louvers.
4. Side T/A-style tape stripe.
“Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world’s baddest car. Dodge Challenger will be that car. Better than it was before. Better. Stronger. Faster.”
Sorry guys….I couldn’t help myself.
Good to hear from Alan Barrington and liked what he had to say about the effect of milling out the rubber to expose the metal on the interior. I just hope that is how it turns our or at least have an option to upgrade to that. In looking at the Charger brochure it appears too plain but the Challenger interior production version just needs to pop. In other words when you look inside you need to go WOW this looks bad.
This would fulfill Michael Castiglione’s wish that the reviews of the Challenger at the end will not have to say but.
Pretty much anything they do to the interior with today’s standards will be a step up from what we had in 1970. Are you really expecting leather stitched dashes and tight fit and finish throughout on a $28k musclecar? Allpar.com has a couple statements claiming that the production interior has been changed from the concept. It’s hard to tell if that is good or bad without seeing some pics. How about showing some RLD.
Nice to hear more from Alan this time. I really like what I’ve seen of the interior design, and once again, the care and attention to detail do justice to the new Challenger. My biggest fear is that the production car will have a badly cheapened interior with lots of hard plastics and poor fit/finish. Dodge, please please don’t go cutting corners on interior quality like Ford did with the Mustang. That car’s interior makes the Mustang look like a cheap plastic toy.
Thanks for the videos. It’s nice to have some insight on how the car was designed.
I hope this is a good money maker for Dodge and that they continue producing “standard” models for the masses.
. . . And thanks for keeping us informed.
remember, common people drive common cars. relax, you will be able to order your 6 cylinder 6 speed by april in time for summer delivery. so clear space in the trailer park, and stop by walmart for some heavy duty air freshener, your challenger is on the way!
inspired by blogs and blog readers? yah not from RLD… comments from people with big money and corporate sponsors that pay for their cars and parts for them. not the common people like us in here.
These videos get better and more insightful with each new segment. Its good to see Castiglione sets his personal achievement bar high, and wants his design to be fully thought out and correct from the beginning. The 6 speed manual was a wise requirement in this car.