While it may be a few years too late, the muscle car wars are once again upon us. Ford is planning to introduce a new Mustang in just a few weeks at the Los Angeles Auto Show and Chevrolet has already taken the wraps off its all-new Camaro. Dodge fans are also back in the game with the revived Challenger, but Mopar buffs will have a few less muscle car options than first thought.
While the Challenger will be offered in three flavors for 2009 – SE, R/T and SRT8 – an optional sun roof will be the closest sun-lovers will get to a drop top Challenger. Despite reports that Dodge would offer a convertible version of the Challenger, those plans have since been cancelled.
“We considered a convertible when we were developing Challenger, but the extra weight needed to beef up the car when the top was removed was too much of a penalty,” Mike Accavitti, director of Dodge brand marketing, told Kicking Tires. “And that was with a manual soft-top. A power-retractable hardtop would add even more weight.”
Accavitti also added that the convertible would have been aimed at a niche market, making it hard for Chrysler to recoup the development costs – especially at a time when the Michigan automaker is already strapped for cash.
10/08, 1:09 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Niche market? That’s one hell of a big niche those zillion Mustang convertibles are filling.
10/08, 1:13 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
The Challenger is really too big to compete with Mustang. I saw one of them in traffic yesterday… they’re whales and they ride so high. Reminds me more of one of those Caprices on 24’s that you see riding through the ‘hood than a real muscle car.
God I hope Camaro isn’t that large…
10/08, 1:19 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
Hard to believe, but Chrysler actually made the right decision.
10/08, 1:30 PM
posted by:
whips001
very disapointed I had actually planned to buy a challenger convertible when they came out. Theyre loosing out on alot of customers with this one…definately under-estimating the market….sad story
10/08, 2:11 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Well, this little problem isn’t anything that couldn’t be solved with a Saws-All…
10/08, 2:34 PM
posted by:
brocky
Good decision. Now every other brands should follow this example. i.e. Lexus IS, Infiniti G
10/08, 4:20 PM
posted by:
Raven37
it could have been nice but id rather have mine with a top
10/08, 6:13 PM
posted by:
JoshyLofty
they’ll prob give us a convertible, just not right now.
10/08, 10:02 PM
posted by:
eff1Fifty
Funny… chop the top and you get a heavier car
10/09, 1:11 PM
posted by:
TomF
You always get a heavier car when you chop the top. Losing the roof means you lose body rigidity, and you have to compensate for it with heavier bracing elsewhere in the car. Cut the roof off a regular hardtop, and it’ll fold up like a chocolate teapot.
10/09, 4:33 PM
posted by:
Rafa LL
I have the feeling that it is going to fail badly. The Challenger, that is.
I think it can’t compete with anyone in any segment.
10/09, 9:42 PM
posted by:
eff1Fifty
I understand the dynamics of automobile engineering… im just sayin’ that it sounds funny