The Dodge Charger has appeared in three different platforms since it was produced in 1966. The first was a pony car produced from 1966-1978, the second was a subcompact car made from 1983-1987, and the third and final version is the current sports sedan which began production in 2006. The Charger combines Hemi power with rear-wheel drive and an independent rear suspension.
The current model is powered by a choice of four different engines, but the obvious choice would be the top of the line 6.1L V8 providing 425HP and 420 lb-ft of torque. Other options include a 178HP, 190 lb-ft of torque 2.7L V6 engine, a 250HP, 250 lb-ft of torque 3.5L V6, and a 368/372HP, 391/401 lb-ft of torque 5.7L V8 engine. These engines are mated to either a 4- or 5-speed automatic transmission.
When you buy a 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 or 2012 Dodge Charger SRT-8 you definitely will not be lacking power. These suburban bruisers are powered by massive 6.4 liter Hemi V8’s that pump out a spleen crushing 470 horsepower and 470 lbs/ft of torque. Now, what is an SRT-8 owner to do if he/she wants more power? The answer up to this point has been paying big bucks and taking it to a tuner, but now this will change.
Chrysler is reportedly considering adding a top end engine option for certain SRT models. According to MotorAuthority, this new engine will be based on the current one albeit with a Eaton supercharger that will push the horsepower to between 540-570 horsepower. With this power addition, these muscle cars will be put on the road with Ferrari 458-esque power. Where do we sign?! In addition, to control the extra ponies, this new engine will supposedly be mated to a new eight speed automatic gearbox. This new engine can be implemented on those SRT models which are based on the LX platform (Sorry, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, no upgrade for you just yet). An exception may be the Dodge Challenger SRT-8 which is based on a tweaked LX platform.
This is an important step in the reemergence of the muscle car in the American market. This reemergence has ignited an automotive world war with Ford, Chevy, and Dodge, each trying to outdo themselves in terms of engineering and appeal. This new Detroit cold war has only one winner and that is the muscle car enthusiasts around the world.
The 2012 Chrysler SRT8 model line-up includes four impressive vehicles: the Dodge Challenger SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8, Chrysler 300 SRT8, and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. With all of these models sporting the same 6.4 liter HEMI V8 engine producing 470 HP and 470 lb-ft of torque, it seemed only natural that Chrysler would want to show them all off in a video doing some killer burnouts.
If you’re a fan of screeching tires and white smoke, then this video is for you. If you are more of the data type then you’d be interested to know that Chrysler’s latest HEMI V8 can be mated to either a standard Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission or a dual-disc high performance clutch, depending on the model. The range of models also deliver a decent fuel economy, with our favorite - the Challenger SRT8 - providing up to 23 miles per gallon on the highway, as well as great performance. The muscle car can do the 0-60 mph sprint in the high 4-second range and the quarter-mile in the high 12s. Top speed has been increased to more than 180 mph with the manual transmission (173 mph in the automatic).
To anybody who’s ever thought that Utah was a boring state, you may want to retract it after watching this video.
This, dear folks, is a Dodge Charger patrol car. But while most police vehicles of this stature are already more powerful than their standard variants, this particular Charger patrol car is unlike any of its brethren either. Why, you ask? Because it has an output of 900 horsepower.
In a world of don’t-ask-don’t-tell, we’ll spare the questions of why the Utah Highway Patrol has a car this powerful in the first place. What’s important to us is that this Dodge Charger is absolutely and insanely packed with ponies. And as the video will show you, it can do a pretty mean burnout, too. On top of that, it was done for the Coats for Kids charity event, which makes sense because charity benefits like this could always use a spectacle that includes a 900-horsepower burnout from, of all things, a highway patrol car.
Dodge has arrived at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show packed full of yummy offerings for our insatiable appetite. The second model to debut - after the Green With Envy Challenger - is the new 2012 Charger SRT8, and yeah, its got a HEMI. In fact, it has a 6.4L V8 HEMI that delivers a total of 465 HP and 465 lb.-ft. of torque allowing it to make the 0-60mph sprint in just four seconds with a top speed of 175mph. Sales will begin later this year.
"We’re continuing the fast-paced rebuilding of Dodge as our performance brand, and the expansion of our SRT product lineup in 2012 is an important part of our rejuvenation," said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, Dodge Brand — Chrysler Group LLCs. "The new 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 builds on the iconic four-door fastback coupe design of the all-new Charger and adds a much larger power band across the rpm range, along with intelligent performance attributes and safety and creature comforts for customers who are passionate about performance driving."
UPDATE 06/16/2011: When the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 goes on sale in the next months, it will be offered with quite an impressive list of features, including a two-mode active dampening suspension, a sport mode for the transmission, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision mitigation. Other technical goodies comprise of a remote USB port, satellite traffic, remote gas-cap release, and a black/red interior
Check out the full list after the jump.(Allpar)
Hit the jump to read more about the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8.Full story
The early 60s all the way up to the 70s was a golden age for the American automotive industry if only for the simple fact that muscle cars were growing not just in number, but in overall stature. The muscle car arms race of the that time yielded plenty of options for customers looking for more power and metal-twisting torque from these vehicles. And the models only grew in popularity as more and more people began clamoring for the biggest, baddest, and most powerful machines.
The general appeal these muscle cars offered to the growing American car culture of the time was the opportunity to own powerful cars that could be used for drag racing while also keeping costs at bay. At that time, a number of brands began developing their own models, including legendary names like the Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro, the Plymouth Barracuda, the Pontiac Trans-Am, and the Dodge Charger, to name a few.
While the golden age of American muscle was limited to parts of these two decades, the industry has enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in recent years. It’s not going to compare to the 60s or the 70s, but as proven by customer clamoring, the culture of American muscle cars is far from bearing its last legs.
To pay tribute to the time where muscle was king of the road - and the drag strip - we have compiled a list of the 10 most memorable muscle cars of the golden age.
