Yeehah! The Charger's Back

There's another US legend set to charge on to the scene. The Dodge Charger is making a comeback, and it looks like it will flex its muscles in the UK.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Marty Padgett

18th March 2004

Dodge first hinted that the name could return when it unveiled the Charger R/T concept in 1999, and while it hasn't been officially confirmed, a production version is tipped to debut at next year's Detroit Motor Show. It could be on sale in the US by spring 2005.

A spokesman for the firm said: "Dodge is launching across Europe in 2006, and there are very few reasons why the Charger won't be part of the range once the brand is up and running. Having a performance car lots of people recognise would be very exciting."
The Charger is the model that put Dodge on the muscle car map. It first appeared in rear-wheel-drive mode in 1966. In the Seventies, it was phased out, only to re-emerge briefly a decade later as a front-wheel-drive coup΃©.

This time around, Dodge is said to want the new version to fight it out in America with mainstream cars from Toyota, Honda and Ford - and to that end, the revived Charger is said to look very different from earlier models.

Based on the 300C's running gear, it would be rear-wheel-drive in standard mode, although a 4WD option is under consideration. It would also be available in two and four-door form. Prices have yet to be discussed seriously, but insiders expect the new Charger to be in the mid-,000 (΂£14,000) range.