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<p type = "text" content = "Do you remember 2008? Obviously, it was horribly horrible.The economy was in crisis, the banks collapsed, the values of the house plunged to the bomb and the few consumers whose confidence was not shaken were those whose confidence was shaken, was broken, and in this whirlwind of economic sucking and insecurity, Dodge launched the huge Challenger cut with two doors (above). "Data-reactid =" 23 "> Do you remember 2008? Obviously it was horribly horrible, the economy was falling apart, banks collapsed, the values of the houses plummeted bomb and the few consumers whose confidence has not been shaken, it was those who had broken it and, in this whirlwind of economic problems and insecurity, Dodge launched the huge Challenger two-door coupe above), a bad car at the wrong time.
Except that it was not. With just a few evolutionary changes, the Challenger is in its 12th year of production and, in the 2018 model year, it has sold better than ever. It's always a pure retro game; all the archaic engineering and muscle marketing spit in the wind. A huge carbon coupe at the time when the market is supposed to turn to hybrid transport modules and electric crossovers. Apparently, all of this makes no sense.
<p type = "text" content = "" Even though we may not have invested in a whole new platform, "says Steve Beahm," we did a good job investing in the platform we have . "This title alone fills a third, responsible for Internet brands for passenger cars, Dodge // SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, and the Parts and Service Manager (Mopar) – FCA North America." He highlights the highlights : "We launched this 2008 model year as SRT8. Behind that, we went out in 2015 with the Hellcat. Then we released the Scat Pack. It was in '16. Then in '17 we actually did an AWD. In 18, we had the demon. And in 19 we had the red eye. There were other things that were scattered in that, but the reality is that we continue to invest, investment after investing in the Challenger, to keep it relevant. To keep it available for people of all price classes. We try to keep it where it belongs to everyone. "" Data-reactid = "25"> "We may not have invested in a whole new platform," says Steve Beahm. "We have done a good job investing in the platform." Beahm's title alone occupies one-third of Internet makers in the private car brands, Dodge // SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, and the Parts and Services Manager (Mopar) – FCA North America. "We launched the SRT8 in 2008. In 2015, we went out with the Hellcat. Then we released the Scat Pack. It was in 2016. Then in 1917. We had the Demon, and in 19, we had the Red Eye. There were other aspects therein, but the fact is that we continue to provide investment after the investment in the Challenger must keep it relevant. Keep it available to users of all price classes. We try to keep it where it belongs to everyone.
Photo credit: car and driver
All variants of the Challenger have done an excellent job of interest for a car whose expiry date has passed a decade. But the continued success of the car must be understood in its context. And this context is probably a better indicator of the current situation of the automobile market and its evolution in the near future than any fantasy about the imminence of autonomous driving and the certain death of internal combustion.
Part of this context takes into account that the success of the Challenger is relative. Dodge dealers sold 66,716 copies of the coupe last year, compared to 75,842 Mustang and Ford, and the 50,963 Camaros that Chevrolet moved. What is impressive is that the Challenger is only available in coupe version, while Ford and Chevy are also available in convertible version. And the Camaro and Mustang are much more recent designs.
In addition, 66,716 corresponds to a rounding error in the production of the F-150 for Ford. However, there are still many large cups with doors long enough to serve as trebuchet weapons of the Middle Ages. The market is atomized and, even though there are still many players like full – size pickups, most vehicles fill niches. And the Challenger demonstrates that niches can be very profitable over a long period.
"We are still selling more SXT (basic V6)," says Beahm. "High performance accounts for about 27% of our sales and we consider high performance to be Scat Pack and above." Putting aside offers and discounts for a while, the SXT starts at $ 29,340, including almost extortionate destination fees of $ 1,495. The Scat pack starts at $ 40,490, the Hellcat at $ 62,190 and the Hellcat Red Eye is up at $ 73,190. That's a staggering $ 43,850, ranging from the cheapest Challenger to the geosynchronous price of the 797-horsepower Red Eye.
Photo credit: Michael Simari – Car and driver
The FCA will not share the profit of a particular Challenger, but there can not be much in SXT and there must be a lot in a Red Eye. Imagine that there is a $ 1,000 profit in each SXT, at least $ 5,000 in Scat Pack cars and maybe $ 20,000 in Red Eye. If 27% of Challenger sales are at least Scat Pack, or more than 18,000 cars, it does not matter if the combined net profit of each dollar centile equals 10 cents.
<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Much of Challenger's enduring appeal comes from the fact that when someone arrives to watch a Hellcat, if that client can not afford it, he can leave an SXT with a $ 199 lease a month, or have the credit rating to fund a GT or a R / T. the consumer can let Hellcat, the profits rain down. "Someone is coming in search of this Scat Pack or this Hellcat, maybe they can not afford it in terms of price, but they still walk in a beautiful 300 horsepower car instead of 717 or 485, "says Beahm. -reactid = "57"> Much of Challenger's enduring appeal comes from the fact that when someone arrives to watch a Hellcat, if that client can not afford it, he can leave an SXT with a lease of $ 199 a month. , or bring the credit rating to finance a GT or an R / T. But when the customer can let Hellcat, the profits rain down. "Someone is coming in search of this Scat Pack or this Hellcat, maybe they can not afford it in terms of price, but they still walk in a beautiful 300 horsepower car instead of 717 or 485, "says Beahm.
The extent of the Challenger lineup means that there is one for anyone who wishes. And why do they want it? Because, and this is a subjective hypothesis, the first is that the Challenger is an absolutely beautiful and timeless model. His hood is almost pornographic, his roof is low and his cock rises with the sneaky provocation of a baboon's buttocks. In a world where most cars are designed to offer optimum aerodynamic efficiency and economic optimization, the Challenger is a stunning barn door with separate round headlights, a rounded nose and indulgent design details.
The current Challenger was designed to evoke the original 1970 Challenger, but the newest is actually more aesthetically pleasing. And after 12 years, it always looks fresh.
<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Beyond that, what matters to us here at Car and driver does not seem to be of much importance to buyers. Camaros and Mustangs are agile and efficient on a race track. The large Dodge, on the other hand, uses a simplified version of Chrysler's LX platform, which allows some of its basic engineering to be traced back to Mercedes sedans when DaimlerChrysler was still a thing. This is not built for runway use; it's a big plush car. It's great to hunt horizons, not championships. "Data-reactid =" 60 "> Beyond what matters to us here Car and driver does not seem to be of much importance to buyers. Camaros and Mustangs are agile and efficient on a race track. The large Dodge, on the other hand, uses a simplified version of Chrysler's LX platform, which allows some of its basic engineering to be traced back to Mercedes sedans when DaimlerChrysler was still a thing. This is not built for runway use; it's a big plush car. It's great for chasing horizons, not championships.
<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "What is great means that the rear seat is in some so useful, the trunk is useful, and it's an easy car to get on and off.The Challenger will not win many comparison titles here at CDbut some of its buyers will never worry. "data-reactid =" 61 "> The fact that it's big means that the back seat is useful, that the trunk is useful and that it's an easy car to use.The Challenger will not win many titles compared here to CDbut few are its buyers who care.
Photo credit: Manufacturer – Car and driver
Cars, things that are not trucks, SUVs or crossover vehicles, are an endangered species. But it is the Dodge Challenger, this old soldier, who indicates what could be the future of cars. There will be cheap versions at low-end and high-end monster-profit variants, with the mid-range confusion virtually disappearing. To attract buyers, they will have to be very stylish and make emotional calls with attributes such as nostalgia or provocative sensuality. And they will need a certain timeless quality to be able to last a long time in production and to accumulate years of sale after the complete depreciation of the tooling. They will not sell a lot, but they will switch to market niches where the numbers are profitable. Even after improving the $ 77 million in fuel economy penalties paid by the FCA in 2018.
In a few years, Dodge will be more or less faced with the daunting task of replacing the Challenger. Tracking a car that many buyers still consider perfect must be done with another perfect car. Beahm is convinced that Dodge is up to the task. I give him a 60/40 shot.
The Challenger may be like the past, but the future.
<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "("You might also like")"data-reactid =" 76 ">("You might also like")
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