2011 Dodge Charger R/T: First Official Photos

Nice update, 8 speed with a upscale interior? I will definitely do a test drive later this year.

I wish they had shown the interior but I like the rear styling MUCH more than the current model. Sounds like a contender.

This redesign is a step in the right direction - the old design aged very quickly. But this positive refresh makes me sad they killed the Magnum.

I love it. The integrated exhausts work real well with the redesigned tail.

A man's car.

164 LEDS in the taillights? Wow...that is going to a sight to behold.

It looks really good, better than the car it will replace. My only gripe is the outside visibility. Window sills are too high and the thick c-pillars totally obstruct rear visibility. Almost hit another car while backing up at a parking lot when my friend and I swore we didn't see that car. LOVE THE TAIL LIGHT!!!!!

For Chrysler's sake it would nice if this car launched with the 8 speed. Their 5 speed is simply past it's prime and needs to go.

oooooooooooooh look at that rump. Eight speed automatic on a muscle car? Interesting...but there will always be a place in my heart for muscle cars...

I like it a lot. It is very aggressive. Lets hope they can get the interior, fuel economy, power, and dynamics up to competitive levels, but judging from the outcome of the police interceptor tests, it looks like they didn't touch the chassis very much.

Looks good outside, im nervous about the interior...Hopefully they have some QUALITY materials, even in places where the eye wouldnt normally drift off too...Would consider purchasing one, but I see it at every stop light here in the Washington Metro area...Good job Dodge

Sure looks great!! But..

I drove a friend's Charger this week. It felt heavy, unrefined, lacked any steering feel, 'floated' on the road, had huge body gaps between doors / panels, awful interior quality. In 3 min of driving, it was by far the worst car I have driven in the last 5 years.

Unless this car has lost about 500 lbs+ and improved in all other areas mentioned above, it's a fail from the start imo.

Nice update.

"Their 5 speed is simply past it's prime and needs to go."

Thats not what Honda said.

derell:

Look at the JGC. Thats the new standard for Chrysler interiors.

Looks good besides the chrome. If the chrome was gunmetal this thing would look beastly.

@bestjinjo I too base my predictions of a new car based off its predecessor, want to be friends?

I don't know, I'm not quite convinced.

The only major redesign to the exterior is the rear fenders and fascia. The rear looks good, ON ITS OWN, but as part of the rest of the car, it just doesn't seem to go with any other part. I speak of this in the same vein as the Chevy Malibu's rear fascia.

The front just looks like it has simply furrowed its brow a bit more than before and is eying you harder, but it's a subtle improvement.

However, those side scallops just DO NOT BELONG with the rest of the design. It would have looked WORLDS better if the side was allowed to be smooth all the way back, especially since those rear shoulders disappeared. Those scallops look WAY TOO FORCED and ruin what could have been a more streamlined, more cohesive design.

@ lostboyz,

Not sure if you were being sarcastic or serious :)

I can't think of a single car besides the Dodge Viper that had good driving dynamics in the Chrysler lineup in the last 5 years+. The Challenger looks unbelievable but is an absolute boat to drive. So based on the automotive history of Chrysler, I am willing to bet that this car will continue the Chrysler "tradition" of making good looking cars, but disappointing to actually own/drive.

The company hasn't been run by people who care in the last 5 years

If the goal was to change things but not make it obvious anything changed, then victory!

So someone was paid to really change nothing?

Wow, looks great, with mid cycle refreshes you either love or hate what they do to the design, I must say, I love it. Hope that Dodge also sharpened handling to match the revised looks.

Holy cow...it's the same car.

i liked the exterior of the current one but that interior was awful. this one looks great inside and out.

This is really nitpicky, but i hate that centered taillamp on the top of the decklid. It doesn't need to be there, but I'm sure it's government mandated (thanks Big Brother, jackass). I mean, if you don't see the other 164 leds light up, what makes you think you'll see those 5-7 up top?

Aside from that, it looks top notch. Good job Ralph Gilles on a job well done.

I really like it; minus the chrome trim on the front and the chrome wheels of course. Flashy chrome has been out of style for a long time and dark silver, black, or gunmetal type of colors are in; I wonder if Chrysler or GM will ever figure that out. I think that the new transmission, interior, and exterior restyle is giving the Charger the potential to be a pretty good car.

And yes, a third brake light is mandated by law.

Looks good on the outside. Let's hope it will be a real, quality interior as well, not boy racer, or fake butch, or "shoot-me-I-am-so-cheap-Camaro". Add good suspension (civilized - compliant but not wallowy) and precise steering, price it right, and... eh. It's nice to dream, isn't it?

WOW, I just have one question. So on this one are they going to connect the steering to the front wheels.

"I can't think of a single car besides the Dodge Viper that had good driving dynamics in the Chrysler lineup in the last 5 years+. "

SRT Charger, 300 and Caliber.

"So someone was paid to really change nothing? "

Its about as changed as each "new" edition of the 911 or 3 series. The basic shape and theme is the same but the details are different. german cars do it all the time. Surely you understand.

Kind of like a 4 door challenger, you can see out of

Hands down the best butt of any American car.....maybe any car on the market. I cant think of any nicer looking one actually.

Nice update! Have always liked the Charger but would not have considered actually owning one as the interior looked a little on the cheap side. But this looks like a game changer. I'm with some others here, if it's lost some weight (which I doubt) and the interior is nicer (which I trust is true), I would consider it. Plus, as some others have said, the chrome is a little much.

Best butt on the market....period.

It looks really nice, I like the fact that it's got that chromed grilled and that from got that new aggressive look. I mean I gotta see a side pic of it because the new look got me kind of thrilled. And that rear is so futuristic. But I still wanna get info on the suspension, the steering, and the need to have an 8-speed automatic stick shift. I wanna see more pics and plus the inside of the interior and the stability. Chrysler seems to be headed into a new direction already.

i like it and boats have their place in the market. a lot of people like power, but want comfort. lots of mercedes AMG's miss the mark with too stiff of a ride, so the owners return them at a huge loss for a 550. (which is good for the dealerships) my major gripe is the price gets up there... not sure why this can command over $40,000. to me that seems like luxury car territory... it may ride like one, but its not. a lot of cars are getting up there too that i like but can't rationalize paying so much for so little car.

Hey I wondering, will that 3.6/5.7 liter Pentestar provide much power. This seem to be something that will be interseting to see.

nissan 240sx tail lights, anyone?

Its not that bad actually, and the panel gaps are LEAPS ahead of the last one (however this is a pre-production sample so final judgment withheld). Still skeptical about the interior. If they are smart the ZF 8 speed will be standard.

@1487 - you think the e90 (current 3 series) looks like the e46 (last gen) 3 series? I see nothing in common with the two cars. One was nice; the other is a steaming pile of blandness with zero personality, style, athleticism. If the current 3 series coupe/sedan were any more anonymous they'd look like the Chevy Citation II.

I guess Pontiac never really died after all.
Wow, this car is ugly. The ultimate redneck-hillbilly car.

1487,
the Caliber is a horrible car. The 300 drives like a cheap overweight boat. I hope you're being sarcastic.

Looks sweet IMHO! All this talk about Chrysler...Dodge...Fiat...is wasted breath (Typing)!
The new interiors and exteriors of this company is proving to be some of the best in the industry by far. The powertrains are getting better every cycle and the quality control is 90% better than pre-buy out.... If you don't like Chrysler .....why waste your time here?

@element51, unless the 240sx was out before 1969, I have to say its the chargers taillights

@blueguydotcom, good way to dodge the porsche comment

@icecubefosho, i don't agree with the caliber comment but the other two are good. That and have you ever driven a full sized luxury sedan that didn't drive like a boat?

Excellent looking car, really want to see some interior shots though. Yes it still looks like a Charger (which is the idea... duh!) but I can't see a panel it has in common with the current car.

The 8 speed auto is lame, anything over a 5 or 6 speed is just marketing. You're not going to get a shorter 1st or a taller top, just endless shifting. Aimed at people who think if more is better then too much must be great.

The current 300 and Charger only drive "like an overweight boat" if compared to a Miata. Even the base model is one of the better family sedans on the market.

The tail end looks awesome....but I like the current model's greenhouse more (the rear door window).

Looks fantastic to me. If they ever bothered to make them in the US, I could totally see me owning one.

I have owned a 6-speed Challenger R/T for two years, and my wife has had a 2009 Ram cew cab 1500 for a tear and a half. I have driven everything in the Chrysler fleet over the last two years many times over. While there are some misses, the Charger, Challenger, Ram, 300, and new Grand Cherokee are as great to drive as anything in their class and price range. The Ram and Challenger, speaking as an owner, have been anything but disappointing to own. The Chrysler hate is really getting old. I expect fanboy stuff when reading about Xbox360s and PS3s, but come on.

"If the goal was to change things but not make it obvious anything changed, then victory!"

Right...maybe you should get your eyes checked. Because it's OBVIOUS that the car has been updated from top to bottom. Tell me one part of the car that is carry over from 2010.

"The 8 speed auto is lame,"

Except people complain about the 5 speed in there, so why not leapfrog GM and Ford then...everyone whines that Chrysler is "behind the times" and then when they bring something to market that no-one else has, it's "overkill". Remember the dual sliding doors on the vans? Yep that was "marketing" then as well, and look who all has them.

Lostboyz,

Yes I have, a 1991 Infiniti Q45 which I used to own, a 2000 BMW 740i and a 2008 Jaguar XJ... Though today's full size luxo barges are quite boaty. The 2004 S500 was the least enthusiastic car I've ever driven.

I do hear great things about the newest XJ in terms of handling though.

they fixed what was broken - that butt ugly butt on the current model. thankfully they didn't foul up the aggressive front or profile, it looks stronger/meaner. would like to see the interior.

put me in the crowd that wouldn't shop for/buy a Chrysler product, but the Challenger and this are pretty sharp looking cars, two of the best the American companies offer.

Color me impressed....I liked the old Charger, but this one is much better. I see hints of Mustang/Camaro in the front end (as well as the Ram's forward-grille design), and the rear, oh, what a rear!!

1487,

Did you really just compliment the Caliber? And then criticize Honda again?

I think you've lost your mind.

threemopars

First of all I have never complained about the 5 speed. It could be a little more responsive but otherwise is fine.

Second of all adding a second door was not marketing, it was a good idea.

More can be good, my complaint was with those that think too much is even better. (I think I already said that in my post, you might want to read it all).

Last gen Charger drove fine to me when I had one for a while. Maybe I'm missing what other vehicles it's being compared to...size and price wise, that are "better."

Anyways... I like the update. The rear design, lights, exhaust pipes... +75

i'm digging this car! as for the chrome...from what i see driving around...chrome is still hot! and i think it looks just fine on this new charger! i really hope the zf sourced 8 speed will be available at launch...at least on the v8 powered cars...but i have my doubts.

I'd like to see a profile shot of the car. Other than that, looks like a good update, looking forward to seeing more.

@icecubefosho, so compared to cars that are at least 1.5x more money it wasn't as good? What a shocker. Regardless it has nothing to do with the new cars coming out.

I don't think the 2011 will have the 8 spd, but theres nothing wrong with it. Its not like it actually shifts through all of them when you are acclerating, its so you have more gear ratio options so that you are in the optimal efficiency more of the time.

While I haven't read every comment, I'm surprised by the lack of discussion in regards to the current chassis's front end suspension issues. I love my Magnum, but I've wracked up over $4,000 in constant repairs to the front end. It's a never ending battle of tension struts, tie rod ends, sway bar bushings and connections to control arm/ball joint replacements. If you follow any of the Dodge forums, you'll find endless discussions about the flaws of this Mercedes derived suspension. Those of us familiar with the clunking, vibrating, shaking and loose behavior within just a few miles after repairs - will be "steering" wide of any of these models. And that kills me because I love the car otherwise .

So if its so obvious of an issue do you think they would come out with a brand new car that exhibit the same issue?

"@1487 - you think the e90 (current 3 series) looks like the e46 (last gen) 3 series? I see nothing in common with the two cars. "

same shape, just minor detail changes. GErman cars are rarely radically redesigned as evidenced by the dull 2011 5 series.

"Did you really just compliment the Caliber? And then criticize Honda again?

I think you've lost your mind."

First of all you should know I dont base all my opinions on group think. The Caliber is no more mediocre than a host of other cheap cars like Corolla and Matrix. Secondly, if you read the post I was referring to the SRT VERSIONS OF THOSE CARS. Just relax man, I wasn't saying the BASE Caliber handled well. You people get all bent out of shape if you think someone dares have an opinion outside popular consensus. I know Chrysler bashing makes us all cool but I am man enough to admit I've never driven the Caliber and thus have no first hand knowledge about how "horrible" of a car it may be. I'm sure you have many hours of experience in the Caliber though.

"Did you really just compliment the Caliber? And then criticize Honda again? "

PS: Never criticized Honda, just pointed out they are still using "outdated" five speeds as well and no one seems to care. The 2011 Odyssey is hitting the market right now with a standard 5 speed.

"1487,
the Caliber is a horrible car. The 300 drives like a cheap overweight boat. I hope you're being sarcastic."

What part of "SRT" has you confused? The SRT 300/Charger were praised for handling and performance. Look it up.

"The current 300 and Charger only drive "like an overweight boat" if compared to a Miata. Even the base model is one of the better family sedans on the market."

Exactly, they drive fine for their size. If you want a small, nimble sports sedan you arent going to buy one of these cars. Its that simple. People are acting like the Charger should handle like a 3 series which is over a foot shorter and several hundred lbs lighter.

i like the new look a lot. when its time for my to out-grow my current vehicle, the Charger will be high on the list.

Oh my god. This is tuff looking. It's mascusexy. This makes the prev gens instantly look 15 years older. This is on the strength Dodge, good stuff.

@threemopars - to my eyes it's the same car. You take a really anonymous car and just tighten a few lines and add LEDS and suddenly it's fresh? No. It'd take a complete ditching of this design style and restart to make it look new and fresh.

Lost - Porsche's been refining the 911 for years. Put the ancient original POS next to a current 911. While the shape is the same everything is so much butter (smooth lines, no chrome, integrated bumpers, lower, etc).

Looks like the designers used tracing paper to make this new one. Not enough of a difference to be noticeable.

Kind of like how they designed an "all new Mustang for 2010" or whenever the year was, and it ended up looking exactly the same. Or how whenever they redesign a new Porsche 911, it looks the same.

so a refresh in styling isn't ok here, but 40 years of refreshing on a porsche is just a-ok?

@ lostboyz,

While 911 may not be everyone's cup of tea in the styling department, it is one of the most capabable, fun, reliable and respected sports cars ever made. So no, you can't compare refreshing of a 911 (one of the most iconic cars ever made) to almost any other brand in the world. That's the way of the 911 - just slowly improving on greatness. Personally, if you want more space in a vehicle, get an SUV/Crossover/Van. It's not as if the Charger is going to be more comfortable for 4 people than say a VW CC. The seats will be horrible, uncomfortable, cheap leather, harsh ride, etc. You think Chrysler is going to make a good family sedan after having never made a good one? It will take a decade of continous improvement and new management of FIAT before we see any hope.

I'm not saying I don't like the 911, nor am I comparing the cars straight up. Just saying that not all cars need a brand new image every time they come out

Chrysler never made a good family sedan?

10 years of improvement before you see hope? Where do you come up with this stuff?

Which ones then? The Interpid, Charger, 300, Avenger, Sebring, the Neon? There is a reason Chrysler went bankrupt. These "cars" are the best examples of what was wrong with the US automotive design. I am glad that Ford and GM are finally making good cars though.

I think the rear end is very sharp looking.

WOW! That's all I can say at the moment. I am not a huge American auto lover outside of the latest 5.0 Mustang and various Vettes, but this updated Charger looks promising. Let's just pray they got rid of the hard plastics that were used in various locations of the interior of the outgoing model. I look forward to taking a look at one on a dealer lot as soon as they are available.

"to my eyes it's the same car. You take a really anonymous car and just tighten a few lines and add LEDS and suddenly it's fresh? No. It'd take a complete ditching of this design style and restart to make it look new and fresh."

Again what part of the car is the same as a 2010 model to make it the same?

Yes we know that you dis-like any Chrysler product, it's very clear.

"Which ones then? The Interpid, Charger, 300, Avenger, Sebring, the Neon? There is a reason Chrysler went bankrupt. These "cars" are the best examples of what was wrong with the US automotive design. I am glad that Ford and GM are finally making good cars though."

So what exactly was wrong with cab-forward design then? It was well received by the public and the press and copied as well by others. And yes nice to see GM focusing on bland FWD cars.

It's always amazing to me that when Chrysler comes out with something new/refreshed how it becomes such a lightning rod for comments. When I see the negative comments I think to myself, "I wonder what great car this guy drives that's so fantastic."

When Chrysler wants to, they can come out with some of the most stylish cars out there. Right now they're going through their lineup and redoing just about everything. And while most of their vehicles are old designs, they still sold over 100k vehicles last month. Wait till they have something to really sell. Like the new Charger.

I like the refresh of the Charger and I'm positive that Chrysler will put a great interior in it. They listened and learned their lesson. They won't be making this mistake again.

This is a much sleeker and more attractive design than the current Charger. It will sale well w/ the Macro Hemi crowd and Hemi crowd wantabe's here in Detroit and the Police departments. Now if GM would only rebage the Caprice Police model as a proper Impala SS and sell it to the public.

This is beautiful front to back. I'm so excited they finally got rid of that beefed up Dodge Intrepid look. This is one big step for Chrysler's comeback.