What Barry Bonds is to the San Francisco Giants, the Charger SRT8 is to Dodge. The addition of this vehicle to the lineup puts significant muscle behind the Dodge nameplate. Parts & People recently had the opportunity to take a lap around the bases with this sweet ride.
Many performance-wannabe cars look cool but come up short in the performance department. The 2007 Charger Street and Racing Technology (SRT) does not fall into this category, compliments of the Hemi under the hood.
The 6.1-liter V-8 Hemi produces 425 HP and 420 lb.-ft. of torque through added cubic inches (370 total), an increased compression ratio (10.3:1), and redesigned cylinder heads for increased air and exhaust flow, company officials said. The engine management system uses two platinum-tipped spark plugs per cylinder, fired by individual coils.
The end result of this technology is an under-14-second quarter-mile, five seconds from zero to 60 MPH, and 17 seconds from zero to 100.
When you hit the gas on this car, it resonates with a low rumbling sound that turned quite a few heads and disturbed the peace in quieter Denver neighborhoods.
The only down side to the tested Charger SRT8 setup was an A580 automatic transmission with an electronic manual shift mode, which is never as fun as the real thing. Stopping this large performance vehicle is a set of vented brake rotors with Brembo four-piston brake calipers. The front rotors are 360 mm x 32 mm, and the rear ones are 350 mm x 26 mm. The performance brakes are cooled through a duct system in the front fascia of the vehicle.
Under the SRT8 are several chassis enhancements that include tuned dampers, tailored spring rates and suspension bushings, and large-diameter anti-sway bars. This setup makes the SRT8 sit one-half inch lower than the regular Charger. To aid in stability, it also comes equipped with an Electronic Stability Program (ESP), probably a good idea with a vehicle of this power.
The interior of the SRT8 is decked out with suede seats with red stitching. The seats are racecar-inspired, supporting the driver during quick maneuvering. They are also very comfortable.
The SRT8 rolls in at a sticker price of just under $43,000.
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