2014 Barracuda? Smaller, lighter pony car from Chrysler!

[SRT Junky]

FINALLY! This may be a car that can really compete with the likes of the Mustang

... says Motor Trend.

Whether or not it's called "Barracuda", I R excite!

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/09/c...ith-barracuda/

Motor Trend reports that Chrysler may forsake the Dodge Challenger for a resurrected Barracuda. The magazine cites two unnamed sources as saying the nameplate will surface in time to celebrate the vehicle's 50th anniversary in 2014. If true, the Barracuda will ride on a new smaller and lighter platform that's more fit to compete with the likes of the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. The vehicle's bones will likely be shared with Alfa Romeo, which means a turbo four-cylinder may show up behind the Barracuda headlights as well as a fire-breathing V8. MT suggests the design may pull from the original fastback Barracuda, though a notch-back version would allow Chrysler to more effectively compete against the drop-top hardware from Ford and Chevrolet.

We have no doubt Chrysler and Fiat are currently investigating ways to breathe new life into the Challenger. The vehicle has been content to plod along as a distant third to its muscle-car rivals, but pulling the Barracuda name back into play seems unlikely. For starters, the Barracuda sailed under the long-dead Plymouth banner, and both Dodge and Chrysler have a long list of hallowed names from which to choose. Stay tuned.

[Dukman]

But saying Dodge Barracuda sounds wierd.

And a 4 banger?

[SRT Junky]

But saying Dodge Barracuda sounds wierd.

And a 4 banger?

Yeah, the article says they don't agree with Motor Trend. Not sure I do, either.

But hey, as ong as it's MUCH lighter than the Challenger, and a RWD coupe, I'll be happy to see it!

[SilverSVT]

But saying Dodge Barracuda sounds wierd.

And a 4 banger?

Why so werid? It would make a great base option engine for it. I'm willing to bet money the next Gen Mustang will have a I4 turbo in it also...esp with it going world wide for its 50th anniversary.

[davlafont]

Why so werid?

Because the 'Cuda was a Plymouth. Just as weird as saying Ford Cougar or Chevy Trans Am. I see no value in resurrecting the name. Improve the Challenger and call it a Challenger and let the Barracuda rest in peace.

FWIW, I think the Autoblog article used the worst 'Cuda picture imaginable. Convertible with tone-tone Hemi graphics might be a desirable combination on the auction block, but it does NOT show off the car's icon styling.

[wilko]

Because the 'Cuda was a Plymouth. Just as weird as saying Ford Cougar or Chevy Trans Am. I see no value in resurrecting the name. Improve the Challenger and call it a Challenger and let the Barracuda rest in peace.

FWIW, I think the Autoblog article used the worst 'Cuda picture imaginable. Convertible with tone-tone Hemi graphics might be a desirable combination on the auction block, but it does NOT show off the car's icon styling.

You know this was called the "Ford Cougar" in Europe, right?

[SRT Junky]

I honestly dont care what they call the car... so long as it looks good, and GETS HERE!!

The Challenger ios a great looking car, that goes pretty good. It's a cruiser. The newest versions even handle pretty well with all the chassis improvements they've done. But it is still, and will always be, too heavy on that chassis IMO.

So, yeah. Call it whatever you want. Just get it here. I don't care if it has a turbo I-4, a Pentastar V6 (Turbo 400 hp would be sweet) or a nice V8 in it.

[OmniFocus]

Jesus, Mike. You're a glutton for punishment!

I like the idea of four-bangers.

My four-banger wrong-wheel-drive Charger will rip a pretty big hole in a new eight-banger right-wheel-drive Charger (R/T).

[SRT Junky]

Jesus, Mike. You're a glutton for punishment!

I like the idea of four-bangers.

My four-banger wrong-wheel-drive Charger will rip a pretty big hole in a new eight-banger right-wheel-drive Charger (R/T).

I guess I'm just in one of those, "I don't care what people think" sort of moods

No "real" enthusiast can argue that this isn't what we want to see. Lighter, smaller generally = faster, and more agile.

Agility is something the Challenger lacks.

[MrBirdman330]

No....no....no....no.... Plymouth is dead, you idiots at Chrysler killed it. When you killed Plymouth you killed any type of badge resurrection that was under the name.

[MrBirdman330]

I guess I'm just in one of those, "I don't care what people think" sort of moods

No "real" enthusiast can argue that this isn't what we want to see. Lighter, smaller generally = faster, and more agile.

Agility is something the Challenger lacks.

Agility is something the Charger lacks. The Challenger handles quite fine since our law enforcement uses it.

[davlafont]

You know this was called the "Ford Cougar" in Europe, right?

Yeah, but that don't make it right... Just like us having a "Mercury" Capri was wrong too. I guess calling that car a Cougar was better than calling it a Probe (in Europe anyway), which is what the car really wanted to be.

Regardless, it's good to have all this Ford name discussion going on in a Mopar-oriented thread, since this is... afterall... a... Ford-oriented forum. (Sorry SRT Junky)

[OmniFocus]

Agility is something the Charger lacks. The Challenger handles quite fine since our law enforcement uses it.

Eh? The Challenger is pretty much the exact same car as the Charger... except heavier. Only Mopar could shorten a four-door into a two-door and have it GAIN weight.

...and compared to a Crown Vic, either of the modern Mopars handle like a Mini Cooper.

[SRT Junky]

Yeah, but that don't make it right... Just like us having a "Mercury" Capri was wrong too. I guess calling that car a Cougar was better than calling it a Probe (in Europe anyway), which is what the car really wanted to be.

Regardless, it's good to have all this Ford name discussion going on in a Mopar-oriented thread, since this is... afterall... a... Ford-oriented forum. (Sorry SRT Junky)

Bring it on! Doesn't bother me in the least

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Because the 'Cuda was a Plymouth. Just as weird as saying Ford Cougar or Chevy Trans Am. I see no value in resurrecting the name. Improve the Challenger and call it a Challenger and let the Barracuda rest in peace.

FWIW, I think the Autoblog article used the worst 'Cuda picture imaginable. Convertible with tone-tone Hemi graphics might be a desirable combination on the auction block, but it does NOT show off the car's icon styling.

Besides the fact that the Challenger and Barracuda were the SAME CAR.

Just like a Chevelle, Skylark, Lemans/GTO and Cutlass were all the same car.

If anything they should just build a stripped down, light weight version of the Challenger and call it a Barracuda.

Making it a completely different car just dilutes the heritage although Chrysler doesn't seem to mind doing that much these days.





.

[spots25]

Why not tack a Plymouth badge on it and call it a day?

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Why not tack a Plymouth badge on it and call it a day?

Um, because they killed Plymouth. It's a non-brand.

I may have misunderstood a bit, are they doing away with the Challenger and replacing it with a Barracuda?

If so that might be a better move but it should stay a rear drive V8 competitor to the Mustang and Camaro and even then why not just redesign it and still call it a Challenger since that name has already been resurected.

[spots25]

Um, because they killed Plymouth. It's a non-brand.

Sure did, but I'll bet they still own the rights to the name. I understand why they killed Plymouth, but for the completely opposite reason I don't see why they can't resurrect the nameplate for a cool car

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Sure did, but I'll bet they still own the rights to the name. I understand why they killed Plymouth, but for the completely opposite reason I don't see why they can't resurrect the nameplate for a cool car

That would be like admitting they made a mistake killing it off, better to leave Plymouth dead and gone.

[OmniFocus]

Once again, I'm more interested in the substance than the name.