Dodge Razor

"Truly new and inspirational designs are few and far between these days. Ford are regurgitating the best of the 50's and the 60's whilst Chrysler's latest concept is the bastard offspring of a Cerbera and a VX220.

The facts at a glance are: a sprint to 60 mph in six seconds, top speed higher than 140 mph, a six-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive and an engine displacement of just two litres.

The Dodge Razor concept car is a joint effort between the Chrysler Group design studios in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and Carlsbad, California. Razor's exterior was developed by Akino Tsuchiya and Kevin Verduyn, while its interior was executed by Chris Schuttera and John Sodano. According to Chrysler the car was inspired by classic European sports cars of the 1960s.

"Dodge Razor has a simple shape with every line offering an abundance of emotion and purpose," said Tsuchiya. "Razor’s dramatic proportions scream ‘I’m bold, I’m powerful, I’m Dodge'. The in-your-face ‘Orange Slice’ body colour reflects the same attitude."

To keep the Dodge Razor affordable should it ever reach production, many ‘off-the-shelf’ corporate suspension and underbody components were used. While the six-speed manual transmission was developed in Stuttgart, Germany, the engine is an upgraded version of Chrysler Group’s 2-litre inline DOHC four-cylinder, now with turbocharger and intercooler. The engine develops 250 bhp of power and 230 lb.ft of torque.

The punters in Detroit will no doubt love it. They won't hear the laughter from Europe there though..."

For some reason that reminds me of a Squirrel, chipmunk or other small rodent on Speed.

In person, the Razor wasn't as impressive as it looks in pictures. And I like little sporty cars (and Chrysler products)...but this one did nothing for me. I was much more impressed with kids of TEAM RAZOR who performed tricks on Razor scooters and bikes at the introduction of the car. The car was bland in comparison.

What I am reminded of when I see this car-
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/210764Dodge_Razor_Dustin_style.jpg

Don't get me wrong, I love dodge...as you guys can see. but this car is nothing less than COMICAL

LOL, it's not that bad Dustin. But I see why it is $5,000 less than the Neon SRT-4.

I think it looks great but would not buy it.

It looks like a toy not like a car , and I wouldn't be "brave" enough to drive a coffin like that 140mph , they claim it will do so... It will be probably popular as a car for girls/wives for the looks and low price... if they make it into productions...

i really like the concept... actually, the only thing that i don't like is the color and the 185 series tires... i have wider tires on my 160hp del sol. i can only imagine how easily you'd light 'em up with 240hp on tap... i hope that when/if dodge releases this that they put on something more along the lines of a 225 or 245 series tire with maybe 17's in the front and back. the tires will be cheaper to replace, the rims should be lighter (better acceleration and braking) and they'd have a bigger contact patch on the ground (more traction)

please dodge, make this car. i want it!

-dave :smoka:

I like the idea of the car, and the hp, and the looks are decent... the only things I don't like are the mirrors, and door handles... They should make some handles like some of the Corvettes had (mounted on the top of the door, push down on them to open them... know the ones im talking about?)

-Grendel

yeah, the mirrors and handles are a bit strange, but ikinda like them. it looked alot better in person, i think, than the pictures.

gimmie this car!

-dave:bandit:

well, i talked to my aunt&uncle-in-law this weekend when i was back in detroit, and asked them about the razor. he works for dodge directly and she works for the company that does all the manuals for the cars... she draws the little pictures... and they both very quickly answered yes when i asked if dodge was going to make this car.

i know it's not an official release from dodge or anything like that, but it's close enough for me for now!

:D :D :D

-dave :bandit:

Acommendation is necessary for both Dodge (Razor) and Pontiac(Solstice) for filling in niche that is quite empty.

Before getting my Sentra, I always wanted a small displacement front-engine/rear drive car.

Used:
RX-7s came to mind but my lack of experience with rotaries put me off.

Miatas were a bit under powered and over priced, plus the older models had plastic rear windows that easily scrached. New Miatas are expensive.

240s, I liked everthing about them except the KA engines. Now I know that the DET swaps are getting popular, but I didnt want to spend more on the swap than I did on the car.

New:
S2000 yummmm, nice. Out of my price range.


My only questions for the Razor/Solstice when?, how much do they weigh? and how much?

(Dont like the rear too much either)

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/908042rearrazor.jpg

People were in love with this car and blown away by it - me too!!!!:flash:

:flash: :smoker2: :smoka: :sun: :silly2: :) :D :cool: :alien2: :frog:

Everyone was lit up by it. It fills a viod in the market and I sure hope Dodge makes it cause I'll buy one for sure :bandit:

Also, I think I should note that the Neon SRT-4 won Sport Compact's 2003 car of the year award. You should read the new issue on page 52, it just says a lot about where Dodge is going, and I like it.

Also this was against all other sport compacts, not just new ones, or newly designed ones like Motor Trend's awards work. It is a very good time to be a Mopar driver.

Polygon,

Any idea of when the Razor will be out???

They have nothing announced as of yet. I think they are putting all production efforts into the SRT-4 for the time being.

i heard the razor is going to produced, and the announcement will come on feb 11-13 at the chicago auto show. as for where and when production will occur, theres the heartbreaker. so far as ive heard, now i hope its not true, but the windsor, ontario plant is the [again, speculated, not certain] place, and that doesnt open until '05. so i'd look for '06 model year, and thats just gross. this is all a rumor, but we'll see. five more days.

Where did you hear this "rumor?" The new Windsor plant will build trucks, not the Razor.

i heard the rumor on allpar.com, but im a newbie there too, so i dont know the sources, but everybody else seems to think theyre accurate enough. thats a relief about windsor being for trucks...maybe ill see it in my driveway a little bit sooner then.

There are currently no plans to make the Razor.

dont kill my hopes and dreams....

Sorry...didn't mean to provide a jolt of reality into the thread.

i guess i have to face the music...

Buck up, they still might make it. Plenty of people mocked Dodge and said they would never make the SRT-4 Neon, but they are. I think that the mindset of Dodge has changed and they are bringing back their high performance history.

Don't worry, it may just yet be built.

But the Dodge Neon SRT-4 was ANNOUNCED as a production car from the start. The Razor was never said to be headed for production.

Originally posted by Hudson
But the Dodge Neon SRT-4 was ANNOUNCED as a production car from the start. The Razor was never said to be headed for production.

Well, that is a good point. I still think that it is a possibility. I guess the problem is that it would be in direct competition with the Neon. That is always a problem. I still would rather have the SRT-4 than the Razor.

Originally posted by Hudson
But the Dodge Neon SRT-4 was ANNOUNCED as a production car from the start. The Razor was never said to be headed for production.

well, by that rationale, there should be no viper. that was originally a concept car... so was the neon and the pt cruiser.

i have also heard from several unrelated sources that the razor will be built. one is the guys at the allpar forums. they do seem to know what they're talking about. another, as i mentioned earlier is my uncle-in-law. i've also heard from a few dealerships that they are confident that it will be made.

-dave :bandit:

The PT Cruiser was announced for production when it was first shown. The Neon was announced as a glimpse into a future product. The Viper was initially just a concept car (or so they said) but the influx of cash from perspective buyers pushed it into production, or so they said (I still believe it was always headed for production).

As for the Razor, it was just a concept car and remains that way today. I've seen the Chrysler plans (into the 2007 model year) and the Razor's STILL not on it. I know many people want it to go into production, but not near enough people with the money to afford it to make it worth Chrysler's time and investment.

I'm so sorry to be the bearer of this bad news.

I agree with Hudson here. I think that Chrysler has its hands full with bringing back the RWD platform, Hemi, new production cars, and new models of existing ones.

It doesn't look like the Razor will be made. It is too bad, much like when they shot down the Charger R/T concept. There are talks of another Charger concept but who knows?

Perhaps at one point the Razor will be made, but I don't think that it will be the Razor you are looking at if it is ever put into production.

Yes, the Razor fills a niche in the market, the niche of retro "Muscle cars" that is built on the demand of people looking for te glory of yester-years while keeping the comforts of today.. IE: 2004 Ford Mustang concept and prod. car. This niche is extremely controversial and seems o be the butt end of all forums around. you love it, hate it or just don't get it. I, personally, respect it, but i'd take a 69 musty over a rehash of the f-body...

JS:comprage1 :sly:

Originally posted by InsertClutch
Yes, the Razor fills a niche in the market, the niche of retro "Muscle cars" that is built on the demand of people looking for te glory of yester-years while keeping the comforts of today.. IE: 2004 Ford Mustang concept and prod. car. This niche is extremely controversial and seems o be the butt end of all forums around. you love it, hate it or just don't get it. I, personally, respect it, but i'd take a 69 musty over a rehash of the f-body...

JS:comprage1 :sly:

How is the Razor a "retro 'Muscle car?'" The Razor concept was a two seater with a four-cylinder engine. I understand retro...and in many cases I like the execution of retro vehicles. I also understand that if you design a car to be "retro" you automatically give the car a limited lifespan. Aside from the Viper and Miata (both of which have evolved away from their retro inspirations), no "retro-styled" car has been successful for an extended life cycle.

The Razor is a bit retro...in the style of the Austin-Healey Sprite.