Dodge Charges Back From the Past

Motor, Nov 2004 by Nash, Tom

If you were wondering what Dodge was planning to replace the Intrepid sedan with for everyday driving, wonder no more. If you thought the Dodge Magnum was just a little too boxy to run competitively in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, don't give it another thought.

As expected, Dodge has announced plans to retrieve the Charger name from the Sixties and Seventies and slap it on a sedan based upon the popular Chrysler 300C.

The need for a sedan and a NASCAR racer left little doubt that Dodge would naturally include such a vehicle in its fleet. But when the 2004 line emerged with just the Magnum "sports tourer," many began to question the sanity of the folks at DairrilerChrysler.

Well, they took their time and came up with a vehicle that runs the gamut from family sedan to sport/performance machine to streamlined NASCAR competitor. It will be offered in a fairly mild base version with a 3.5L V6, with the emphasis on performance. Buyers can step up to the 5.7L Hemi-powered version, but the top dog R/T will be loaded with a beefed-up 6.1L, 400-hp Hemi.

The design, Dodge claims, will capture the hearts of Baby Boomers and younger diivers alike who relish a return to the era of the muscle car. No doubt a flood of options, accessories, performance parts and customizing items will follow the cars debut. You might even see some of those wild Hemi Orange, Go Green, Panther Pink and Plum Crazy paint colors of yesteryear.

The Charger will hit showrooms early next spring as a 2006 model. By that time, the name will have several Nextel Cup races under its belt.