They need to develop a new sporty hatchback, the Demon, and a new sporty midsize sedan. Those are the priorities, not a bloated 25 foot long “muscle car” that will be hard to find.

And while they’re at it, they should fix the all the problems with the new Wrangler and put a decent engine in it.

When they unveiled that concept I was immediately smitten. I’m usually not one for coupes but I think the Firepower is one fine-looking, well-proportioned automobile. I liked that instead of another “retro” concept, Chrysler decided to take their own interpretation of a modern classic – the Viper. Frankly I think it’s a mistake not to produce that car even if in semi-limited numbers, as all of the r&d has been spent already. The Firepower would basically be Chrysler’s answer to the Cadillac XLR. It would share the same platform as the Viper just like the XLR shares a platform with the Corvette, yet it would use the “tamer” hemi instead of the V10, just like the Cadillac uses the “tamer” Northstar. It wouldn’t be marketed as an out and out, purebred sports car, but more as a grand-tourer, more of a “gentleman’s sports car.” Soften the ride a bit, give it a posh interior with every piece of technology that Chrysler has at it’s disposal and sell it for $50K. It would sell. It wouldn’t affect the Viper whatsoever and would undercut the XLR by $25-30K. Chrysler used to be really good at getting concepts onto the showroom floor, and a model such as the Firepower would be just the ticket to reassert themselves and prove that there is a life after Diamler.

There is the Chevrolet SS concept, which amounted to, at least visually, a Corvette Sedan. Hem it in to a 2+2 coupe and that could be a new Firebird. But GM already said a few years back, when the New Camaro was just becoming a topic of discussion, that there would not be a new Firebird. The best we can hope for is a new GTO. Because, as we all know, when GM says they are going to build something truly exciting, they mean “maybe” and when they say they won’t… They will NOT.

This might have changed but I won’t hold my breath.

It doesn’t surprise me that the Challenger will not be sold in Europe, as if I care. European tastes seem to exclude most American concepts of automobiles. The General Idea of a muscle car is lost on most Europeans, regardless of how much their gas costs. In Japan, they love our muscle cars, especially because they are big loud boisterous beasts. When you don’t want to be polite, drive an American car (LOL). But again I don’t care.

I am hoping for a limited number of Challengers that way every fool and their dog isn’t driving one like they are with Mustangs and later Camaros. Uniqueness shouldn’t cost as much as a house. That much I’m certain of.

Now how about a new Barracuda, and maybe that Firepower-thingy?

AMGoff: Michael savage says Li’l Jorge is a liberal

One car I like to cite is the European Civic vs. American Civic. Everything from the driving, to the styling is far much ahead of the American ones, and the American versions differences make it look like crap. Sorry Honda, but if you’re not willing to give my market the best of what you have at the best price, I’m not even going to contend. I could name a whole list of cars that America doesn’t get, that would probably do well, that are in my opinion better than the American versions!

I don’t understand why everyone complains about Dodges interior… I haven’t sat in any of their sedans, but their truck interiors are fairly nice. Simple, flat and bold design, and they have fairly good quality too them. Nothing special, but nothing to complain about either.

Comment by Italiafan, posted on August31 at 1:57 pm
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. name 1 mass produced italian car that was sold in america that can change my mind.
germans have merc,audi and bmw (i like my 5 for sure)
brits have land rover.
..
so other than uberexpensive seldom driven cars the italians havnt made anything i can think of.
.

I agree with you, but for some reason the car co just refuse to see the damage the dealers are causing and the hard feelings that it creates with autophiles.