Ralph Gilles, SRT
brand president and CEO, calls the Dodge Charger SRT8 the extrovert of the 2012
SRT8 class--and with good reason. The aggressive SRT exterior treatment
includes a gloss black grille, sculpted hood with black air exhauster, rear
spoiler and dual four-inch exhaust tips make the car look menacing.
But with any SRT
vehicles, it begins with the engine. A new 6.4-liter Hemi V8 powers the
menacing sedan, replacing the previous 6.1-liter Hemi V8. With a total of
470-hp and 470 lb-ft of torque on tap, it provides and additional 45 hp and 50
lb-ft of torque over the old powerplant. Power is up, but fuel efficiency also
improves with a new active valve exhaust system (as found all 2012 SRT8 models)
to allow the Hemi to operate in four-cylinder mode over a wider rpm range.
Bolted to the V8 is the tried and true five-speed automatic with manual shift
function.
On the suspension
front, 2012 marks the additional of a new adaptive damping suspension offering
two modes: auto and sport. Auto monitors speed, steering angle, brake torque,
throttle and acceleration and adjusts damping accordingly, while sport locks in
a stiffer, track-ready setup.
SRT partner, Brembo,
provides four-pot brakes at all corners, with the entire package riding on
20-inch, split five-spoke forged wheels with black painted pockets.
Touches in the cabin
included the leather-wrapped, flat-bottom SRT steering wheel with paddle
shifters, aluminum interior trim and heavily bolstered SRT front bucket seats.
An updated Performance Pages readout can be seen on the standard 8.4-inch color
touchscreen, which has been upgraded to include steering angle, horsepower and
torque outputs and various gauges.
While the Charger
SRT8's suspension tuning isn't as aggressive as the Challenger's, it still
helped the Charger blaze around California's Willow Springs Raceway with little
trouble. In corners, the car stays natural and easily sticks to your desired
line and is never a handful. As in the 300 SRT8, with sport mode engaged, the
traction aids allow for a good amount of slip before cutting in to kill the
party. There's very little roll to speak of in turns, and the Hemi V8 brings
plenty of power. Upshifts from the five-speed autobox were quick while using
the paddles, but again, the transmission suffers from harsh downshifts without
rev matching capabilities. Steering weight is also on the light side. As
expected, the Brembo brakes were up to task, easily slowed things down and were
good throughout the hot day.
On the road, the
Charger SRT8 is quiet and rolls down the ride comfortably. Even in sport mode,
the suspension isn't overly harsh with only bigger road hazards able to jolt
occupants. In auto, it's even more comfortable.
If you like standout styling and horsepower (and who doesn't?) then yes, the Charger should be your SRT8 of choice. The variable damping suspension opens the SRT8 vehicles up to a broader audience, while keeping the hardcore enthusiast happy. The new Hemi V8 still sounds the part under wide-open throttle, but is quiet and docile when you're idling around town.
Now if SRT figures
out a way to add rev matching to the transmission and tune in a little more
weight into the steering, it would really have a winner on its hands.
2012
Dodge Charger SRT8
Base Price: $48,000
(est)
Drivetrain:
6.4-liter 470-hp, 470 lb-ft V8; five-speed automatic
Curb Weight: 4,365
lb
0-60 mph: 4.8 sec
(est)
Fuel Economy (EPA):
16 mpg (est)
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