2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

When the all-new Dodge Charger was announced last October, there was one thing absent from the range: a high performance SRT version.



That omission has now been remedied with unveiling of the Charger SRT8 at the Chicago Auto Show, which opens to the public on 11 February.

As expected, power comes from a Hemi V8, although capacity has been enlarged to 6.4 litres (392 cubic inches) allowing it to now produce 465 bhp (346 kW / 471 PS). Torque has risen too, with 630 Nm (465 lb/ft) available.



Consequently, Dodge estimates that the Charger SRT8 should be good for a sub-five second 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time and a 175 mph (281 km/h) top speed.



The engine is hooked up to a W5A580 five-speed automatic gearbox which, for the first time on an SRT vehicle, comes with paddle shifters. For those not keen on such innovations, the good news is that a floor-mounted gear stick remains.

Although no fuel consumption figures have been released, Dodge is keen to emphasise the mileage-enhancing features of the Charger SRT8. The most significant is a four-cylinder running mode for the engine, which will now be able to operate over a wider rev range thanks to an active valve exhaust system.



To help deal with the increased power an adaptive damping system is fitted, but this can be manually overridden by switching between ‘Auto’ and ‘Sport’ modes. The steering has also been beefed up and recalibrated to give a more direct feel.

Styling-wise, the Charger SRT8 is said to be ‘aggressive’ - a description that few would argue with given that reworked front grille and bonnet. Other unique features include new front and rear bumper valances, a larger rear spoiler, side skirts and 20” polished aluminium alloy wheels.



On the inside, the front seats - which are both heated and ventilated - have perforated suede inserts and more substantial side bolstering to keep their occupants in place. An 8.4” touch screen dominates the dashboard and, for the SRT8, it can display ‘Performance Pages’. These bring up data items such as g-force, quarter-mile time, 0-60 mph time, braking performance and various engine parameters.



The 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 is due to go on sale in North America during autumn 2011.



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