Fully Charged
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=107369 For video
By
Karl Brauer
Date posted: 09-26-2005
Driving the new 2006 Dodge Charger SRT-8 you find yourself thinking, "Sure it's fast, remarkably nimble and capable of stopping from 60 mph in 120 feet, but the average wife will never go for it. She'll only harp about the harsh ride and cringe as the exhaust system makes its Hemi-powered belch every time the tach swings past 4,000 rpm."
Most automotive enthusiasts would like to see this new Charger earn the sort of widespread appeal that the 1968-1969 models did. Those cars were good enough for Frank Bullitt, Dirty Mary
and Crazy Larry, plus a couple of good ol' boys from Hazzard County sporting a rebel flag and the words "General Lee" painted on the roof. But what sort of self-respecting better half is going to sign off on this 425-horsepower beast?
Today's Muscle Car
That's an important question, because the new Dodge Charger now sports four doors, a roomy backseat and a large trunk (16.2 cubic feet), so it's obviously meant to appeal to more than just the testosterone-charged youth Dodge was targeting back in the late 1960s. Those guys are all grown up now, and many of them have to answer to that aforementioned wife. To our eyes, injecting this vehicle with a louder, more powerful 6.1-liter Hemi V8, not to mention a stiffer suspension, aggressively bolstered front seats and large "SRT" emblems on the grille, trunk lid and head restraints seems a bit contradictory.
But after spending a week with the Charger SRT-8 we can assure you it has mastered the art of the 21st-century muscle car. It's got a fully independent four-wheel suspension, and Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team has upgraded items like the front and rear sway bars, as well as the bushings and the spring rates, to better deliver on the car's promise of high-performance handling.
Dodge claims to have tweaked the settings of the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) as well, but we found it to be overly intrusive in "on" mode, and still bothersome in "off" mode. This was particularly annoying because the big car often wanted to go faster around corners than the system would let it, but it didn't stop us from ripping through the slalom at 64.5 mph (faster than the new
Mazda MX-5 Miata and Pontiac Solstice).
Parts That Equal a Whole Shot
SRT also added a variety of exterior upgrades that, according to the group's director, Dan Knott, "…don't just look great, they're also functional." The most obvious exterior changes are a set of five-spoke, 20-inch aluminum wheels wearing Goodyear Supercar F1 tires (245/45s in front, 255/45s in back).
Peer through those five spokes and you can't miss the massive 14.1-inch front rotors (13.7 inches in back) grabbed by red four-piston Brembo calipers. These hauled the 4,200-pound Charger SRT-8 down from 60 mph in a confident 120 feet while displaying no fade after three repeated panic stops. With a front fascia directing air to those brakes it would appear Mr. Knott's "functional" comment rings true. There's also a functional hood scoop that brings cold air into the engine compartment — plus it looks cool.
But the most important upgrade remains the Hemi engine under that scoop. Bumping the standard Hemi V8's horsepower from 340 to 425 meant bumping displacement from 5.7 to 6.1 liters through a bore increase of 3.5 millimeters. The SRT boys also upped the compression ratio from 9.6-to-1 to 10.3-to-1 while adding high-flow cylinder heads and a more aggressive camshaft. Exhaust pipe diameter also increased from 2.5 inches to 2.8 inches.
The 425-hp V8 hooks to a five-speed automatic transmission with a manual-shift mode. It also uses a sturdier prop shaft, beefier rear differential and stronger axles, making it identical to the drivetrain used in the
Chrysler 300C SRT-8 we tested
last year. That car pulled a 5.7-second 0-to-60 time and ran through the quarter-mile in 14.1 seconds at 105 mph. Putting the Charger through similar testing netted a 5.4 0-to-60 time while taking 13.5 seconds to clear the quarter-mile at 105 mph. With curb weight, tire size and gearing the same in both models we can only conclude that the Charger's cold-air induction is really working. Well, that and the usual variances between test vehicles and testing conditions.
Not Just for Boys
What hasn't wavered is our enthusiasm for SRT products that live up to the division's goal of being top-performance offerings in their segment. With a mid-5-second 0-to-60 time, not to mention braking and handling characteristics that would embarrass many European performance sedans that cost thousands more, the 2006 Dodge Charger SRT-8 is a modern muscle car marvel.
And despite its somewhat choppy ride quality and baritone exhaust warble, it still passed the most important test: the wife liked it. Actually, she really liked it. "It's the first modern car to remind me of your 1970 Plymouth GTX," she beamed enthusiastically. "And while it's more refined than that car it still has plenty of attitude — and it's really fast. Can we get one?"
Looks like Dodge has figured out the secret formula.
Specs & Performance
Vehicle
[size=1]Top[/size] 
Model Year:2006
Make:Dodge
Model:Charger
Style:SRT-8
Base Price:$35,320
Price as Tested:$43,805
Drive Type:RWD
Transmission Type:5-speed shiftable automatic
Displacement (liters):6.1
Engine Type:V8
Horsepower (hp @ rpm):425@6000
Torque (ft-lbs @ rpm):420@4800
Braking System:4-wheel Brembo disc w/ ABS
Steering System:Power rack and pinion
Suspension Type (front):Independent w/ stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear):Independent w/ stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front):245/45ZR20
Tire Size (rear):245/45ZR20
Tire Brand:Goodyear
Tire Model:Eagle F1
Curb Weight (lbs):4,160
Recommended Fuel:91
Fuel Tank Capacity (gal):19
EPA Fuel Economy (mpg):14 City 20 Highway
Edmunds Observed (mpg):N/A
Conditions for Testing
[size=1]Top[/size] Temperature (Fahrenheit):72
Humidity:Not Tested
Elevation (ft):180
Wind:1 mph East
Performance
[size=1]Top[/size] 0 - 30 (sec):2.3
0 - 45 (sec):3.5
0 - 60 (sec):5.4
0 - 75 (sec):7.3
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph):13.48@105.31
30 - 0 (ft):29.44
60 - 0 (ft):120.35
Braking Rating (Excellent, Good, Average, Poor or Very Poor):Excellent
Slalom (mph):64.5
Turning Circle (ft), curb-to-curb:38.9
Handling Rating (Excellent, Good, Average, Poor or Very Poor):Excellent
Db @ Idle:51.8
Db @ Full Throttle:82.6
Db @ 70 mph Cruise:72.7
Acceleration:Launching the Charger SRT-8 is extremely tricky. We got our best time by power braking the car to 1,500 rpm in automatic mode with the traction control turned off. Trying to launch without a power brake and/or in manual shift mode results in short shifts and more aggressive traction control (even though it's "off." The trans shifts at 6,000 rpm, and redline is set at 6,250. In manual mode, there is a delay in upshifts where the car actually hesitates between gears unless you intiate the shifts very early. We think its cool that the SRT-8 model allows you to control shifts and hold gears, but the ultra-intrusive ESP program is NOT so cool in a 425-horse performance car.
Braking:The SRT's brakes are progressive, offering solid feedback, subtle but detectable ABS noise and vibration, and a bit more nose dive than we expected. However, this is a large and heavy vehicle, so overall performance was very confident.
Handling:For a heavy sedan, the Charger SRT-8's handling is very impressive. A quick steering ratio, stiff suspension, minimal body roll and sticky tires make the 4,200 pound car very easy to drive fast. We had to turn off the ESP program to get the best times, but with it off the system will allow for sufficient rotation and oversteer. The 6.1 liter Hemi has a massive torque curve, which allows for easy acceleration out of the final cones.
Specifications
[size=1]Top[/size] Length:200.1
Width:74.5
Height:58.2
Wheelbase:120
Legroom (front):41.8
Legroom (rear):40.2
Headroom (front):38.7
Headroom (rear):36.2
Maximum Seating Capacity:5
Cargo Volume:16.2 cu. Ft.
Maximum Cargo Volume (rear seats down):16.2 cu. Ft.
Warranty Information
[size=1]Top[/size] Bumper-to-Bumper:3 years / 36,000 miles
Power Train:7 years / 70,000 miles
Corrosion:5 years / 100,000 miles
Roadside Assistance:3 years / 36,000 miles
Scheduled Maintenance:N/A
Safety Information
[size=1]Top[/size] Front Airbags:Standard
Side Airbags:Optional
Head Airbags:Optional
Antilock Brakes:Standard
Electronic Brake Enhancements:Standard
Traction Control:Standard
Stability Control:Standard
Rollover Protection:Not Available
Emergency Assistance System:Not Available
NHTSA Crash Test Driver:Not Tested
NHTSA Crash Test Passenger:Not Tested
NHTSA Crash Test Side Front:Not Tested
NHTSA Crash Test Side Rear:Not Tested
NHTSA Rollover:Not Tested
IIHS Offset:Not Tested
Follow-Up Test: 2006 Dodge Charger SRT-8 (Video)
PRess and hold for 6-8 seconds. Works on all SRT-8s built after a certain date in Aug.
Linear Mode
