[ryannel2003]

Also what I have read: Chrysler developed the platform in-house & from the start as RWD. Daimler forced some rear suspension hard points off on Chrysler, which required re-engineering, then charged them royalties and engineering fees for something already fully amortized.

The original LH platform, underpinning the Intrepid, Concorde and Vision was adaptable as a FWD/AWD/RWD platform. Originally the chassis was a design leftover from the AMC days before Chrysler purchased them in '87. By the time Chrysler got their hands on it they ended up with the original Cab Forward cars which were a big deal. In the late 90's they decided they wanted to switch to RWD and at that point were DaimlerChrysler so while they did have some influence on the platform... it's all Chrysler/Dodge. LH -> LX

If anyone goes back and reads the articles from 2004... The first generation sedan Charger in 2006 was originally going to be named Intrepid.

 

[ryannel2003]

As I understand it, the Intrepid name had too much of a FWD association with the buying public, and the Charger name still had equity as unmistakenly RWD, even though historically the Charger had always been a two door..

I suppose they could have resurrected the Polara or Monaco names, which might have made more sense, but I wasn't consulted..

In a meeting somewhere way back in the early 2000's at Auburn Hills someone had a list of names for the new RWD Intrepid replacement. Charger was NOT on that list but someone wrote it in and well now one sits in my driveway I suppose. I would honestly say if they had named these cars Intrepid I doubt they would've sold as well.

Also here's an article talking about the development of LX: Burke Brown, LX Car Leader: Creating the 300C, Magnum...

"As for the name of the car... stratocharger wrote: "When the dealers' association meeting was held and the LXs were shown to them for the first time, the names they were asked to vote on were Intrepid, Magnum, and Enforcer. The dealers overwhelmingly wrote in 'Charger.'" Ralph Gilles confirmed that "it was never supposed to be called a Charger."