In today’s power hungry auto world, performance is a necessity for those who want instant credit at the light or on the track. Can you take me off the line, or will you blow by after your pistons crank? However you interpret performance, make sure the other guy or gal sees eye to eye. Total horsepower and weight distribution must be in proportion to convey fanatical numbers while a finely tuned suspension will help your muscle car break away from that age old adage of “straight line” performance only. I still remember that explosive afternoon when the rubber needed to be changed on our 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8; without hesitation we burned them off slowly using the power of the new 6.4-liter HEMI V8 and its 470 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. BBQ anyone?
To aptly fit suit, Chrysler has officially elevated its in-house performance division – Street and Racing Technology (SRT) – to a separate entity that promises to maintain its successful formula to design, engineering and benchmarking American high-performance vehicles for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge. The launch of SRT as the company’s performance brand comes as three additional vehicles have joined the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 in the expanding SRT lineup. Making their returns to the roster are the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8, 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 and 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. All four new SRT vehicles share a common power source – the new 6.4-liter (392 cubic-inch) HEMI V-8 engine that features more horsepower and more torque across a significantly wider rpm range, while intake and exhaust technologies lead to improved fuel efficiency. My favorite of course is the Cherokee SRT8, which allows the brawny SUV to rip circuits like NASCARs. And with the largest brakes the company has ever built, best believe it puts a halt to all that rapidity just as quickly as it got started.
See you on the black top!
This article has not been altered by Chrysler.
