Snagged this from the Mopar group. Thought some in here would be interested. I like the part about a possible return of 383 cubic inch Charger R/T... only this time the 383 will be a hemi. Enjoy the read...
Tried to get some confirmation of specs on the new Charger from
> a source at Chrysler. Can't get anything firm - there's a
> security blackout on the car. But, based on a hour -long
> conversation, I can update my speculation.
>
> 1) It *is* an LX, and is RWD. It *will* be built at Brampton
> Assy. There are *no* plants in Detroit or anywhere within 100
> miles of Detroit that *can* build an LX, even if Chrysler wanted
> to. See list further down of nearby North American plants for
> list of products.
>
> 2) The Charger will be Dodge's entry level sedan as well as its
> performance sedan, so there will be a base Charger, possibly a
> Charger Touring or Charger ES, a Charger R/T, and (later) a
> Charger SRT-8.
>
> 3) The base engine will be the same 2.7L V-6 as in the 300 and
> Magnum, with the 3.5L V-6 optional. The 2.7L was originally
> developed for the 2000 FWD Sebring and Stratus sedans and the
> Sebring convertible. It was put into the base LX to save cost
> and allow Chrysler to advertise a very low MSRP. The 3.5L was
> originally developed for the 1999 300M and LHS and is the only
> engine in the 2004 Pacifica. It costs more than the 2.7L, so it
> is optional in the LX, and will be optional in the Charger. The
> 300, Magnum, and Charger will get a 4.0L version of the 3.5L V-6
> at some as-yet undetermined date.
>
> 4) The Charger R/T will use the same 5.7L HEMI as the 300C and
> Magnum R/T. The SRT-8 will use the larger HEMI (also, the Magnum
> SRT-8), which will show up first in the RAM pickup. As with the
> 5.7L HEMI in the LX, the larger engine will be Multiple
> Displacement System (MDS), which is *not* available in trucks.
> Although I had earlier read that the size of this new engine was
> 6.0L, it now appears that it *may* be 6.1L or *may* be 6.3L.
> Can't confirm the size. 400HP appears to still be accurate.
>
> 5) Front and rear doors of the 300 and Magnum are identical. The
> basic shape of the fenders of these two cars are so similar as
> to be nearly identical. This is what allows Chrysler to put the
> 300 front ends on Magnums and sell them in Europe as a 300 Sport
> Wagon. The Charger almost certainly will be a standard 4-door
> sedan, *not* with suicide doors. It is probable that the C-
> pillar/roofline and rear deck will be unique to the Charger and
> different than the 300.
>
> 6) I still can't confirm the correct model year, but here is my
> speculation: Assembly plants, like Brampton, send cadres of
> personnel to train on a new vehicle to the on-site Pilot Plant
> at the Chrysler Technology Center in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
> Besides building Pilot Vehicles on hard tooling, the CTC Pilot
> Plant is also used to build what are called Program Cars. Some
> people call these "prototypes", but that's inaccurate. Program
> Cars are built somewhat from soft tooling and somewhat from hard
> tooling (such as is available at any given time in the build
> schedule) but are built to full design intent. Builds start 15-
> 18 months from V-1, and continue for nearly a year as updates
> are made during the final stages of vehicle development, based
> on test results. Pilot vehicles, begin builds about six months
> from V-1. I am only speculating, so everybody please cool your
> jets! Barry's buddy from Brampton Assemply Plant *may* be
> reporting what he's seeing is a Program Car, not a Pilot Car,
> which would mean the Charger will probably be a 2006, as I've
> been speculating for some time. My belief is that the Charger
> will be shown at the 2005 NAIAS - that's why the security lid is
> on, so Chrysler can make a spash at the auto show.
>
> 7) If I am wrong, and the Charger really is a 2005, then it
> *will* be a summer launch. Didn't get that from my source, but I
> know enough about new car launches to predict it. Brampton is
> *very* busy right now ramping up the Magnum, as well as
> continuing a maximum effort on 300's to get cars to dealers.
> IMHO, there is *no way* Chrysler is going to put another new car
> into that plant until the Magnum is up to full line speed. They
> need to sell some Magnums before introducing another new LX. If
> the Charger is a 2005, it'll show up in showrooms in September
> or so. Again, IMHO. Your mileage may vary.
>
> Here's a rundown of the nearby Chrysler assembly plants and what > they build:
>
> - Brampton Assembly Plant, Brampton, Ontario, near Toronto: 300
> and Magnum (and later, Charger)
> - Windsor Assembly Plant, Windsor, Ontario, across the Detroit
> River from Detroit: Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan
> minivans, and Chrysler Pacifica.
> - Warren Truck Assembly Plant (Dodge City), Warren, Michigan,
> suburb of Detroit: Dodge Ram and Dakota pickups
> - Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, suburb of Detroit, Chrysler
> Sebring Sedan and convertible and Dodge Stratus sedan
> - Jefferson North Assembly Plant, Detroit: Jeep Grand Cherokee
> - Toledo 1, Toledo, Ohio, 60 miles south of Detroit: Jeep
> Liberty
> - Toledo 2: Jeep Wrangler
>
> Hopefully you will all agree that the Charger just *can't* be
> built at any of these plants. Plus, there would be no reason for
> a Brampton Assembly Plant employee to be in the CTC Pilot Plant
> looking at new Chargers if the car weren't scheduled for BAP.
>
> Back to the Magnum for a moment, I looked at three large Dodge
> dealers in Southeast Michigan just last night. There are *no*
> Magnums yet. Brampton is building about 350 per day and they are
> still in quarantine, but I expect to see a few cars at dealers
> in a couple of weeks, plenty by June 1. Brampton has to supply
> something like 3,000 Dodge dealers, so it takes a while. See why
> I think the Charger *can't* be ready to launch right now?
>
> *None* of what I've said is confidential. If I *knew* any
> confidential stuff about the Charger, which I clearly do not, I
> wouldn't tell you anyway, right?
>
> DC
Patrick '93 Cobra '83 LTD