Spotted this on NewHemitech.com it looks like this might happen, god damn I'm so excited. I hope the sell off of DC doesn't hinder the completion of the Challenger.

 

If that's an accurate photo of a real production version Challenger unibody, then it's going to be a 2 dr. sedan (post coupe) and not a true hardtop. How sad.

 

Probably needs the added strength due to the unibody design. I love it ...

Check out the drag videos, they say it's good for a 10 sec 1/4 with better suspension.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=120457

 

maybe you will be happier when (if) the Cuda makes production.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...704250419/1149

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/26/p...ks-so-we-dont/

 

That's just it, a true "unibody" is stiff enough to stand alone without the use of a "B-pillar". But of course adding a b-pillar would add to it's structural integrity, and it's also a less costly method of strengthen the chassis.
As for the Cuda, if it ever reaches fruition, it would be saddled with the same chassis as the Challenger, so it won't be a "true" hardtop either.
I'm "old school", and I just think it looks cooler when all the windows can go down. It gives you a much more "open air" feeling.

 

yawn! perhaps they will offer a hybrid model. yawn!

 

Like the looks of the new Challenger. It just doesn't get me overly excited.
No doubt it will be HUGE at first and then dwindle down to where you see them everywhere (i.e. 2005+ Mustangs and soon to be Camaro) IMO.
If they make a limited run convertible - I might be interested.

 

that's not the challenger we will see though, that's an ss concept.

 

Post cars are inherently lighter that their hardtop siblings. Nothing sad about that.

 

If the new Challenger is going to have the 425 HP motor, it can handle the extra weight.
Name me one original "Pony Car" that wasn't a hardtop when it was first introduced.
If Chrysler is going to go "Retro" then they ought to do it right.

 

I know that you will find the majority of car lovers out there that think Chrysler designed this car "right". Big whoop it has a post... get over it.

 

Msheredy, obviously you've never owned a true hardtop.
I was just a little disappointed they didn't build the final product the same way they built the show car, that's all. Sorry if it offends you.
They managed to duplicate the Viper, Prowler, and PT Cruiser pretty closely (except the Cruiser wound up being a 4 dr.)
For what it's worth, I had a nearly all night "bull" session with one of the Chrysler engineers that worked on the Prowler in 1995, trying to convince him the thing needed a V8. He wouldn't listen to me either.

 

Speaking of posts, just imagine what the Crossfire would have looked like if we could roll down the window behind the door--It does completely change the look of the car....I am willing to bet that the pillar seen on the Challenger is only there on these bodies, and will dissappear when production starts-it may be there to aid in door alignment on these cars since they are not in a production line configuration, and probably hand spot-welded verses computer aided-

 

I know that the Crossfire is a completely different type of car than the Challenger, and some people on this forum may not care for it. But as a "car guy" B-pillar or not, I don't know how you can't be excited to see this car finally get to the street. I don't care if gas hits $5 a gallon, I will still own one as soon as possible.

I would prefer it to be a true "Hard Top" though . . .

 

Obviously you haven't seen my user gallery. There you will find a 1966 Ford Fairlane... hardtop.

Look, my point is that the designers did a fantastic job on this car. This car, in my opinion, is the best retro design to date. They kept the post very discrete so I really don't see all the fuss about it. There isn't anything bad about a post car, as a matter of fact racing teams preferred the post cars due to the light weight and increased rigidity.

 

I couldn't agree with you more!

 

Msheredy, I was being sarcastic. You have your Fairlane listed at the bottom of your posts.
And that's my point exactly. Just look at how much better your Fairlane looks as a true hardtop, instead of a "post coupe" sedan of the same vintage.
But yes, there have been some great looking "post" cars, late 60's/early 70's Novas, original Road Runners, mid 60's GTOs, 442's, Buick Grand Sports etc.
I do fully agree with you, the designers did do a great job with the Challenger design, and I never said I wasn't excited about it being built either.
One of the reasons I want to sell my Viper, is to make room for the new Challenger.
Any bets that it shows up before the new grill for the Crossfire does?

 

Now That's Funny . . . Sorry Tino

 

Sorry for what seems like "whipping a dead horse". But there's one more reason it's sad to see the new Challenger is actually going to be a "post sedan" car. When ever the engineers depend alot upon using the "B" pillar for their structural integrity, it just makes it that much more costly to transform that same design into a convertible.
If they had built it as a true "hardtop" from the get go, it would be far more likely that we might see a topless Challenger. After all, they'd be half way there. Just my $.02

 

Good point. I could fathom purchasing a Challenger vert.