I just got back from another round of cyber car shopping, which is the only way I can afford to shop for cars right now, and there's something I think you should know about. The Dodge division of DaimlerChrysler AG (NYSE:DCX) has pulled out all the stops for 2007. When I got a look at the 2007 Dodge Challenger, I just about fell off my chair. It seems that the design crew over there got the message that I want to see some retro car designs. Well friends, they sure did it in top shelf style!

The 2007 Dodge Challenger is a high temp, true-to-style muscle car. This puppy IS your daddy's Mopar. Fully streamlined to meet today's air flow standards, the designers took the classic "E-line" highback rear quarter and blended it forward through to the recessed grille flanked by quad round headlights. Oh baby, round headlights, I must be in heaven! Then, as if that wasn't enough, they nicely added dual ram air ports on the hood. I can only hope that those hoodscoops are functional and that they'll make it onto the final production models.

Now, understand that the pictures Dodge gives you of the Challenger on their website are of the concept car. But if history serves as pattern, the production model, which was just green-lighted for production, will be close to the concept model. I keep flipping back to those pictures as I am writing this piece. Honestly people, this car is a treat for the eyes.

Flanked by such quality offerings as Stratus, Charger, Nitro and Ram, the Challenger will fill a sweet spot in Dodge's current lineup. I was unable to ascertain the exact price range but I'll guess that Challenger is going to slip into the $30,000 range. That's only a guess, and I'm hoping it's a bit high.

All the big analysts are saying that American car manufacturers are out of the running when it comes to market share. I don't see it that way. Yes, times are tough in the auto industry here in the states but it's not because of a lack of quality, innovation or design. If we don't want to see further degradation in the American auto industry and its labor force, it's going to come down to one simple issue. To be blunt, the labor unions had better get their heads out of their, umm, tailpipes and return profitability to the domestic auto manufacturers or frankly, those unions will soon be on the outside looking in and their rank and file members will be wondering what happened.

But that's just my opinion.