Dodge Offers Unique Muscle Car Lease

AUBURN HILLS (WWJ) - As Chrysler prepares to introduce all new versions of its Dodge Charger and Challenger, the company is offering an interesting deal on leftover 2014 models.

People can take out a one year lease on a 2014 Charger or Challenger, then move into a three-year lease on the 2015 version, with the same payment.

"It allows us to show the car earlier, get the car out in the marketplace, get some excitement about the new car that's coming, and not worry that we're going to upset any customers, because they can't buy them right now," said Dodge brand CEO Tim Kuniskis.

The new versions of the two muscle cars will be revealed this week at the New York Auto Show, and go into dealerships later this year.

One year leases are very unusual, because they tend to hurt new cars residual value by flooding the market with fairly new used vehicles.

Kuniskis says they've found a way to get around that problem.

"We've made a deal with one of our partners, Enterprise Rent A Car, that all of the off lease vehicles will go to Enterprise," he said. "That keeps the vehicles out of the auction, and allows us to offer a very attractive payment for our customers on the first car and the second car."

There are a few exceptions, involving unique trims of the Challenger and Charger, and there are other options that allow people to shift from lease to purchase, or shift from one vehicle to another.

The Charger and Challenger have remained strong performers. 2013 was the Challenger's best sales year ever, and the Chargers best year since 2007.

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