SRT Fans Want a Subaru BRZ Rival (Maybe based on Dodge Demon Concept?)

[vh_supra26]

Please note the photos are of the 2007 Dodge Demon Concept.

Is Chrysler’s SRT performance division planning a second all-new car? Brand CEO Ralph Gilles won’t say, but fans are asking for a compact performance car he reveals.

Currently the only true SRT vehicle is the new Viper, with the remaining SRT badged cars all being high-performance versions of existing Chrysler family models, ranging from the Charger to the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

In a sit-down interview with Gilles he revealed that the feedback the company has received from its fans, in particular through social media, hasn’t gone unnoticed. “When are you going to have your own BRZ,” he says, paraphrasing the comments he hears from SRT owners. “I’m happy to see that a lot of our fans want that,” he says. “They ask us about that a lot.”

A CEO and a car designer, Gilles is a true enthusiast at heart and known for taking his own Viper to the racetrack. “It’s exciting to think that way,” he says, revealing his true feelings about the concept of an affordable SRT performance car.

While the SRT brand today is known only for its V8-powered monsters, not that long ago things were different. “We’ve had two generations of SRT4s,” Gilles reminisces. “We’ve had Crossfires, we’ve had pickup trucks.”

“The community goes deep,” he says, mentioning in particular those owners of SRT4 models (both Caliber and Neon), who are the ones asking for a new compact performance car from the SRT brand. Chrysler might not have sold an SRT-badged compact since the suped-up Caliber was cancelled in 2009, but fans of the old SRT4s, “still care about what we’re up to,” Gilles says.

Not long before the Caliber SRT4 was discontinued, Chrysler revealed the Demon concept (above). A front-engine rear-drive roadster it was designed to bookend the Dodge performance lineup, with the Viper sitting at the opposite end of the spectrum. Revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2007 it was powered by a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder making around 170 hp. No official word was ever given on the car’s fate.

Sine the debut of the new Dart, rumors have swirled that an SRT4 model was in the works, sporting as much as 300 hp. A production version, however, has yet to materialize.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...brz-rival.html

[n2oinferno]

I want to see an AWD Dart SRT-4. Something is coming later on, but no idea what. They sent me an email around the time that auto show season started to announce the new Viper color and some other stuff, and said they had something big planned to announce later this year. We'll see what it is.

[funwheeldrive]

The dart is nice, but already heavy as is. I can't imagine how much a turbocharged awd version would weigh. If I was in the market I'd probably just get a wrx.

[TylerLieberman]

Looks like a crossfire/Audi TT mix.........weird

[Sport-Tech]

Back end reminds me of a 370Z. Loathe these high rear decks - it's above most folk's neck lines for heaven's sake.

[meWant]

Front reminds me of an s2k/charger combo and an audi tt in the back.

[DarkSunrise]

The Dodge Demon concept looks pretty dated now, but I love how the Twins have re-ignited the lighweight RWD segment, with enthusiasts clamoring for more cars in the same vein.

From the domestic manufacturers, GM's Mark Reuss has also stated on record that he wants to build something to compete with the Twins, possibly the 130R concept.

http://www.carscoops.com/2013/05/chevrolet-mulling-creation-of-small-rwd.html
http://www.thetorquereport.com/2013/05/gms_mark_reuss_wants_a_rwd_che.html

I personally like the way it looks.

[utekineir]

looks like a crossfire

[M-17]

Talk about bringing that car concept back from the dead. I still like the looks of it. Its kind of interesting to be brought up now. So Ill just say I don't think Dodge/Chrysler has the balls to bring that car to its lineup.

[rice_classic]

Two of the ugliest automotive things in the world are the Dodge front ends and the Audi TT rear end.

This car has both.

While the concept is good, the execution is reminiscent of an animal licking up it's own vomit.


Edit: interior ain't bad though. In order to boost sales they should name it the "Dodge 'Murica"

[red bread]

Why wouldn't they just use a version of the new Alfa Spyder that Mazda's building starting next year? Seems like the easiest starting point, assuming Mazda has the capacity.

Nothing like a Japanese made car, paid for by your Italian owners, sold as an American brand.

[zenki_levin]

Damn, that thing is fugly.