Charger, one of the biggest names in Australian muscle car history, returned to the world stage when the Chrysler Group showed off their latest car at the 2005 North American International Auto Show, in Detroit.

The latest interpretation of the famous muscle car Dodge Charger features a 254 kW HEMI® engine powering large 18-inch rear wheels on a bold, provocatively styled, fastback four-door sedan.

“We’re very excited that the Charger is back,” said Gerry Jenkins, managing director, Chrysler Jeep Australia.

“There is a certain mystique surrounding the Charger name. It evokes an enormous amount of memories for many Australians."

“Unfortunately the car won’t be coming to Australia unless demand in other right hand drive countries increases significantly."

“Whilst we would love to get the Charger and add it to our growing stable of products, the reality is it will probably never come here."

“However the good news is we will get the HEMI V8 engine later this year when the 5.7-litre V8 Chrysler 300C arrives,” Jenkins said.

When the Chrysler Valiant Charger was launched in 1971 it was the fastest accelerating car ever built in Australia. Its famously powerful HEMI engine and aggressive looks earned the car cult status in Australia, stirring the adrenalin of an entire generation.

Originally designed for a V16 fighter-plane in 1939, the HEMI engine was an instant favourite.

‘Hey Charger’ was the advertising slogan in the seventies for the HEMI powered Chrysler Charger and remains one of the more famous marketing campaigns of all time.

The 2006 Charger offers a modern interpretation of the seventies classic. With coupe styling, four-door functionality, rear-wheel drive muscle car genes and 21st Century DaimlerChrysler HEMI performance, safety and customer convenience technology.

The new HEMI engine powering the Charger and also the Chrysler 300C is fitted with the Chrysler Group’s Multi Displacement System (MDS), which seamlessly deactivates four cylinders in just 40 milliseconds – quicker than a blink of an eye – when full V8 power is not needed, improving fuel economy by up to 20 percent.

The new Charger has more power per cubic inch than its ancestors and provides all the glory of the muscle car era more efficiently.

HEMI has played a critical role in building momentum for the Chrysler Group in the United States where sales for 2004 ended three percent up over 2003.

The Dodge Charger will muscle its way back to streets across America in the third quarter of 2005, as a 2006 model year product.