Thoughts on the Dodge Demon?

[Stephen M]

I'd be interested in getting everyone's take on the Dodge Demon concept, as shown in Geneva.



Autoweek Article

I should say at the outset that I am a huge fan of the Dodge Razor concept from a few years back. When I heard Dodge had a small, sporty release planned for Geneva I got my hopes up.  The Razor was to be a spartan, parts-bin go-cart. 75% of Elise performance at half the price, or so I told myself. As you might have guessed, the Demon was not quite what I was looking for.

It looks nice enough. It looks like an edgier Solstice, a cheaper S2000, a.....well... a Dodge. Motivation comes from a 170hp 2.4 liter four-banger, numbers very familiar to baseline Solstice and Sky owners. The Solstice has been a big hit, and the Mia...MX-5 is selling well, so I can't fault Dodge for thinking their might be more room at the table. But it's not clear where the Demon pulls up its chair. Dodge isn't exactly known for small sporty convertibles these days. The odds of them building a better MX-5 are near nill. The odds of the Demon's styling luring away Solstice and Sky shoppers seems slight as well. Given DCX's current state, who's the Lutzian car guy that's going to see this one through? I don't see it happening, and I'm not sure I'm missing much.

So thank you, Dodge, for making this latest unbuilt concept less lamentable than the Razor.

[Otto Puzzell]

For me, a sports car needs to be either better looking than most of the cars on the road, perform better than most of the cars on the road, or offer a combination of looks and performance than exceeds the average car's. 

In my estimation, this car meets none of those three criteria.

[Tifosi]

I'd like to see DCX build it, if only to see a change-of-pace from those dull, boring gunslit-windowed lumps they've been passing off since the 300C.  The styling concept worked on that car, but all the others look dumpy to me and a lot of other people.

On second thought, maybe they should spend the money on restyling the Charger...


Dan

[Ultra]

For me, a sports car needs to be either better looking than most of the cars on the road, perform better than most of the cars on the road, or offer a combination of looks and performance than exceeds the average car's. 

In my estimation, this car meets none of those three criteria.

We have a winner.

[Otto Puzzell]

Give me a point! Erbas is gainin' on me!

[Jagman]

I think there's room in the market for this car, depending on price. If they can undercut the Sky/Solstice by a few thou, and still have decent quality, it'll be a good niche car for them. If it comes in close to $30 k, the way most of the Sky are, it probably won't do as well............

[Ultra]

I think there's room in the market for this car, depending on price. If they can undercut the Sky/Solstice by a few thou, and still have decent quality, it'll be a good niche car for them. If it comes in close to $30 k, the way most of the Sky are, it probably won't do as well............

You might be right.   The P.T. Barnum maxims should never be underestimated.

[MG]

and still have decent quality

That to me is the operative consideration, even more so than price. I just wouldn't buy a Chrysler product. Too many issues with longevity of components for me to part with my money for one.  Been that way for 30 years. Doesn't seem to have changed all that much under Daimler's tender ministrations. In fact, some of ChryCo's problems seem to have rubbed off on MB!   

[Tifosi]

The April issue of Motor Trend has the Demon on it's cover with a blurb about it being a 15,000 dollar car.  Inside, the article mentions a possible price of 20 grand...if it really could be a modern TR that doesn't leak oil and starts every time, and it could be had out the door for 15 grand, it might work...most Miatas are mid 20 grand cars.

But what I want to know is, what happenned to Chrysler?  It used to produce cars that were innovative and stylish...now, everything looks like a '49 Plymouth...



Dan

[MG]

'49 Plymouth...

49 Plymouths were innovative and stylish back in 49. What's your point?   

[Tifosi]

My point is that they were stylish and innovative in 1949...it isn't 1949 any more...and Chrysler is building some of the stodgiest automobiles on the market.  They seem to be in a pattern, some great designs, followed by some really poor ones...first the Forward Look, then the "plucked chickens" that got Virgil Exner fired...the fuselage cars of the late '60's that were grossly overdone in the early '70's...the Cordoba that just went away...the late '80'sLeBaron that stayed around too long...the LH cars that turned into the butt ugly Charger, the Sebring that looks like a milk truck compared to it's predecessor...I can't wait to see how they screw up the PT Cruiser!


Dan

[GRAYWOLF]

They screwed up the PT Cruiser when they washed it in hot water before they ever produced them!

[vwlarry]

Ick.

...Hey, you asked.