The Lost King

           When it comes to bringing back the dead, no auto company has done it better than Chrysler.  Of course you could say that bringing back the 300, Challenger and the panel wagon design.  But one zombie return was not done as well as the rest of these models.  This would be the return of the Charger.  ​

            Yes we all know that some of the great features have been rejuvenated within the two generations of the Charger sedan, but still it is a sedan.  Why was it a horrible thing when Chrysler decided to use the Charger nameplate for a sedan.  Well for starters, the Charger was the “King” of the muscle car era, which meant lots of power and only two doors.  Then they added this nameplate to a sedan, which hardly had any aspects of the original king of the streets.  Now why would anyone in there right mind do this to such a name.  Well when you have had more success with past nameplates, than your new ones, you start to think which past names may bring in even more money.  Add this analysis to owning one of the greatest names of all times, and you have a recipe for doubling your money over your current sedan nameplate.
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            Well if you now have to ask yourself why they even thought about this, well they were owned by Daimler-Benz at the time, a company who only cares about the bottom line.  When it came to choosing this name, you have to look at who was the owner of Chrysler at the time, then ask yourself, why Chrysler would even let them do this. Considering doing this to such a name, would be like Lamborghini bringing back the Countach as an SUV.  This should be considered a crime against automotive culture, where Chrysler and Benz has to either release a two door version or pay a massive fine to all the Charger clubs of the world. 
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      Yes we all know that we have no say in how our great automotive names are used and re-used, but when it comes to a nameplate which defines a car culture, we should have the right to vote.  Of course now it seems that Dodge has listened to us in some sort of way, when it came to re-designing the Charger for 2011.  They have made some good changes, but still they have not released a coupe version of this once great car.
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            Now that the 2011 Dodge Charger has been released, Chrysler has stated that there is still no plan to release a coupe model.  If they really cared about what their customers wanted, they would pay attention to consumer blogs and feedback forms.  For a long time know they have been told by thousands of fans that we want a true muscle car form of the Charger, and that we are willing to pay for it.  If Chrysler really wants our support, they should start listening to their loyal fans, and give us our “King” back.

Everett J.
​#autolooks