Barracuda to Replace Challenger?

Check out this Motortrend blog:

"DETROIT — The 2012 North American International Auto Show has barely opened to the international press, and already the hottest rumor on the show floor is that Chrysler/Fiat is working on a replacement for the Dodge Challenger. It will be called Barracuda (though probably not Plymouth) and could be ready in time to launch for the original’s 50th anniversary, which would be a couple of months before the Ford Mustang’s 50th anniversary in April 2014 and the launch of that new car.

Two unimpeachable — though not inside — sources have told me about the Barracuda. The Dodge Challenger is the most literal interpretation of its ancestor. Because it uses the DodgeCharger/Chrysler 300 platform, it has the high front cowl of those two large sedans, and so its overall length is considerably longer than the 1970-74 Challenger, which already was the biggest car in its class. That Challenger shared its platform with the 1970-74 Barracuda, but with a stretched wheelbase.

The ’74 Challenger was followed by a Mitsubishi-sourced coupe because it needed to be morefuelefficient to get through mid-decade gas prices. There is no way to follow up the current Challenger without either changing everything but the sheetmetal, or fully redesigning it to make it look nothing like the ’70-’74/’08-current model. If Chrysler is going to redesign it, why not make it a radical departure?

A 2014 Barracuda would be much shorter, lighter and smaller overall than the current car, something we’re hoping to see from the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro. It would not use the newCharger/300′s LY platform, but would be on a shorter rear-wheel-drive platform, probably something closer to the Hyundai Genesis coupe.

What makes this scenario economically plausible is that such a platform also would serve Alfa Romeo well, with a new moderately priced RWD platform for a sports car and sports coupe. The question is whether the platform would package a V-8 for the Barracuda as well as a small, high-output and probably breathed-on turbo four for Alfa.

The Dodge Challenger launched in the 2008 model year, which means a five year cycle would end with MY13. A new Barracuda would launch in the 2014 model year. Ford plans to unveil an all-new Mustang in Spring of 2014 as a 2015 model. The original Mustang made its debut in April 1964 at the New York Auto Show as a ’65 model.

One source speculates that the new Barracuda would borrow a number of cues from the original, fastback Valiant model, all the way through the 1970-74 model, when the Barracuda converged with the Challenger and no longer used the Valiant platform. Will the new car be a fastback, like the 1964-66 model, or a notchback, like the ’70-’74, or both, like the ’67-’69?
We’d bet on the notchback, at least, because it would make it easy for Chrysler to do a convertible as well, a better way to compete with Mustang and Chevy Camaro."


Click on the following link to see some concept photos. To me, it looks a lot like the new Camaro.

http://musclecarspecs.com/index.php/2008/02/06/hemi-cuda-concept/

 

When I purchased my Challenger, I knew that it would only have a 5-6 year run. After all, what more can they do with it without ruining its retro looks? A lighter and new Barracuda model makes sense to reinvigorate tepid sales.

I really don't care, however, because the end of the Challenger will just make our cars more valuable in the future. Is there any doubt of this? Just look at the impressive list of awards the Challenger has won over the past 5 years:

Best of Show- 2006 Challenger Concept-North America International Auto Show (Detroit) Concept

Best of Show (2006)- LA Auto Show

Best Concept Car (2006)- Autoweek

People's Choice Award for 2006 (NAIAS)

2008 Collectible Car of the Future- Friends of the National Automotive History Collection (NAHC)
CNET Editor’s Choice- October 2008

Top Owner Satisfaction List for 2009- Annual Auto Survey- Consumer Reports

10 Best Looking Cars for 2009- Vehix.com

Most Appealing Mid-Size Sporty Car- JD Power and Associates 2009 Appeal Study

Best of Class Ideal Vehicle for 2009, Sporty Car Category- Auto Pacific

The 25 Most Collectible Cars of the Last 25 Years (SRT8)- Consumer Guide

Automotive Recommended Buy for 2009- Consumer Guides

Motor Trend Car of the Year (contender)-Motor Trend

5-Star Safety Rating (2009 Challenger)- NHTSA

Forbes- Most Beautiful Cars 2010

10 Cars that Will Look Good in 10 Years- U.S. News & World Report (March 2011)

Top Ten Most Fun to Drive Cars- Fast Car Lane (2011 Challenger SRT)

Best Mid-Size Sporty Car 2011- J.D. Power and Associates (Initial Quality)

Shoppers Choice (Cars.com “Best of 2012” NAIAS event)