Chicago Show 2011 Highlights: 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

Scheduled to go on sale later this year, the 2012 Charger SRT8 adopts the 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 that first debuted in the Challenger SRT8 392, here making an estimated 465 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers are 5 down from the Challenger in each category, but, uh, who cares? The previous Charger SRT8 had “just” 425 hp and 420 lb-ft from its 6.1-liter V-8.

The new Hemi’s intake features active air flaps that vary the ram length based on engine speed, and new variable cam timing increases the duration of the intake-valve opening with the goal of stuffing more air in the cylinder. Fuel economy, for what it’s worth, will be improved over that of the outgoing engine, although no figures have been revealed yet.

We clocked the old SRT8 from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, and that’s about where Chrysler pegs this new car’s abilities (in addition to a stated top speed of 175 mph). But we think it will be a little quicker than that: We estimate the car will cover a 0-to-60-mph sprint in 4.6 seconds, reach 100 mph in 11.0 seconds, and blast through the quarter-mile in 13 flat. Not bad for a four-door sedan that should weigh somewhere around 4350 pounds.

The rest of the SRT8 story may not be as mouth-watering as the engine, but it’s still pretty juicy. The five-speed automatic carries over from the last car, but this time it’s equipped with steering-wheel-mounted paddles to augment the side-to-side manumatic function of the gear selector.

The chassis has received plenty of attention, too, with a new pump for the hydraulic steering that Dodge says increases feel, as well as a standard two-mode adaptive suspension. The suspension interprets data such as steering angle and speed, vehicle speed, throttle position, and lateral acceleration to automatically vary shock stiffness. Besides the automatic setting, the driver can also select a Sport mode. Deceleration is handled by four-piston Brembo calipers, squeezing 14.2-inch front and 13.8-inch rear rotors. The brakes also incorporate a collision-anticipation function that tucks the pads snug against the rotors in anticipation of hot car-on-car (or car-on-object) action. A new underbody shield integrates brake ducting to mitigate brake fade.

Thanks to: Car and Driver