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The Dodge Charger SRT8, with its 425
horsepower (420 lb-ft) 6.1 liter Hemi, does 0-60 in five seconds, 0-100-0
mph in the mid-16s, and 60-0 braking in about 110 feet. It uses specially
tuned dampers, spring rates, bushings, and anti-sway bars, a half-inch
lower ride height, a retuned electronic stability program, and special 20
inch wheels with Goodyear Supercar F1 three-season tires (245/45/20 in the
front, and 255/45/20 in the rear). The Charger SRT8 also has Brembo
calipers and vented rotors (360 x 32mm discs up front, with 350 x 26mm in
the rear). Styling changes include a revised front and rear fascias that
helps cool the brakes and reduce lift, a hood scoop, a spoiler, and an SRT
badge in the blacked-out grille; it's in silver, black, and red. The
interior has grippy seats, a special steering wheel trim, dark-faced
gauges, and an LED display for oil temperature or pressure and tire
pressure. The differential and axles have also been upgraded.
  
      
      
      
Auburn Hills-When
Dodge unveiled the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger into its lineup,
performance-car aficionados had a lot to celebrate. The party gets kicked
up a notch with the introduction of the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8.
With its infusion of Street and Racing Technology (SRT) DNA, the all-new
2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 provides exactly what performance enthusiasts want
in their American muscle sedan: more power, world-class ride and handling,
benchmark braking, functional and aggressive-looking exterior enhancements
and a race-inspired interior.
"The all-new Dodge Charger embodies all of the key attributes of the Dodge
brand - bold, powerful, street-smart and full of life," said Darryl
Jackson, Vice President, Dodge Marketing, Chrysler Group. "The all-new
2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 builds on the Dodge formula. It starts with a
425-horsepower 6.1-liter HEMI® engine and continues with a powerful dose
of renowned Street and Racing Technology performance for a tremendous
performance-per-dollar value story."
During the heyday of the original Dodge Charger, performance was measured
mainly in straight-line numbers. Today, SRT adds a complete approach with
the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8.
"The SRT approach to performance is multi-dimensional," said Dan Knott,
Director, Street and Racing Technology, Chrysler Group. "For example, the
2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 incorporates Brembo brakes to stop
as well as it accelerates. Its handling is world-class across a dynamic
range. Its interior is designed specifically for the performance driver.
And its performance exterior characteristics don't just look great,
they're also functional."
As an all-around performer, the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 is capable
of awe-inspiring numbers unheard-of in a muscle sedan: 0-60 mph in around
5 seconds, quarter-mile time in the 13-second range and braking distance
from 60-0 mph in approximately 110 feet. The Dodge Charger SRT8 is also
capable of accomplishing SRT's signature performance test of 0-100-0 mph
in the mid 16-second range.
Ride and Handling
Chassis improvements on the 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 include SRT-tuned
dampers, specially tailored spring rates and suspension bushings, and
large-diameter anti-sway bars. The ride height of the 2006 Dodge Charger
SRT8 is one-half inch lower than the Dodge Charger. Handling is enhanced
for performance with an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) specially tuned
for the 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8.
The all-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 rides on unique SRT-developed
five-spoke 20-inch forged aluminum wheels. Tires are high-performance
Goodyear Supercar F1 three-season tires with asymmetrical tread
(four-season tires are an available option) -- 245/45/20 in the front, and
255/45/20 in the rear.
Braking
Balanced performance demands the ability to slow and stop a vehicle in
proportion to the ability to accelerate. The braking system of the all-new
2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 provides benchmark braking performance, befitting
the Charger SRT8's extreme performance character.
All four wheels feature Brembo performance brake calipers, with the red
finish characteristic of all Dodge SRT vehicles. Each four-piston caliper
grips a vented rotor; 360 x 32mm discs up front, with 350 x 26mm in the
rear.
Exterior
Functional performance is at the heart of the SRT credo. To that end, an
all-new front fascia includes integrated ducts that help direct fresh air
to cool the brakes. The front fascia also incorporates an air dam to
reduce lift. The hood is equipped with a scoop to funnel cool air into the
engine compartment.
The rear fascia features integrated lower strakes to direct air flow and
aggressive cutouts to accommodate dual 3.5-inch exhaust tips. A dramatic
decklid spoiler set on dual stanchions increases downforce for high-speed
stability and traction.
And because SRT vehicles look as good as they perform, a unique
heritage-style SRT badge is set into the blacked-out grill. Body-colored
exterior mirrors fold inward for convenience in tight quarters.
Three exterior colors are available: Bright Silver, Brilliant Black and
Inferno Red Crystal Pearlcoat.
Interior
Race-inspired interior appointments in the 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 start
with 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 red stitching.
Other sporting touches include "carbon fiber" technical leather trim on
the steering wheel for better grip, and special finishing on the center
stack.
A 180-mph (300 kph) speedometer, tachometer and temperature gauge feature
dark faces unique to the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8. An LED display
within the gauge cluster is driver-configurable for oil temperature, oil
pressure and tire pressure readouts.
Available options on the 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 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.
Also available are SIRIUS® Satellite Radio and a UConnect™ hands-free
communications system with Bluetooth™ technology. This system recognizes
up to seven different Bluetooth-equipped cellular phones and responds to
voice commands, utilizing a microphone in the rear-view mirror and the
stereo system's speakers for hands-free conversations.
The 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 interior is offered in Dark Slate Grey/Light
Graystone.
Powertrain
Just as the very first Charger - the original 1964 "Charger by Dodge"
concept car -- sported a HEMI V-8, the all-new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8
gets its motivation from a HEMI, too. In this case, it's a big-bore, SRT-engineered
version producing 425 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque.
Several features of the new 6.1-liter SRT HEMI recall the legendary HEMI
engines of previous decades, including the namesake hemispherical
combustion chambers that provide power and efficiency, orange-painted
cylinder block, black valve covers, and even the horsepower rating (with
less displacement, the 6.1-liter 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 unleashed 85 more horsepower by adding more cubic inches, increasing
the compression ratio, redesigning the cylinder head, intake and exhaust
systems for increased flow, and increasing engine speed.
For more displacement, SRT engineers bored out the diameter of the
cylinders in the HEMI by 3.5 millimeters each in order to increase the
total displacement to 6.1 liters from 5.7 liters.
Compression ratio was also increased to 10.3:1 from 9.6:1, increasing
engine efficiency and power.
Engine breathing was increased with new higher-flow cylinder heads, a
specially designed intake manifold, and exhaust headers with individual
tubes encased in a stainless steel shell, all unique to the 6.1-liter HEMI
engine. Larger-diameter valves and reshaped ports in the heads allow for
maximized air flow. The intake manifold was designed with larger-diameter
and shorter runners for higher-speed tuning. Exhaust is routed through a
large-diameter (2.75-inch vs. 2.5-inch) exhaust system with 3.5-inch
chrome tips.
To further increase horsepower, performance-oriented camshaft profiles
were developed to allow more air in and out of the cylinders, as well as
manage a higher engine speed. SRT engineers increased HEMI's peak power
output engine speed nearly 20 percent to 6,000 revolutions per minute
(rpm) from 5,000 rpm. Intake and exhaust valve stems are hollow, and
exhaust valve stems are filled with sodium to help dissipate heat more
efficiently.
The high-performance SRT 6.1-liter HEMI is strengthened with 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.
Power for the SRT 6.1-liter HEMI is channeled through an A580 five-speed
automatic transmission with specially calibrated driver-selectable
AutoStick®, which offers fully automatic or manual shifting selection. A
heavy-duty four-flange prop shaft sends the torque from the transmission
to an upgraded differential and axles.
Safety and Security Features
Following are safety and security features in the 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8:
· Advanced Multi-stage Air Bag System: This system inflates with a force
appropriate to the severity of the impact. It includes the occupant
classification system (OCS)
· Anti-lock Brake System: Electronic sensors help prevent wheel lockup.
The ABS system offers improved steering control under extreme braking
and/or slippery conditions
· Electronic Stability Program (ESP): This feature aids the driver in
maintaining vehicle directional stability, providing oversteer and
understeer control to maintain vehicle behavior on various road surfaces
· Energy-absorbing Steering Column: Manual-adjust telescoping 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): The OCS measures the conditions
for activation or deactivation of the passenger-side front air bag based
upon the weight of the occupant
The 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 will be assembled at Brampton Assembly Plant
in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
With a U.S. market share of approximately seven percent, Dodge is Chrysler
Group's best-selling brand and the fifth-largest nameplate in the U.S.
automotive market. In 2004, Dodge sold more than 1.4 million vehicles.
Dodge continues to lead the minivan market segment with a 20 percent U.S.
market share and maintains an 18 percent share of the highly competitive
truck market. In 2006, Dodge also will enter key European volume segments.
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