Barracuda....Back from the dead

[SfanGoch]

[espo]

There was a lot of talk about a year or two ago about this and some other concept models, even using the Plymouth name among others. What I have seen as a consumer is that the parent company (Fiat) has made many improvements in styling for the Chrysler/Dodge and Ram products. They have also improved the interior design on the passenger lines. Being a concept this design, if and when, it comes to market will probably be toned down a bit. The new issue of Motor Trend magazine has info on the new Alfa Romeo Giulia that would be sharing its basic chassis with this concept. It will offer everything from a basic 1.4 Liter turbo 4 too a 3.0 Liter twin-turbo 6 with 503 H.P. They think it will do 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. I don't know if I could afford it, but my Hemi Charger might be in danger of becoming a trade-in.     

[mustang1989]

when I click on that link, I'm not seeing a picture of the Barracuda. They talk about it. But, I'm not seeing anywhere with that article.

That's funny. I had the same experience. There was an article with a picture of a car there but it sure aint a Barracuda! lol

[SfanGoch]

That's funny. I had the same experience. There was an article with a picture of a car there but it sure aint a Barracuda! lol

Sounds fishy to me.

[SfanGoch]

What I have seen as a consumer is that the parent company (Fiat) has made many improvements in styling for the Chrysler/Dodge and Ram products. 

I'm sure the widetrack Jeep Cherokee will be an instant hit. 

[Fabrux]

Here's the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, BTW: http://blog.caranddriver.com/jeep-confirms-hellcat-powered-grand-cherokee-to-dealers-reveals-0-60-time/

[SfanGoch]

This is an example of too much is enough, like using a stick of dynamite to remove a twist-off cap on a bottle of soda. It's a friggin' Jeep, fer chrissakes, not an A-Body muscle car. It's bad enough that the Jeep has been transformed from a cool utility vehicle (which was meant to be driven in a manner that would result in laying waste to forests and leveling mountains and not worrying about the paint job too much. Just use a whisk brush to clear off any debris.) into a sissified (my opinion) luxury ride. Now, it's "Let's jam a rocket engine into a pigeon's patootie and call it a fighter".

[unclescott58]

The above car shown above is not a Barracuda or a convertible. That is the Dodge Charger showcar from the late 1990s. Does anybody have any photos of the Barracuda itself?

[SfanGoch]

The above car shown above is not a Barracuda or a convertible. That is the Dodge Charger showcar from the late 1990s. Does anybody have any photos of the Barracuda itself?

I know that isn't. I only posted the photos which the other posters said they couldn't see. Google "Dodge Barracuda SRT" and you'll get an idea.

 

[slusher]

Looks like a wait and see product.  

[Harry P.]

That concept is what the new Charger should have looked like from the start. Instead we got a "Charger" that looks like a brick on wheels.

As far as a new Barracuda... it only reminds me of how stupid it was to kill off the PLYMOUTH brand. We could have been looking at new Road Runners, new Barracudas, new Furys, etc.

[SfanGoch]

That concept is what the new Charger should have looked like from the start. Instead we got a "Charger" that looks like a brick on wheels.

As far as a new Barracuda... it only reminds me of how stupid it was to kill off the PLYMOUTH brand. We could have been looking at new Road Runners, new Barracudas, new Furys, etc.

Just wait. Government Motors will announce a Chevy GTO based on an improved Geo Tracker platform as a response.

[martinfan5]

I've never been a fan of the aerodynamic "jellybean with wheels" design. There are no individual styling characteristics anymore. Almost everything on the road today looks like a slightly modified version of the car next to it. Either a bulky, rolling toaster with a sunroof or a Silly Putty egg with four doors and a sunroof. I blame Ford coming out with the Sierra XR4, initiating the "Bulgemobile" look, and killing off creative automotive design. This 'Cuda is just another example. 

Kind of like cars from the 50's and 60's all had the same basic shape.

Please point out one car that looks just like the Sierra XR4?

Edited August 29, 2015 by martinfan5

[SfanGoch]

The Sierra was the precursor to the "jellybean with wheels" look. It started the movement toward the soft look without edges. It was a gradual evolution; but by the mid-late 90s, every manufacturer adopted a more rounded style for their respective models. Take a gander at these cookie cutter marvels:

:

American cars of the mid '50s through the mid '90s (with the exception of Ford which had its Tempo/Topaz/Taurus/Sable lineups in full swing from around 1984) had individual styling characteristics which made it easy to differentiate between manufacturers. Sure, every manufacturer jumped on the fin and chrome craze in the late '50s; but a casual observer wouldn't confuse a 1959 Impala with a Coronet or a Fairlane. Even into the '60s, one could tell the difference between GM, Ford, Chrysler and AMC. You can't say the same for cars today. 

 

Edited August 29, 2015 by SfanGoch

[Harry P.]

Much of the "jellybean" look has to do with aerodynamics. If you're going for the most aerodynamic shape, you're going to wind up with the jellybean look, no matter who you are. And these days, if an automaker can squeeze another tenth of a mile per gallon out of their EPA rating, they will. And that means rounded contours.

[SfanGoch]

You are absolutely correct. It killed automotive design as far as aesthetics are concerned. Now, there is annoying sameness.

[StevenGuthmiller]

Kind of like cars from the 50's and 60's all had the same basic shape.

Please point out one car that looks just like the Sierra XR4?

If you got behind a '61 Ford, even from a half mile away, there's no way you were ever going to mistake it for a '61 Chevy. & that's just from looking at the tail lights.

Try that with "any" car today.

 

Steve

[martinfan5]

 

Much of the "jellybean" look has to do with aerodynamics. If you're going for the most aerodynamic shape, you're going to wind up with the jellybean look, no matter who you are. And these days, if an automaker can squeeze another tenth of a mile per gallon out of their EPA rating, they will. And that means rounded contours.

And by 2025 , they have to reach 53MPG. 

[Joe Handley]

If you got behind a '61 Ford, even from a half mile away, there's no way you were ever going to mistake it for a '61 Chevy. & that's just from looking at the tail lights.

Try that with "any" car today.

 

Steve

If you bother to learn what new what new car tail lights look like as you would have back in the "good ol' days", you'll find they aren't too difficult to tell apart......moreso now than in even the recent past.

[Draggon]

delete

 

Edited August 29, 2015 by Draggon

[Draggon]

I've never been a fan of the aerodynamic "jellybean with wheels" design. There are no individual styling characteristics anymore. Almost everything on the road today looks like a slightly modified version of the car next to it. Either a bulky, rolling toaster with a sunroof or a Silly Putty egg with four doors and a sunroof. I blame Ford coming out with the Sierra XR4, initiating the "Bulgemobile" look, and killing off creative automotive design. This 'Cuda is just another example. 

I like rolling toasters

[SfanGoch]

Then, you'll love this:

[rusty85]

IMO the USA became a wasteland of automotive design in the 70s and has never recovered. all the interesting designs are from Europe and Asia, whether anyone likes that or not. its been strictly a game of catch up but don't really try too hard to catch up on the part of America, very very few, and generally unsuccessful ones at that, vehicles have been exceptions. I cannot think of any right offhand, certainly none of those "nostalgia" designs, some of which might have been a bit better had they dared to put something approaching a performance engine in them.

 

jb

 

 

I agree mostly, although there are a few I'm fond of. The four eyed Fox Mustangs and Capris for example.

 

Oh and as an aside, the Sierra is one of my favourite cars of all time.

Edited August 29, 2015 by rusty85

[StevenGuthmiller]

If you bother to learn what new what new car tail lights look like as you would have back in the "good ol' days", you'll find they aren't too difficult to tell apart......moreso now than in even the recent past.

You didn't have to "learn" anything.

It was just obvious that they were 2 totally different designs.

Now it's merely nuances.

Look at the rear end of a '60 Oldsmobile & a '60 Buick, both GM cars.

There are no nuances.

 

Steve

 

[rusty85]

Not sure I see your point, there is no nuance here. Both GM models, both same platform, neither looks remotely alike.