The Magnum Making A Comeback?

[William Maley]

The Magnum Making A Comeback?

William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

July 17, 2011

If someone was to write out a list of the coolest wagons ever built, the 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum would be somewhere on that list. RWD, a range of V6s and V8s, and just practical, found it a good amount of fans. However, poor sales and Chrysler's money woes meant the Magnum would be shown the door a few years later.

“That vehicle was single-handedly killed by one executive who is no longer with the company. He’s retired. A lot of people in the company still like that vehicle — a lot. A lot of things that weren’t possible back then, now are.” said Ralph Gilles, the Chrysler design chief who helped style the Magnum and now the head of the SRT group.

Gilles was speaking to reporters at an event introducing the 2012 SRT lineup. The question was brought up about whether more vehicles could be introduced.

“With the Magnum, we owned the station wagon segment,” Gilles said. “It was always a pleasure to go to car shows and trade fairs and see the number of Magnums that owners had personalized with such obvious loving care.”

Asked whether the Magnum has been given the green, all Gilles would say is,

“Stay tuned. Great things are coming. That’s all I can say.”

Source: New York Times Wheels

[Drew Dowdell]

Yes Please!

[Blake Noble]

Before I bought the Challenger, I almost bought a Magnum. I love my Challenger, but sometimes I wonder what kept me from the Magnum ...

[CanadianBacon94]

i always thought it looked to much like a 300 estate with a dodge grill back when it was still in production, but now i realize there are quite a few small differences, overall i liked the car, but how bad did it sell that it was discontinued?

[SAmadei]

i always thought it looked to much like a 300 estate with a dodge grill back when it was still in production, but now i realize there are quite a few small differences, overall i liked the car, but how bad did it sell that it was discontinued?

Sales:

2004: 36,897

2005: 52,487

2006: 40,095

2007: 30,256

2008: 6,912

2009: 113

It looks like a 300 estate with a Dodge grill, since it WAS sold as a 300C Estate in Europe with a 300C nose. I can't find production numbers, or when that production ended... I had heard it continued longer than Magnum production did... but I can't find nothing about it.

I forgot that the Magnum beat the Charger to market by like a year. I would have preferred Dodge to use the Magnum name for the sedan... and Charger on a 2 door version of the Charger we got (note, not the Challenger).

I still feel the Magnum was a sports wagon, and therefore a lousy station wagon. I could never cope with the low rear section.

[ocnblu]

Very interesting news. If they can make it more functional this time AND keep it sporty, they'll have no trouble.

[Camino LS6]

It just goes to show that all it takes is one asshole to ruin things.

Hope it returns.

[PurdueGuy]

Since it should take fairly low investment, it seems worth a shot. If they can sell 50k a year for 5 years, they'll probably come out ahead on their investment dollars.

[Robert Hall]

It looks like a 300 estate with a Dodge grill, since it WAS sold as a 300C Estate in Europe with a 300C nose. I can't find production numbers, or when that production ended... I had heard it continued longer than Magnum production did... but I can't find nothing about it.

It looks like the 300C Estate lasted until the end of that generation, MY 2010.

Interesting to wonder what a new Magnum wagon could look like...would it take 300 styling cues so it can be sold as a Lancia in Europe, or would it take after Charger styling...

[the_yellow_dart]

This just goes to show how little I care about Chrysler. I had no idea this thing was even cancelled in the first place.

[Drew Dowdell]

i always thought it looked to much like a 300 estate with a dodge grill back when it was still in production, but now i realize there are quite a few small differences, overall i liked the car, but how bad did it sell that it was discontinued?

Sales:

2004: 36,897

2005: 52,487

2006: 40,095

2007: 30,256

2008: 6,912

2009: 113

It looks like a 300 estate with a Dodge grill, since it WAS sold as a 300C Estate in Europe with a 300C nose. I can't find production numbers, or when that production ended... I had heard it continued longer than Magnum production did... but I can't find nothing about it.

I forgot that the Magnum beat the Charger to market by like a year. I would have preferred Dodge to use the Magnum name for the sedan... and Charger on a 2 door version of the Charger we got (note, not the Challenger).

I still feel the Magnum was a sports wagon, and therefore a lousy station wagon. I could never cope with the low rear section.

Not bad sales rate. Venza is only managing about 32k this year, Flex will do about 27k and both of those offer more utility.

It was bad for Dodge because they thought they would be able to sell the Magnum as a direct replacement to the Intrepid and that just wasn't going to happen.

[Turbojett]

Do want. SRT-8 Please. In black.

[Potluck]

Chrysler should get it, not Dodge. Then it can also be sold in europe as a lancia lol

[CMG]

We've had ours more than 4 years, we still love it. Ours is a Magnum R/T, we load more stuff in it than many would believe, it's good on gas and has decent power. GREAT family vehicle.

If they bring it out again I'll be looking at it for sure. My wife LOVES it, so it better not change much!

Edited August 18, 2011 by CMG

[balthazar]

Wife & I test drove one of these back in '05- we liked it but ended up going used instead.

I esp thought it was neat how the liftgate extended so far into the roof.

[CMG]

Holden was making a "Sportswagon" a few years back, I thought North America was supposed to get it...? It looked pretty good IMO.

Dodge Magnums have quite a following, we still hit the odd "LX meet" locally, a couple dozen or more show up week after week! lol

[Camino LS6]

Holden was making several things we were supposed to get - but didn't.