Is it us, or are they getting crowded in here?

With a possible GM+Cerberus love affair there may be too many cooks in this kitchen. Let’s face it, you already have Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep dealerships struggling to sell another Dodge Ram or PT Cruiser thanks to their less than 30 MPG ratings. Wouldn’t it make life a little difficult to browse the lot of your local Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Chevy-HUMMER-GMC-Buick-Pontiac-Caddy and possibly Saab & Saturn dealer? If nothing else, it’s a search engine marketing nightmare for your internet manager!

Ok, so all those makes and models on one lot are not a realistic scenario, more likely someone will get cut.

Luckily, Dodge has the nostalgia coin in their pocket. With revived interest in models like the Challenger a little bit of old school muscle car fandom might be one plus, which will keep Dodge afloat during a trying financial crisis and a possible hostile takeover. With Wall Street’s latest huge dip, merger discussions have been put on hold…for now.

“Pricing for the SMS 570 Challenger is expected to begin in the mid- to high-$50,000 range, company spokesman Axel Catton said.” from AutoWeek.com

There are already many (and we mean many) pre-orders for the new Dodge Challenger. Those are cute and all, but how about a SMS 570TM Challenger or SMS 570XTM Challenger – meaning you could own a street legal SMS Supercharged 5.7L Hemi Challenger with 500 to over 700 horsepower!

Take a look at the press release below from Saleen, and be amazed how they stray from their Ford production history over to Dodge:

Steve Saleen and his new company SMS are pleased to introduce the first product in his line of Signature Series ultra-high performance vehicles, the SMS 570TM Challenger and SMS 570XTM Challenger.

As a professional racecar driver and innovative businessman, Mr. Saleen is well known as the founder of a number of Steve Saleen brands including Saleen Autosport, Saleen Productions, Saleen Speedlab, Saleen Performance, Saleen, Inc. and now SMS. In the years of building the many brands, Mr. Saleen oversaw and participated in every aspect of the business, in product development, sales and marketing. Mr. Saleen’s latest endeavor will focus on the expansion into the high-end of the diverse American Muscle Car markets.

The fully certified and street legal SMS 570TM Challenger and SMS 570XTM Challenger will be based on the all-new and exciting 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T platform and will feature a SMS Supercharged 5.7L Hemi with respective power ratings from 500 to over 700 horsepower! Both models are fully equipped with a compliment of SMS ultra-high performance components including: drivetrain, suspension, aerodynamics, tires, wheels and interior…

…Each of these limited edition vehicles will be personally signed by Steve Saleen as part of the SMS Signature Series product line complete with unique badges and graphics. Production numbers will be limited per year depending on the model, and the opportunity to be one of the few owners is limited to a first-come, first-served basis, so prospective customers need to act now as production is commencing in the fourth quarter of 2008.

One fully-loaded Dodge Durango is a pretty sweet prom night memory to take home, but reading a little closer at the article it seems this Durango is part of the “over $10,000 in prizes” – so we’re guessing the lucky senior won’t be driving home a 2009 Hybrid.

3. Muscle – Flex It

Car enthusiasts love the roar of a powerful engine, and you can’t deny that drivers want to go as fast as possible; we all have places to go and less time to get there (or so we believe). Now well into the 21st century, the industry bares witness to a nostalgic peak in car purchasing. Ford’s new Mustang GT and Bullett models are eye catching and perform well on the road, as well as with buyers. Dodge, which resurrected the Charger a few years back, now steps into the nostalgia design ring with an all new Challenger. And what does Dodge’s Challenger bring under the hood to back up their record pre-sale requests? How about a 6.1-liter V8 SRT HEMI for starters.

Green muscle cars? It may sound like an “oxy-moron” – However, With the Chevy Volt and Dodge Zeo concepts stirring up auto industry experts you may soon be able to reach 65 mph in under 4 seconds, while saving Mother Earth. If nothing else, powerful electric vehicles will keep your ear drums from popping down at the drag strip. They sure do look different…And speaking of looks…

2. Design – Flaunt it

Again, nostalgia is key in today’s high end car market. Drivers want the safety of a space age vehicle with the looks of a 1960’s classic. Dodge is already on it’s way to claiming the classic car lovers’ hearts with the 2009 Challenger. Looking more like The General Lee than the new Charger, Challenger has already fascinated Auto Show audiences across the globe. Fresh looks and new ideas will always help keep you ahead of the pact.

1. International Growth

When you can sell in North America, why not give the UK a try! Chrysler recently expanded their Dodge Jeep Chrysler products to overseas markets, in an effort to take a larger chunk of UK change and to spread the word (world wide) that Dodge is a name you can trust. Just last month, Chrysler UK moved forward with a plan to merge their three-brand dealerships and give English car lovers a shot at owning a reliable and recognizable American made automobile.

Dodge’s network will be seasonal, offering up standings, scores, highlights and analysis through the season finale. It will most likely be one of the more popular channels with the upcoming playoffs, and is sure to help boost awareness of Hockey across the continent. NHL radio via XM Satellite will simulcast games with online channels.

According to an NHL press release “With the roll out of the [Dodge] Journey–a crossover SUV–geared toward consumers ages 18 to 34, Dodge plans to tell the story of the 16 unique teams and how they went from contender to qualifier in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, focusing on efficiency. So, the channel’s video vignettes highlight the SUV’s space and fuel efficiencies.”

NHL officials hope to create a viral marketing network across the Web as fans embed clips on Bebo, Facebook, MySpace, and other social network sites, thereby eliminating the game’s lessening interest.