Chargers to star in NASCAR

[billbuckhead]

Chargers to star in NASCAR

Revamped Dodge recalls its storied past; racing debut could create buzz for sedan

By Brett Clanton / The Detroit News

A reborn version of Chrysler’s legendary Dodge Charger muscle car could be screaming around the high-walled turns of the Daytona 500 in February — at least one month before a street-ready Charger sedan lands in dealer showrooms.

DaimlerChrysler AG’s Dodge division has submitted a new car design to NASCAR for the 2005 Nextel Cup racing season, and is expected to name it Charger.

Doing so would recall a storied past in motor sports for the Charger, which was banned from NASCAR racing in 1965 for using an unorthodox V-8 engine design known as the “Hemi,” only later to became a NASCAR racing champion.

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<http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosinsider/0407/18/c01-215232.htm>

A word of warning to American and Japanese car companies, the Germans are fixing to eat your lunch. DaimlerChrysler's shift to rear wheel drive cars seemingly has caught the rest of the industry flat footed and opens the door for a big shift in marketshare. The new Chrysler 300 sedan has captured the hearts a wide slice of the market from society matrons to rappers to law enforcement and now DC is zeroing in on the NASCAR crowd with a vengeance.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. Can I just say that Chrysler, as a whole, makes the most.....

unattractive cars around. I sort of like the new 300C except for it's "sawed of rear" looks disproportionate. I still like GM's cars much better. Personally, I would like and Acura RL or Infinity M45.

[frylock]

2. it's my understanding that nascar is looking to increase the size..

of the greenhouse (cockpit). The car in the picture has an awful low-profile. I would imagine that Chysler will have to make some design changes before NASCAR will accept it.

btw.. my pops had a '69 Charger when I was a kid. That was one badass ride!!

[HuckleB]

4. It looks like an old Camaro/Firebird.

Time to grow a mullet!

[HuckleB]

3. Chrysler's modus-operandi seems to be fad cars...

that sell sort of well, at first, but then die off. They're not going to cut a huge chunk of market share with this strategy. These cars might be fun, but they're seldom practical, and, in the end, that's what most people go for, even more so with gas prices not going any lower.

[billbuckhead]

5. These new RWD cars are extremely practical, hence law enforcement interest

These more robust cars will help wean guys out of trucks and into more fuel saving cars.

[HuckleB]

6. How?

They sure don't look practical to those of us who actually care about practical vehicles. Besides, my truck gets better gas mileage, and is probably cleaner, than these vehicles, so what in the world are you talking about?