Dodge and the Demon that shouldn't be

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080113/FREE/358786715/1609/FREE&rssfeed=rss01

Dodge Demon concept is going into production, however... it will be front wheel drive and it will be developed on the chassis by Chery, their Chinese counterpart which isn't that great at getting decent crash ratings on their own cars. Just check out this crash test from the Chery Amulet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kQGAK550LE
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WOW....that was some crash test !!!!

 

Kind of weird looking, especially that nasty front grill.

Kind of looks like a cross between a 350Z, S2000 and BMW Z4.

 

Before I read what you wrote I looked at the attached picture: S2000??

If you're a hired designer you better come up with something better than a S2000 look-a-like with FWD and Dodge front...

 

And Dodge Ram.

 

I don't understand the point of FWD on a car like this.

 

its cheap, they just killed a nice sports car

at least Mazda will be happy as the Miata is still the champ in this league

People who dont know squat about cars will buy it

question is: How long till we get a FWD Viper designed by Cherry ?

 

FWD is a dumb idea. But i like the design and think it could be made into a badas$ little car.

 

This was the same philosophy that went into designing the Mercury Capri. It was cheap, front wheel drive, and not for an enthusiast, just an econo Mazada 323 with a drop top.

 

Does Dodge not get it? That their designs are crap. No need to make the front end of a car look like the Ram.

 

Made in C, FWD, it will sell like crap. Make it rwd WITH A TURBO 4 MAKING ABOUT 300HP and it sounds like it would be a blast. Always liked Dodge esp. the Viper but Yes they do not get it.

 

The Demon is dead before it arrived...destined to be remembered with the Crossfire.

 

Why does Dodge continue to put their Ram pick-up grills on their other vehicles? Do they not realize that it just doesnt look good at all. The name is cool though.

 

A simply horrible idea. Another instance of forward thinking by US auto makers. BTW that crash test was amazing. The car simply disintergated. That instills MUCH confidence.


Darrell.

 

On that page there was a related link to the McLaren F1 crash test http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUPq760LC00&feature=related

Amazing - only the front half of the nose crunched!

 

Crossfire ain't that horrible. I don't desire it, but I can only see it as Clarkson described it: a squatting toad. It is just a Merc redesigned.

 

IIRC the F1 had some of the best numbers for occupant safety for a road car when it was produced.

 

I was commenting from a sales perspective...Crossfire sales started poorly and ended quickly. I have a friend who has one and yeah..not a terrible car.

Demon looks like it will be a terrible car from the 'git go'.

For people commenting on the dodge bullseye grill...its a corporate identity thing...you see the same thing on most brands..Benz grill..BMW kidneys etc..I know you guys know that. having said that it IS a bit overdone on the Demon.

And really...like corporate would ever let the name 'demon' appear on a production car...it will probably be changed to the Dodge Shadow ..hehheh

 

Depending on the final price, it might actually succeed. Like someone said, people that don't know cars will buy them. Daddys will get their teenage daughters one, overweight middle-income women will buy them, and ignorant non-motorheads that can't afford an Audi TT will finance the heck out of them.

Being produced in China, it might have some serious advantages when it comes to cost of production, or more features might be offered than a comparably-priced Miata. However, given Chrysler's track record I would predict a cheapo interior AND a higher than expected sticker, with heavy rebates to actually move the cars.

On a car with say, 150 hp, FWD shouldn't matter that much. At 9/10ths or 10/10ths sure, but the vast majority of drivers wouldn't even get close to that.

 

Well, Chrysler gave the OK to "Diablo" way back when, so who knows....

 

People that buy these cars (dodges of all types) seem to be very aggressive in traffic and I think they like the image the grill conveys.

FWD, what were they thinking?

 

Obviously, someone lost their balls. So, I'm going to blame you and your profession for FWD.

 

I think a large number of you are possibly missing the large market that this car might be aimed at. That being China itself. GM is doing a good business in china at the moment and having it built there would be a nice selling point to the Chinese market (I could be wrong).

Too bad about the FWD. I think that decision tells you that the accountants stepped in rather than the enthusiast at GM.

 

Prob right.

 

lmao