Dodge will revive the ‘Super Bee' nameplate with a 2007 limited-edition of the Dodge Charger SRT-8. Inspired by the famous muscle-cars of the 60s-70s, the new Charger Super Bee will offer the SRT-8 performance covered in "Detonator Yellow" with black accents.

2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee
  • Engine/Motor: 90-Degree Cast Iron Hemi V8
  • Horsepower: 425 @ 6200
  • Torque: 420 @ 4800
  • Transmission: 5-Speed Automatic

A name familiar to many automotive enthusiasts is again part of the Dodge performance lineup with the return of the Super Bee nameplate for the 2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8.

 

As George Murphy, Senior Vice President – Global Brand Marketing at Chrysler Group stated, "the Dodge Charger embodies modern American muscle, and at the same time, carries on a great performance heritage. It was only natural to give a nod to that heritage with the re-introduction of a famous Dodge performance nameplate.”

 

The 2007 Super Bee is the first special edition of the Dodge Charger from the Street and Racing Technology (SRT) division of Chrysler Group. Special features are an exterior painted in "Detonator Yellow" with black hood and deck-lid face, ‘Super Bee’ logos on front and rear fenders, and contrasting yellow stitching on the seats, steering wheel and shift knob.

 

The Super Bee will get the same power unit as the regular SRT-8s,  the high performance HEMI V-8 producing 425 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. This new engine is the new standard in HEMI performance, with 85 additional horsepower — 25 percent more than the previous 347 cui HEMI.

 

Among the SRT “goodies” offered for the Super Bee we can count the performance-oriented styling, sharp ride and handling, the race-inspired interior and the high performance braking system. All that put together make the 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee capable of reaching 60 mph from a stand still in the 5 seconds, 0-100-0 in under 17 seconds and 60-0 mph braking in approximately 110 feet.

 

The legendary ‘Super Bee’ badge made its debut in 1968 within the Dodge Coronet line, as a response to Plymouth’s Road Runner. It got to be offered  as a Dodge Charger only in its last model year, 1971. Restored examples can be bought today between $80,000 – $100,000.

 

As the latest edition in American muscle sedan, the 2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee will be available in dealerships this fall. Pricing has not yet been announced.

 
 

Super Bee History

 

The original Dodge Super Bee was based on the ‘68 Coronet models. It was produced as a coupe only from 1968 through 1970 and was the company's low-priced muscle car, at $3,027. The decision of building such a model was due to the success registered by the Plymouth Road Runner. The 1968 model came as a 2-door coupe only and had 2 engine options, the base 335 bhp 383 cui Magnum, and the 426 cui HEMI rated at 425 bhp. The Hemi engine raised the price by 33% and because of that only 125 were sold.

 

The Super Bee additions were a heavy-duty suspension, optional Mopar A-833 four-speed manual transmission, and performance tires. Exterior design was individualized by the black stripe (with the bee logo) wrapped around the tail.

 

The 1969 model lineup added a hardtop version to the existing pillared coupe body. Another upgrade was the induction of the "Ramcharger" cold-air intake. The engine offer was extended with a three two-barrel carburetors version of Dodge's 440 cui engine.This new unit was ment to fit between the standard engine and the HEMI as a $463 option. The 440 cui Magnum (4bbl) was not available as it was reserved for the Coronet R/T.

 

In 1970 the Dodge Super Bee was given a face-lift, consisting of a new front end with a dual oval grill that Dodge PR called "bumble bee wings". Unfortunately this new look disappointed many buyers and the sales plummeted for the year. Despite the new styling the power units as well as the "Ramcharger" hood carried over from 1969.

 

Because the 1971 Dodge Coronet was only available in sedan and station wagon bodies, the Super Bee model was moved to the Charger platform. Since the Charger had already a muscle car version, the R/T, Dodge had to slot in the Super Bee as a low-priced entry. in the line. 4,144 units of the cheap $3,271 were produced, plus 22 with the Hemi engine.

1971 was the first and only year that offered a small block engine (340 4-bbl) for the Super Bee. 26 units are known to have been built.

 

Body & chassis

 

The new Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee follows the SRT credo that functional performance is at the heart of high performance. To that end, exterior design was created to first serve function and afterwards looks. The front bumper integrates air ducts that feed direct fresh air to cool the brakes. In the lower side the bumper incorporates an air dam to reduce lift. The hood a scoop mounted on to in order to funnel cool air into the engine compartment.

 

The rear design includes integrated lower strakes that direct airflow and, also aggressive cutouts for the dual 3.5-inch exhaust tips. A mid-sized wing set on dual stanchions further increases down-force for high-speed stability and traction. Black paint accents and the ‘Super Bee’ logos on the rear wings.

 

All the Street and Racing Technology add-ons are advertised with a unique heritage-style SRT badge set into the blacked-out grill. Body-colored exterior mirrors fold inward for convenience in tight quarters.

 

Vehicle Dimensions

 
weight             4168 lbs
wheelbase       120.0 in
front track      63.0 in
rear track       63.1 in
length 200.1 in
width  74.4 in
height 58.2 in
 

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Engine & transmission

 

Just as offered on the most best Super Bees of the ‘70s, the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee features a HEMI, too. In this case, it’s a modern SRT-engineered version producing 425 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque.

 

There are several features of the new 372 cui HEMI that recall the legendary HEMI engines of previous decades:

  • the hemispherical combustion chambers that provide power and efficiency
  • the orange-painted cylinder block
  • the black valve covers
  • the horsepower rating (with less displacement, the 372 cui HEMI’s 69.8 horsepower-per-liter rating exceeds that of the legendary Street HEMI of the 1960s and ‘70s).
 

To create the 6.1-liter version of the Chrysler Group’s HEMI, SRT powertrain engineers applied tried-and-true engine-building tricks honed by generations of American hot-rodders.

 

They 85 more horsepower to the other Chrysler HEMIs was achieved by the SRT specialists that made use of traditional hot-rod engine tweaking tricks. They added more cubic inches, increased the compression ratio, redesigned the cylinder head, intake and exhaust systems for increased flow, and increasing engine speed.

 

The displacement was increased by boring out the diameter of the cylinders in the HEMI by 3.5 millimeters. The compression ratio was also increased from 9.6:1 to 10.3:1, with impact on engine efficiency and power.

 

Other unique elements were fitted for increased engine breathing, such as higher-flow cylinder heads, a specially designed intake manifold, and exhaust headers with individual tubes encased in a stainless steel shell. Larger-diameter valves and reshaped ports in the heads allow for maximized air flow. Larger-diameter and shorter runners were used for the intake manifold to allow higher-speed tuning. The exhaust is routed through a 2.75-inch large-diameter exhaust system with 3.5-inch chrome tips.

 

Specially for the SRT-8 power unit were developed performance-oriented camshaft profiles that further increase horsepower and allow more air in and out of the cylinders, as well as manage a higher engine speed. The peak power output engine rpm was increases with nearly 20 percent to 6,000 rpm from 5,000 rpm. Other interesting additions to this engine are the hollow intake valve stems and the exhaust valve stems filled with sodium to help dissipate heat more efficiently.

 

The power increment is sustained by strengthened and redesigned components, including a reinforced engine block, forged steel crankshaft, high-strength powdered-metal connecting rods, floating-pin pistons (cooled by oil squirters), and an oil pan modified to manage oil return to the pan sump at high engine speeds.

 

All that power for is directed to the wheels via an A580 five-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick, which offers fully automatic or manual shifting selection. The gearbox further transfers the torque to rear differential by means of a heavy-duty four-flange propeller shaft.

 

Specs

 
engine             90-Degree Cast Iron Hemi V8
position           Front Longitudinal
aspiration        Natrual
valvetrain       OHV, 2 Valves per Cyl
fuel feed          Sequential Fuel Injection
displacement 372.2 cu in
bore     4.06 in
stroke             3.58 in
compression  10.3:1
power 425 bhp @ 6200 rpm
hp per litre      83.84 bhp per litre
bhp/weight      224.75 bhp per weight
torque             420 ft lbs @ 4800 rpm
drive wheels  RWD
body / frame  Unit Steel
transmission  W5A580 5-Speed Automatic
gear ratios      3.58:1, 2.19:1, 1.41:1, 1.00:1, 0.83:1
top speed        165 mph
0 - 60 mph       5.0 seconds
0 - 100 mph     11.6 seconds
0 - 1/4 mile      13.0 seconds
epa city/hwy    15 mpg
 

Suspension

 

Front  SLA, Upper A-Arms Coil-Over Springs, Shock Absorbers, Stabilizer Bar

Rear    5-Link Mulit-Link, Upper A-Arms Coil-Over Springs, Shock Absorbers, Stabilizer Bar

 

Brakes

 

High performance demands the ability to slow and stop a vehicle in proportion to the ability to accelerate. In order to achieve that the Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee features Brembo performance brake calipers for all four wheels, with the red finish characteristic of all Dodge SRT vehicles. Each four-piston caliper grips a vented rotor.

 

Front brakes  14.2 in Vented Discs, Brembo 4-Piston Calipers, ABS,

Rear brakes  13.8 in Vented Discs, Brembo 4-Piston Calipers, ABS

 

Steering

 
Sport tuned Rack & Pinion with Hydraulic Power Assist
 

Tires & wheels

 

The all-new Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee rides on unique SRT-developed five-spoke 20-inch forged aluminum wheels with chrome finish. Tires are high-performance Goodyear Supercar F1 three-season with asymmetrical tread.

 
Front  20.0 x 9 in with P245/45R20
Rear    20 x 9 in with P255/45R20
 
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Interior

 

The race-inspired interior of the Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee offers power-adjustable, deeply sculpted and highly bolstered sport seats in the front fitted with performance suede inserts to hold occupants during maneuvering. Rear seats have matching performance suede inserts. All seats have contrasting yellow stitching.

 

Other Super Bee touches include “carbon fiber” technical leather trim with yellow stitching on the steering wheel and shift knob.

 

The dash includes a 180-mph speedometer, a tachometer and a temperature gauge unique to the all-new 2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee. An LED display within the gauge cluster is driver-configurable for oil temperature, oil pressure and tire pressure readouts.

 

Other options include power sunroof, Kicker audio system with six-disc CD changer, DVD-based Navigation system with turn-by directions and voice prompts, automatic temperature control, heated front seats and side air bags.

 
 

Safety

 

Even though the 2007 Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee is a performance-oriented vehicle, the safety and security features have not been ignored, therefore the car features:

 
  • Advanced Multi-stage Air Bag System (that inflates with a force appropriate to the severity of the impact)
  • Anti-lock Brake System (ABS system offers improved steering control under extreme braking and/or slippery conditions)
  • Electronic Stability Program (ESP aids the driver in maintaining vehicle directional stability, providing over-steer and under-steer control to maintain vehicle behavior on various road surface).
  • Energy-absorbing Steering Column (includes two hydroformed coaxial tubes that move relative to each other, which allows the column to move forward and provide more energy absorption during an impact)
  • Occupant Classification System (OCS measures the conditions for activation or deactivation of the passenger-side front air bag based upon the weight of the occupant)
 

TopSpeed artists Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee tuning recommendation

 

It’s possible to add even more muscle to a champion body-builder such as the Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee? Well, let’s give it a try! The engine hood was already black, but we had it replaced with one that looks like that unpainted, because it is made of carbon fiber. Same for the roof and now have lowered a bit the center of gravity. As for aerodynamics, we mounted a more aggressive front spoiler that beautifully exposes the radiator and incorporates fog lamps. Speaking of lamps, we gave a tint that matches the body color to all of them. We painted in black the front Dodge grid and the middle part of the front bumper, to give a more aggressive look to the car. Also black are now the side skirts, the mirrors and the rear wing. Charger’s wheels are already pretty impressive in size, so we didn’t increase them a lot, but still had them replaced with some high-performance TechArt 22” five-spokes. The tail is surrounded by the traditional black stripe with the ‘Super Bee’ logo. Since the stock Super Bee will be available for sale in late fall, consider our tuning option the Christmas gift to ask Santa for.