With production of the 2009 Dodge Challenger slated for next spring, it was only a matter of time before prototypes started showing up. What we have here isn't quite a full-blown prototype just yet, but our newest spy photos show what appears to be the front clip of a Challenger grafted onto the body of a Charger R/T. This is a common practice when engineers want to test airflow to the engine of a car that has a radically different grille design compared to existing models. Despite the heavy camouflage, it's clear the Challenger's front end will look almost identical to the prototype which should come as no surprise given that Dodge officials have already promised minimal styling changes for the production Challenger...
With an official unveiling scheduled for the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, we expect this will be the first of many Challenger spy photos to come.
lemarjones says:
08:44 PM, 04/14/07
Are you sure it's not just a new Charger?
runespyder says:
09:58 PM, 04/14/07
Oh yeah, and that's not an R/T. That's an SRT-8. You can tell by the wheels, brake calipers, and lower ride height.
frank908 says:
05:14 PM, 04/15/07
Isn't the Challenger being built on a shortened Charger platform? I'm sure it involves much more than just chopping off some length but the frontend should remain the same. So it could be front end panels and hood of the Challenger. What makes me doubt it though, is how Chrysler has just been administered lifesupport and I can't help but feel Dr. Kevorkian....I mean Kirk Kervorkian won't euthanize it in a few years.
ateixeira says:
09:33 AM, 04/16/07
This car can't arrive soon enough.
flicmod says:
12:15 PM, 04/16/07
Uhhh... how comes there are four doors?
flicmod says:
12:18 PM, 04/16/07
Nevermind. Must've missed that sentence about it being a Charger R/T body.
hondacura4 says:
04:53 PM, 04/16/07
Any of you ever heard of test mules?
estreka says:
06:06 PM, 04/16/07
In a perverse kinda way, that actually looks pretty good with the 4 doors (don't let the other purists know I said that).
matleco says:
07:19 PM, 04/16/07
It does.
deepblue69 says:
02:54 PM, 04/18/07
Boggles the mind how the American automakers keep pumping out these gas guzzlers with gas siting at $3 . Then they sit around scratching their heads as to why they keep loosing money year after year....
mbartley says:
05:56 PM, 06/ 4/07
Okay, you may not be able to get past the Charger's four door design, but you can help make an already powerful car achieve its maximum performance level through the addition of superior aftermarket parts of Dodge Performance Parts. This car rocks!
dodgeman1970 says:
01:10 PM, 07/ 8/07
For all of you Dodge Fans this is NOT the new Challenger , This is a new Charger ..The Challenger will be a 2 door I got a letter about it if you look at the back end of this car you can see its not the Challenger .I'm very disappointed in the Charger because the reall Charger had 2 doors not 4..
cptmatt says:
07:50 PM, 07/23/07
Not that "Charger was a 2 door, not a 4 door" garbage again. You guys need to get a life.
Yes, that is a Challenger test mule. It's like those Acura NSX mules that have been running around that look like an Honda S2000. Since the Challenger and Charger both use the LX platform, they can use a Charger with a Challenger nose grafted on for testing of engine cooling.
bombard says:
02:49 PM, 01/30/08
I am pretty sure this is not the challenger guys, the prototype did not have the same rear end design as a charger.
lmpracetech says:
08:15 AM, 04/ 2/08
"Boggles the mind how the American automakers keep pumping out these gas guzzlers with gas siting at $3 . Then they sit around scratching their heads as to why they keep loosing money year after year..."
HAHAHA... That is funny to me.
Now gas is like $3.70 where I am... Where is all the EV muscle.
Like the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, with the 300 hp electric drive system from HST Automotive's signature Carroll Shelby Cobra 427s.
HELLOOOOOO!!!