Dodge Challenger coming to Australia?
July 4, 2006 by Alborz Fallah
Yes! Its official the Dodge Challenger is no longer just a concept car! Chrysler Group President and CEO Tom LaSorda has announced that the Dodge Challenger will return to production, in left-hand–drive, after a nearly 35-year hiatus sparking hopes that the muscle car may come to Australia. The all-new Dodge Challenger, will debut in the United States in 2008.
“We haven’t seen this kind of spontaneous, passionate response to a car since we unveiled the Dodge Viper concept in 1989, but it’s easy to see what people like about the Dodge Challenger. It’s bold, powerful and capable. It’s a modern take on one of the most iconic muscle cars, and sets a new standard for pure ‘pony car’ performance.” Chrysler Group President and CEO Tom LaSorda
“We’re excited that the Dodge Challenger is a go, We will be putting our hand up for the Challenger, whether or not it will be produced in right-hand-drive remains to be seen, it really depends on demand in other right-hand-drive countries for a solid business case,” said Brad Fitzsimmons, General Manager National Sales, Chrysler Group Australia.
The Chrysler Group is famous for two-door muscle cars in Australia with the success of the Charger in the seventies. The Dodge Challenger will feature the long hood, short deck, wide stance and two-door coupe body style that distinguished the iconic Challengers of the 1970s.
Even though the Challenger hasn’t been fully confirmed yet for a Right-Hand Drive version, and an Australian release, things are looking promising. It would be great to see the car down under in 2009.
GREAT NEWS, HAVE A MATE WHO WORKS AT A DODGE DEALERSHIP, BELIEVS THAT THE CHALLENGER WILL COME TO AUS IN 2010, IF THERE ARE SUFFICEIANT ORDERS FOR THE RIGHT HAND DRIVE CAR.
THE MAGNUM, WHICH WE KNOW AS THE 300C, IS BUILT IN USA, THE 300C (RIGHT HAND DRIVE) IS BUILT IN AUSTRIA, THE MAGNUM WILL HAVE TO MAKE WAY FOR THE RIGHT HAND DRIVE CHALLENGER, BUT ONLY IF THE DEMAND, OR BETTER STILL ORDERS FOR THE CHALLENGER IN RIGHT HAND DRIVE IS SUFFECIANT ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY DODGE BUILDING THE CAR FOR COUNTRY LIKE AUS.
SO GET TO YOU LOCAL DEALER, AND PUT IN A ORDER!!!!!
DODGE WILL NOT BE BRING THE CHALLENGER TO AUSTRALIA IN 2010
BUT WE ARE AND HAVE THEM HERE NOW
What is it now….
Chevrolet Camaro Vs Ford Mustang Vs Dodge Challenger?
One Please!
I doubt it. It only going to be in left hand drive only. If was sold in Australia in the future it may not work out in sales
Demand should simply be high. The upcoming Mercedes GLK is rumoured not to be produced in RHD because of lack of customers, but I’m sure they’re only teasing us (and the UK). As for the Challenger, I’m not very positive about it coming here. First of all, the Mustang and Corvette never got here as official imports. To transfer the steering to the correct side translated to prices nearly thrice as much as the original LHDs from the States. Sports cars are not yet back to being a fad. The Monaro just died, and although it may be resurrected as a derivative of the new Camaro, its success is yet to be seen.
I am convinced that once the Dodge Challenger arrives in right-hand drive form in Australia the sales will be of an order of magnitude that not even their wildest imaginations could believe. This is because no one is really catering for the muscle car niche in Australia and the Australian male culture is centered around muscle cars.
I hate to burst the bubble for the hopefulls but i have just returned from a week of training for the dodge products and was told after asking that the challenger or chargers are not going to be sold ina right hand drive platform as currently the entire sales of chrysler,jeep&dodge makeup less than 2%of sales.
furthermore the cars dont meet euro4 spec emmissions.
I was gutted to be told this as i would have forked out the cash for such a beautiful machine.
Sad really cos I prefer the look of the Challenger to the new [Holden Designed] Camaro
Now that it’s [apparently] not coming to Oz it doesn’t leave Dodge/Chrysler with any real attractive cars let alone performance cars to entice motorists into their showrooms – the few people you see on their stands at motorshows proves this
I would gladly trade in my most loved Chrysler PT Cruiser for a Dodge Challenger!
Guy
i have a dodge challenger in australia and i am converting
it now. i will be doing 2009 ones soon and will take orders
in june 09
thanks norm clarke 07 38917700
WE HAVE THE DODGE CHALLENGER HERE NOW RIGHTHAND DRIVE AND JUST PASSED ADR FOR AUSTRALIA
WE ARE TAKEING ORDERS NOW
hi norm can you tell me the price & time to drive the challenger away cheers cory
Crossover Car Conversions (Melbourne) already has a black R/T in Australia. It arrived in February and was on show at the Australian Grand Prix among other events. Crossover has also ordered a 2010 Camaro, which is currently in the build process in the US. It should arrive August or September. Add that to the Mustangs, Shelbys and Ford GTs they convert and you truly have all the American muscle and supercars you could ever want!
I would happily remove a limb to get my hand(s) on one…
im 13 and ive been looking waiting and watching this car since i heard it was going to come out my dad gave away his mustang for the challenger.
starting prices for conversion (Australia) for entry level $195,000..i really want this car but no thanks! maybe 100k maybe even 120k and both of those are pushing the barrier of how bad you want one, but 200k? really?? i could afford to move to Bondi with that!
So I went to the USA recently and found that one can buy a Challenger and a Camaro for sub $30k USD.
I guess the point is at 200k, or even 100k, even the Americans agree it’s not worth that much. At 100-200k you’re talking high performance German cars with Australian warranty, consumer recourse and arguably better built, better handling and better performance.
I too would love one of these cars but at 200l, let alone 100k – it is just stupid. Pity because I really believe it would fare better than they think. Oh well Australia gets the off cuts again because our market isn’t big enough. :(
I drove the Charger over in Hawaii, and enjoyed it, would really like to see that come here.
Someone from Chrysler has been quoted as saying:
“We’re looking for niche vehicles that can continue to have premium pricing,” says Wheeler. “A local conversion is really pretty inexpensive … around $5,000.”
So you’re looking at say $55k plus importing and Australian duty, let’s say $100k for a Charger SRT-8… less if you get one of the lower spec’d V6 models.
*sigh*