News
The Dodge Magnum SRT-8
Now get to Los Angeles! West Coast show offers several world debuts
BOB GRITZINGER and
KEVIN A. WILSON
Posted Date: 1/5/05
The New Year typically arrives amid a clatter of car stories from Detroit as the auto world gears up for the Motor City’s annual early-January auto show/lovefest. This time around there’s a distinct rumble from the Los Angeles show, where automakers are making numerous world introductions.
Detroit iron led the way, starting with the unveiling of the classic lines of the Ford Mustang convertible (Jan. 3).
Next up: the production Dodge Magnum SRT-8 wagon, which first appeared in concept form at Los Angeles in 2003. The Chrysler Group’s Magnum and Chrysler 300 struck a chord with the American car-buying public in 2004, and Chrysler hopes to keep that momentum going with the Magnum SRT-8 wagon and 300C SRT-8 sedan. The 300 was revealed at Pebble Beach last summer and goes on sale in February as a 2005 model; the Magnum should be available midyear as a 2006 model.
Mechanically, the Magnum SRT-8 is much the same car as the 300C SRT-8, with a 6.1-liter 425-hp Hemi and SRT performance upgrades to brakes and suspension, plus the appropriate interior and exterior trim items. The biggest visual telltale is that an SRT-8 edition wears 20-inch wheels and rides a half-inch lower than the stock Magnum. Add a new front fascia with brake cooling ducts, side skirts and a rear fascia with openings for dual 3.5-inch exhaust tips, and you’re dressed appropriately for sporting endeavors, such as a 13-second quarter-mile or a 0-to-100-to-0 exercise in the 16-second range. Pricing is not yet available, but assuming you get a dealer who sells for MSRP (don’t pay more!), we’re guessing it will turn up in the lower half of the $40,000 range.
General Motors introduced a bevy of new models, including three Chevys and two Pontiacs. Leading the list is the 2006 HHR, Chevrolet’s take on a theme thoroughly explored in recent years by the Chrysler PT Cruiser. No matter, says Chevy, which is following the recipe to a T for an inexpensive, retro-looking do-everything-mobile. HHR is built on the Cobalt and Saturn Ion small-car chassis, and is powered by either a 2.2-liter 140-hp or 2.4-liter 170-hp four. HHR goes on sale late this summer. Other Chevy debuts included the 2006 Monte Carlo and 2006 Impala, both in SS trim with 5.3-liter 303-hp V8s with fuel-saving cylinder-deactivation technology under the hood.
Pontiac revealed a convertible alternative in its 2006 G6 lineup, sort of a Toyota Solara look-alike, or a Nissan 350Z Roadster with a back seat. Along with the midsize coupe, by early 2006 Pontiac will offer the G6 with a retractable two-piece hardtop, priced somewhere near $30,000. For those cross-shopping GM divisions for small sport/utes, Pontiac will add its version of the Saturn Vue/ Chevy Equinox. Pontiac’s Torrent SUV arrives in late summer.
European makers were represented by Volkswagen, with the redesigned fifth-generation Jetta (
AW, Nov. 29, 2004), which goes on sale in March; the Ferrari Superamerica (Dec. 6, 2004), a limited-edition (aren’t they all?), Pininfarina-penned convertible powered by a 540-hp version of the 575M’s V12 engine; a BMW M3 with a handling package; and the 5.5-liter 469-hp supercharged Mercedes CLS55 AMG (Oct. 25, 2004) that goes on sale next month.
Pacific Rim automakers were represented by Korean maker Hyundai, which showed a fuel-cell version of its Tucson SUV.
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http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101530
LA-AutoShow: 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT-8
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