Dig this: The 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 is a hoodlum, a menace, a bully and a thug. That’s JUST the way we LIKE it! I mean, come on people – this thing is badass! If you aren’t hip – click over a few pages and get your groove on with a Chevy Malibu.
Let me put it another way. 465 horsepower fed by a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 that tears at asphalt with 465 pound-feet of torque is nothing to sneeze at. The old one put out 425 hp. Sadly, Dodge will not provide a manual transmission for the Charger SRT8. I know, I know – only a low percentage of buyers are man enough to shift their own gears. Still, Dodge’s anachronistic five-speed automatic transmission should do a fine job for now.
According to Dodge, the cylinder deactivation system has been revised to provide a longer duration run in four-cylinder mode. For the uninitiated, this system knocks out four of the eight cylinders when big power is not required – like in highway cruising. This means better mileage.
At about two tons, the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 weighs as much as some trucks. Still, from my last experience with this model’s predecessors, these cars are very tossable. The new, revised suspension and steering should place the Dodge Charger SRT8 near the top of the four-door performance car heap.
Right on!
Oh, and a nifty addition to the lengthy list of improvements is a top speed of 175 mph. That’s damn impressive for ANY factory built car. Remember this: the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 is a car that can easily be driven daily. It’s not a sports car that will rattle your molars out of your face on city streets. Many German cars are limited to around 150 mph. So, that top speed is mind boggling.
The last SRT8 I drove was in Southern California on a track. After driving about a half dozen Chrysler and Dodge SRT8s, I know that these machines are major performance bargains. They are fast, yet forgiving while being a breeze to drive. Think about it this way, for about the same price, you could drive a (yawn) mid-level luxury sedan.
Exterior changes are just enough to set the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 apart from the Dodge Charger R/T, most notably, the new hood that helps with heat extraction and down-force. The blackened-out grill and bumper are cool-looking too; however, they smack of Mitsubishi Evo – which is not a terrible crime. The best part for me is the tail with the macho spoiler and bazooka exhaust pipes. This will be the view many should get used to seeing.
The interior is improved with Chrysler Group LLC’s impressive “soft touch” cabin treatment. This means, the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8’s interior materials will be competitive with German sport sedans costing nearly twice as much. It also means that it will be spacious, comfortable and perfect for families.
Prices have yet to be released, but we expect them to start in the high 30s and realistically land in the low to mid $40,000 range.
Hmmm, a slick looking 465 hp performance sedan for that much?
Now, crank up the Isaac Hayes ‘cause I’ll tell you right now; the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 is one baaaad mother – (“Shut your mouth!”) – – I’m talking ‘bout the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 (“Then we can dig it!”). Yea.
Can you dig it?
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