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"Hot Detroit Rumor: Chrysler to Replace Dodge Challenger with a Barracuda!"
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Lol! Maybe then Ford will also bring back the Cougar and Chevy the Firebird and Trans Am. I also read a while back that the new Viper will also be a Chrysler, but can't find the article now.matt167 said:Oh great a CHRYSLER Barracuda
If there is any truth to these two rumors, then obviously it is some sort of marketing strategy. But what? My guess would be that the folks at Chrysler may feel that the 'Cuda has more historical attraction than the Challenger name plate?
I would suggest that the company keep the Challenger and, if they just have to have it, add the Barracuda variant under Chrysler. But I doubt they want the two cars competing against each other when the Challenger's sales are already struggling.
Fords arleady used the Zephyr name on more than a Lincoln, it was a Mercury compact in the 70's, and was a Ford from the 50's to the 70's in the UK...
When I think of a Cuda, I usually think of Nash Bridges.. Interesting thing, originally, the car was said to be a '70, and a little later in the series, it was refrenced as the '71 Cuda that it was..
Dodge has arleady dropped all badging from the Ram trucks, and the Dodge logo is getting smaller on others.. Also appears that Chevy is dropping the bowtie logo off of some of there vehicles also.. I think GM is going to drop Chevrolet and Buick and become GM and Cadillac and incorporate Buick as a trim line into GM vehicles
When I think of a Cuda, I usually think of Nash Bridges.. Interesting thing, originally, the car was said to be a '70, and a little later in the series, it was refrenced as the '71 Cuda that it was..
Dodge has arleady dropped all badging from the Ram trucks, and the Dodge logo is getting smaller on others.. Also appears that Chevy is dropping the bowtie logo off of some of there vehicles also.. I think GM is going to drop Chevrolet and Buick and become GM and Cadillac and incorporate Buick as a trim line into GM vehicles
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That's an interesting take. I can see that happening in the foreign markets for the purpose of streamlining, but I can't see GM dropping Chevy in the US, or North America in general.matt167 said:
100% agreed. I still for the life of me can't figure out what the Chrysler folk had in mind when building this Challenger. It is an over-weight car that has tons of amenities. And while its output/performance numbers aren't exactly bad, they aren't strong enough to give it a lead in any specific category. For a while there, I thought the car was simply meant to serve a particular niche of customers: those who remember the glory days of the muscle car era, do prefer/can use the comforts of the modern-day features, and have the moola to pay for it. Basically cashing in on the nostalgia.1ownerT said:
With the Chrysler group now bringing back the Dark moniker, it seems some people who are high up are focusing on bringing back/cycling through the legendary nameplates from the 60's. I wonder if they are fooling themselves into thinking that it is the reason why the Chargers are selling well, because I am willing to bet that 95% + of the people who buy Chargers aren't buying it because its called a Charger.
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Well, its official: a Barracuda will be replacing the Challenger as a SRT instead of a Plymouth, because SRT is now apparently a brand within Chrysler. Good bye, Challenger.
"3 SRTs For The Road - Motor Trend"
"3 SRTs For The Road - Motor Trend"
2015...three years to change their mind.
The Challenger cant be that bad,its their best selling car,go look at one in the dealer,sticker price and no deal and thats it. I like it, it drives beautifully but its 35-36 large for a well equipped one (V8 RT). I have inside info that 2014 will be the last year for it. I hope the new economy car Barracuda that replaces it will be nice.
That is it in a nutshell, I agree with all of this. Nostalgia and nameplates, along with older folks with too much money, are driving the market. Mustangs, Challengers and Camaros are everywhere, good looking cars, but would they sell like hot cakes to the older generation if they didn't look similar to the cars of the sixties and had another name? Would a Mustang be as popular as it is today if it were called a Cyclone or a Maverick, maybe a Falcon?
Not just old guys driving them, any of them, I look around here and it guys in their 30's and 40's . Imagine if the economy was good. The Ford dealer cant keep any Mustangs, there gone right away. It says the same for all of them. THey have a hit on their hands and they dont know what to do sometimes. A nice retro style family sedan would be good. A cool wagon based on maybe a Nomad or a Chevy II wagon would be neat too.
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@DanielC: Very very true.
@Mojo56: The idea of bringing out the 'Cuda at the same time the Camaro and the Mustang are due for a makeover is good marketing strategy, in my opinion. Fresh start for everyone. I am curious to see how the public responds to this change. I would say that the one thing the 'Cuda has going for it is that it is on a different platform. However, going by the quote posted below, I can only wonder. Can platforms be used for both FWD and RWD cars?
@anthonyc1: I sure don't consider it a bad car. However, I hardly ever see them in my area and, aside from the factory drag cars, I don;t see much of a performance presence. Actually, I'm not even sure how well they are doing in the drags against the Cobra 'Stangs and the new COPO Camaros. If they are selling well, its probably because they purposely being sold in limited quantities.
And yes, young folks are definitely jumping on the Camaros and Mustangs around here. A number of owners of the new Camaros, unfortunately, have put a bit of a d-bag stigma on the new cars locally.
@dinger: All very good points and questions. Even I am curious as to how the people who grew up in the original muscle car era feel about the new offerings. Anyone wana chime in?
@Mojo56: The idea of bringing out the 'Cuda at the same time the Camaro and the Mustang are due for a makeover is good marketing strategy, in my opinion. Fresh start for everyone. I am curious to see how the public responds to this change. I would say that the one thing the 'Cuda has going for it is that it is on a different platform. However, going by the quote posted below, I can only wonder. Can platforms be used for both FWD and RWD cars?
@anthonyc1: I sure don't consider it a bad car. However, I hardly ever see them in my area and, aside from the factory drag cars, I don;t see much of a performance presence. Actually, I'm not even sure how well they are doing in the drags against the Cobra 'Stangs and the new COPO Camaros. If they are selling well, its probably because they purposely being sold in limited quantities.
And yes, young folks are definitely jumping on the Camaros and Mustangs around here. A number of owners of the new Camaros, unfortunately, have put a bit of a d-bag stigma on the new cars locally.
@dinger: All very good points and questions. Even I am curious as to how the people who grew up in the original muscle car era feel about the new offerings. Anyone wana chime in?
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It would be cool to have a full line of Muscle Cars again, I have a mixed opinion on the Challenger. It looks great but I agree with the OP that it seems less about performance (expect for the Super Stock and Drag Pack) and more about classic styling with a modern interior.
I have seen a few Challengers around where I live, more than the new Camaro's acutally but 'round here, Ford is the big thing!
If a Cuda does come out, I hope it is a no frills, barebones Muscle Car!
I have seen a few Challengers around where I live, more than the new Camaro's acutally but 'round here, Ford is the big thing!
If a Cuda does come out, I hope it is a no frills, barebones Muscle Car!
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