Kudos are due Daimler Chrysler, the car maker responsible for the effective debut of this summer's '06 Dodge Charger. This auto recalls the heady days of sheer Dodge force, while effectively integrating the most recent innovations from the German American manufacturer. One of the biggest names from the muscle car era is back -- and with a vengeance: the Dodge Charger.
Following the 1998 merger of Daimler with Chrysler, many Mopar fans believed that a historic era of American car manufacturing came to a close. In fact, the prestigious manufacturer of Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, and Jeep cars would cease being under the sole control of their Detroit headquarters. Rather, the German maker of prestigious Mercedes cars would map the route and steer the business on the course they desired. That is how it appeared, anyway.
To our good fortune, what began as a volatile pairing between a duo perceived as being mismatched, has given birth to some pretty cool kids! It took a few years for the relationship to really hit its stride, but it clearly did so with the release of the Chrysler 300M and Dodge Magnum. Each of these vehicles has been a strong contender since their introduction in '04 and have laid the foundation for a great debut of the Dodge Charger earlier this year. The Charger is founded on the identical platform as the 300M/Magnum, and was initially intended as a sedan variant of the Magnum.
Okay, that's enough background.
Let's take a look under the hood. The car comes with a variety of great features including:
*Four models to choose from: SE, SXT, R/T, and Daytona R/T
*Two engine choices: a 3.5L High Output 24 valve V6 or a 5.7 L Hemi V8 w/multiple displacement
*Rear-wheel drive with near 50/50 weight distribution
*Five-speed automatic transmission
*18" black sidewall touring tires
*Cloth or leather trimmed bucket seats; there are also optional performance seats with the Hemi
*eight-way power seats
*Power windows and power door locks
*A host of available extras including: power sunroof, fog lamps, engine heat block, trunklid spoiler, cargo net, 160 MPH speedometer, and much more.
So you can readily see that the Dodge Charger has all the bells and whistles found in today’s hot rods and more. The vehicle is available in a single body design -- a 4-door, 5-passenger sedan, although previous versions of the Charger model were 2-door fastback sport cars. Yet, in terms of sedans, this vehicle is streamlined with racy curves and a grill that means business.
Media publicity for the Charger has been overwhelmingly positive.
In fact, Automotive Magazine remarked about the Charger that this '06 Dodge Charger is 'latest in a remarkably long line of certain hits' from Chrysler. The new Charger has everything needed, from an amazing range of engines, through the latest electronic technology; from the ideal balance of suspension and on-road components, to knock-your-eyes-out styling. What difference does it make that it isn't a two-door coupe? We give it a thumbs up and believe Dodge will sell them as fast as they make them.
Obviously, this is just the kind of buzz Daimler Chrysler has anxiously awaited. Even with the current trend towards higher gas prices, the manufacturer should find a strong niche market for the car.
It's been awhile since sedans made in the U.S. could rival those coming out of Japan and Europe; the '06 Dodge Charger will give the competition something to worry about. And that’s good news!
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