We only recently reported on some sightings of the upcoming Dodge Challenger coupe, arguably the prettiest of the current crop of retro American muscle in or nearing production.
Fervently hoping that the new Challenger coupe would be Chrysler Australia’s headline act in the near future we have today had our hopes dashed by the folks at GoAuto. Gerry Jenkins the managing director of Chrysler Australia has informed GoAuto that the Challenger will only be a limited run, left-hand drive domestic market only vehicle. What a shame.
If the 300C’s acceptance in Australia is anything to go by, then the Challenger would have raised the bar significantly. Muscular, sleek and retro-cool in a way that no 300C will ever be, the Challenger could have commanded a significant premium and been the envy of Australian GM and Ford fans.
Gerry Jenkins believes that production will be limited to 50,000 units with Chrysler looking to keep them exclusive and sell them at a premium. However, while the door has been well and truly closed on an Australian delivered Challenger, the window has been left slightly ajar. Chrysler’s international product senior manager Kevin Tourneur said that while the Challenger has not been engineered for right-hand-drive that’s not to say it won’t happen at some time in the future.
“It is primarily for the US market, but it is the same as the others, we launch something and if a market says they really need that car, who knows what happens in the future? It does make it harder, but it doesn’t mean it is impossible”, said Mr Tourneur
Hmmm… that’s all but dashed our hopes. Hopefully one re-born muscle car that we will see will be the General’s new Camaro, due for North American release in 2008. While there is no doubting the Camaro is cool, it doesn’t ooze quite as much cool as the Challenger. But, as the saying goes, beggars can’t be choosers.
Steane
[Source: GoAuto]
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Im sure i speak on behalf of a lot of Aussie Mopar fans out there, but im shattered about this decision. This will no doubt pave the way for aftermarket low volume importers to do dodgy RHD conversions if it makes it past strict ADR laws
I drive a Chrysler 300C and this was going to be my next car. I’m devastated. Best looking Mopar car in a long time. What a shame.
I’d go so far as to say its the best looking US made car in a long time, with the possible exception of the Ford GT, if you prefer supercars to muscle cars.
To heck with converting to right hand drive!
As a Yank living in Australia I’d be more than happy just to get one imported and registrated to operate. Any ideas of how to order my custom made machine and get it imported?
Unfortunately I don’t think thats possible Jan. You can certainly import one but registering it would not be possible. You’d need to wait 25 years (I think) and then you would be able to register it as a LHD vehicle - and you could be over it by then…
Don’t forget the Oz Govt kindly charges a premium to import a car so what looks like a great car at a reasonable price becomes a great car at a stupid price that can’t be driven.
Don’t try and make any sense of the rules and regulations - the people who make them can’t even understand them.
Well I’m not happy. I even rang my local Dodge dealer to complain that I can’t have my new Challenger, and penned him an email too boot.
I certainly won’t be trying to import one and doing a conversion on it. Have thought about moving to the States though.
As mentioned by Mr Tourneur that the if the market demands it then we may turn the impossible into possible. I’m suggesting an online petition to change the fellas at Dodge’s mind about the RHD market. Would anyone be interested in signing my serious online petition if I build it? sikdave@hotmail.com
Cheers!
Once again the wrong people are makeing decisions at Chrysler, no charger, no challenger for australia, where the charger once commanded the greatest following, at least GM have a go and give there loyal followers what they want.
I’m with you Angry Dave. Get the petition happening and I am sure you’ll get plenty of signatures. This is the perfect vehicle for Chrysler Oz to rebuild their fortunes, image and brand loyalty.
May I say that I expected this! Just look at all the other wicked cars and trucks the chrysler corporation wont bring to OZ. The Dodge Durango, Ram, SRT Caliber, even the bigger and better performing V6 version of the Nitro and Avenger,just to name a few. Instead they would rather treat us as second class and not worth investing in, just sending us left-overs from the UK or South Africa. Its pathetic! I want to buy a dodge, but I will not be buying one until they wake up and start sending us their real products! ( And without the inflated price. Isnt our dollar at a better rate against the USD at the moment?) Then why is the SRT Jeep double the price still?
Well we can sorta blame the “balmy army” for these problems. Seems that the biggest RHD market is the UK. If they don’t want it then we certainly won’t be getting it. Its all a numbers game. There is plenty of opportunity for someone to bring in low numbers and convert. They are doing it with the Ford Mustwangs i.e. the Saleen and GT500.
But yes, why do they only bring in FWD cars. Let me give Dodge the big tip. Look at Alfa, Honda and Mitsubishi. They have lost huge volumes of sales because their mid to large cars are FWD instead of RWD. The Magna380 in Australia would have survived if it was RWD. I’d go as far as several lives per year would be saved if we removed FWD from the roads. In a loss of control situation ie in the wet, there is little chance of recovery by a “normal” driver.
Alas, I still wait in hope I can replace my 1970 Dodge with another RWD muscle car from them. Tissues!!!
i want one… i just cant get over i cant have one unless i move to the usa… well im just gonna have to get over it cause i aint moving to the usa. what a shame how good would it feel blowing the behind off any ford or holden in brand new dodge, instead of bringing the old girl out off the shed and smoking those fords or holden’s in something thats thirty years old hey charger……
Do it Angry Dave…..I’m with you. Surely if companies such as this deny us all the opportunity to own such a vehicle our government should step in and relax the rules and regs regarding importing a vehicle. C’mon K-Rudd….step up to the plate!!!
Way cooler than the Stang or Camaro……….ultra retro!
this was going to be my next car, i think things may have changed, as this is an old piece, fingers crossed..