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Automobiles

First SRT Viper Production Run Ends

February 14, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Kurt Ernst

2013 SRT Viper – image: Chrysler Group LLC

If you’d hoped to get your hands on one of the first new SRT Vipers built, we’ve got bad news for you: the full production run of 800 units sold out quickly, and those lucky (and fast) enough to get orders in will be seeing delivery in the very near future. First batch production of the new Viper has officially ended.

In an interview with Wards Auto, SRT boss Ralph Gilles said that some 80-percent of the first batch models were the range-topping Viper GTS variant, while just 20-percent were the more affordable base model. Affordable is a relative term here, since even the base model has a starting point north of $99,000. Opt for the Viper GTS, and the price of admission begins at over $122,000.

While that may seem ambitious for a domestic sports car, Gilles is quick to point out that the car’s handling and top speed over 200 mph make the $99k price of admission a relative bargain. Detractors would be quick to point out that similar money could likely buy you a ZR1 Corvette, which also boasts a 200 mph top speed off the showroom floor.

Oddly enough, Gilles doesn’t see the new Corvette (which has yet to be priced) as competition for the Viper. The Corvette is a volume car, while the Viper is a halo car that will never see more than 2,000 units produced per year.

As for the issue of when (or if) a Viper convertible will launch, Gilles was non-committal, saying only that he hoped to see it in the next few years. The Viper’s current body structure is rigid enough that cutting off the top won’t require additional bracing. While it’s likely that a Viper convertible (which is how the product line began) is in the works, we’d stop short of calling it a certainty given the financial woes of SRT’s parent, Fiat.

Automobiles

SRT Viper Convertible Is In the Pipeline, According to Report

February 14, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By John Lamm

It makes sense, of course, that there should be a convertible version of the new-generation SRT Viper. Earlier iterations were launched with open tops, with the hardtop version following thereafter. This time around, SRT’s opening act, so to speak, is the closed model, but SRT boss Ralph Gilles has told WardsAuto that there will be a convertible version of the new Viper. Considering it took roughly three years to add the SRT10 coupe to the third-generation Viper stable, we could be in for a wait. But, Gilles said, “We won’t wait that long,” telling Wards that he hopes the topless snake will arrive “within a few years.” He then added that, “The car was designed to be a convertible. Under the skin is a convertible chassis. It’s already there—the stiffness is there. It’s extremely easy should that come, but we’re not in any rush.”

It’s understandable why SRT chose to launch the coupe first with this generation when considering that the previous-gen Viper sales were split 60/40 in favor of the coupe. It also illustrates just how valuable the convertible is to the car’s sales.

Beyond sales, there’s another element behind SRT’s decision to lead off with the coupe, and that will become evident when the Viper race car hits Sebring next month for the first round of the 2013 American Le Mans Series championship. Racing is an important element in Viper history, with GTS-R versions having scored overall wins at Daytona, Spa, and the Nürburgring. Then there are three class wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and five FIA GT championships. However, the Chrysler Group’s performance arm has been unable to add anything to the Viper’s trophy case for nearly a half-decade, so one can understand SRT’s desire to get back in racing to underscore the car’s potential. That point is particularly poignant considering the long, strong race record of its crosstown rival, Chevrolet’s Corvette.

Automobiles

Report: SRT Viper's initial allotment sold out, convertible still a ways off

February 13, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Jeffrey N. Ross

Filed under:

The launch of the 2013 SRT Viper marked the first time the car has been introduced as a coupe rather than a roadster, but that didn’t matter to buyers. According to Wards Auto, the initial run of 800 Vipers has already sold out with deliveries starting next month, and, even more impressively, SRT president Ralph Gilles reportedly said that more than 80 percent of those sales consisted of the sportier, more expensive Viper GTS model.

Gilles indicated that a convertible version of the new Viper could be available within a few years, and it won’t be hard to produce since the current car was designed with a topless model in mind. Two of the likely reasons behind the SRT Viper reversing the trend of launching as a convertible was that the outgoing Viper was selling 60 percent coupes and 40 percent roadsters when production ended in 2010. Further, the SRT team wanted to get back into American Le Mans Series racing, which necessitated a hardtop.

SRT Viper’s initial allotment sold out, convertible still a ways off originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Automobiles

2013 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Core Debuts: Just the Basics, All the Power [2013 Chicago Auto Show]

By Tony Swan

What does “back-to-basics performance” mean to you? If you reached driving age during the heyday of the all-American muscle car, it means tire-shredding, straight-ahead performance. And if you haven’t driven muscle cars since then, this new SRT edition of the Dodge Challenger should be a pleasant experience. Not only will it shred its rear tires, just like the mighty muscle machines of yesteryear, it also will actually stop.SRT stands for Chrysler’s Street and Racing Technology group, which has been established as a separate brand within the corporate umbrella, à la BMW’s M group and the AMG operation at Mercedes. The mission is to add heat to existing Chrysler vehicles, although in this case, with plenty of fire under the hood already, most of the added heat is on the outside of the car.

The heart of this and other SRT back-to-basics packages introduced at the Chicago auto show is Chrysler’s 392-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) Hemi V-8, paired here with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. Output is 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, and with its standard launch control, the SRT go-faster crew forecasts 0-to-60 mph in less than five seconds and a top speed of 182 mph with the manual gearbox (175 with the automatic). When we last tested the Challenger SRT8, we hit 60 in 4.5 seconds and ripped through the quarter in 12.9. Fuel economy is respectable at 23 mpg highway, per the EPA, thanks in part to cylinder deactivation.

Cosmetic heat includes two new look-at-me colors—Hemi Orange and Plum Crazy, both pearl coats—plus the current range of Challenger paint choices. Other distinctions include a blacked-out grille, black SRT rear spoiler, black 392 front-fender decals, 20-inch aluminum wheels with black detailing, and black Brembo brake calipers.

The interior borrows “Ballistic” cloth seat inserts from the new SRT Viper, replacing the cowhides of the regular Challenger SRT8. This car thus features dark-gray cloth bolsters and panel inserts, as well as faux carbon-fiber center-stack and center-console trim.

SRT characterizes this and concurrent versions of the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger as “Core” models, basically slightly de-contented versions of the regular SRT cars. Pricing for the Challenger SRT8 Core is just a shade under $40K—$39,990—before you factor in about a grand for gas-guzzler tax. (A non-Core Challenger SRT8 runs $45,800; we’ve asked Dodge for clarification on the rest of the content deleted to create the Core car.) It’s due in …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

2013 Chrysler 300 SRT8 Core: Power and Prestige at a Lower Price [2013 Chicago Auto Show]

By Tony Swan

As luxury sedans go, the Chrysler 300 SRT8 goes better than most, and the latest embellishments by the Street and Racing Technology crew should make the going look even better. One of three “Core” SRT models displayed on the floor of the Chicago auto show—all are intended to appeal to enthusiasts by offering full SRT8 performance with fewer niceties—the latest package is distinguished by 20-inch aluminum wheels with black highlights and black “6.4L” fender badges.

The 6.4 refers to the 300’s 6.4-liter Hemi V-8, rated for 470 horsepower, 470 lb-ft of torque, and by EPA estimates, 23 mpg on the highway, thanks to cylinder deactivation that shuts down half the engine under light loads. An active exhaust system reduces back pressure under higher loads, lending authority to the combustion audio.

This is the biggest sedan in Chryslerdom, but the SRT folks figure the combination of launch control and paddle-shifter-equipped six-speed automatic should propel this 300 to the quarter-mile lights in less than 13 seconds and 0-100-0 in less than 16 seconds. Top speed is estimated at 175 mph. (When we last tested an SRT-fettled three-hundo, we traversed the quarter in 12.8 seconds.)

The interior is deepest coal-bin black, but it’s an elegant coal bin, with snug bucket seats with “Ballistic” cloth inserts and “Axel” cloth bolsters with outstanding support. (The regular SRT8 has leather seats with suede inserts.) Piano-black and matte carbon-fiber accents enhance the already attractive 300 dashboard and instrument binnacle.

Slated to go on sale this summer, the new package will be offered at $44,990, plus maybe a grand in gas-guzzler penance. For comparison, a de-Cored 2013 300 SRT8 starts at $50,020 with all taxes and fees.

Automobiles

2013 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee: The Bee Is Back, Again [2013 Chicago Auto Show]

By Tony Swan

Bumblebee butt stripes trace their origin to Dodge’s street machines of the late 1960s, and the trademark graphics still seem to possess some cachet with 21st-century gearheads, or so believe the product-planning denizens of Chrysler’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) department. Witness said stripes on the new Charger SRT8 Super Bee.

The latest iteration, one of three SRT “Core” introductions at the 2013 Chicago auto show, features a helmet-clad 3D bumblebee emblem on the crosshair grille, in addition to the rear fender stripes, which now include “Powered by SRT” graphics. The 20-inch aluminum wheels are carried over from the 2012 package—we tested it last year—and the black-painted Brembo brake calipers are shared with the other new SRT offerings.

SRT mined its history books for the Super Bee’s new Hemi Orange Pearl Coat paint. The lurid Plum Crazy Pearl Coat, shared with the Dodge Challenger SRT8, also joins the palette. Like SRT’s other big cars, the Super Bee features black cloth-clad bucket seats inside, with subdued striping.

The point, as with the other Core SRTs, is to offer all the performance of the regular car at a cut price. Last year, that meant deleting items like heated seats, the active exhaust, active dampers, and more, to create the Super Bee. Dodge didn’t serve up specifics on the differences between the Super Bee and the regular SRT8 for 2013, but we’ve asked and will serve up the exact details as soon as we have them. We do know that the active exhaust is included this year, and that this car features cast 20-inch wheels in place of forged units.

As with all non-Viper SRT models, the Charger is powered by Chrysler’s 6.4-liter Hemi V-8—470 horsepower, 470 lb-ft—with cylinder deactivation. It’s bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission with launch control. Using the computer assist, SRT forecasts 0–60 in the high-four-second range, a 175-mph top speed, and 23 mpg on the highway. We saw 4.2 seconds to 60 in our test of the 2012 Bee.

The 2013 Charger SRT8 Super Bee will be priced at $42,990 plus gas-guzzler tax when it buzzes into dealers this summer, saving three grand or so on its better-equipped stablemate.

Automobiles

Chicago: SRT adds new cost-saving Core models to Challenger SRT8, 300 SRT8

Continue reading SRT adds new cost-saving Core models to Challenger SRT8, 300 SRT8

By Jeffrey N. Ross

Filed under:

As the high-performance division of Chrysler, the SRT brand used the Chicago Auto Show to reveal new “Core” models for the Dodge Challenger SRT8 and Chrysler 300 SRT8. Similar to a move made by Chrysler in Australia, both of these new Core models will get a significant drop in price compared to the current SRTs, and each will get some new, exclusive styling elements as well. Both new models will arrive in showrooms this summer.

The Challenger SRT8 Core will start at $38,995 (not including $995 for destination), which is $5,780 less than the SRT8 currently on sale. Along with the lower price, this new configuration gets classic colors like Orange Pearl Coat and Plum Crazy Pearl Coat (shown at right), and all models get black accents on the grille, a spoiler, 20-inch wheels and Brembo brake calipers. The interior also gets some unique elements such as cloth inserts on the seats (also used on the SRT Viper) and a “mini-carbon bezel” on the instrument panel.

As for the 300 SRT8, the Core version has a new price of $41,995 marking a drop of $7,000 over the current 300 SRT8 base model. This car also gets similar upgrades – inside and out – as the Challenger SRT8, but it will also have plenty of matte carbon and piano black interior accents and the option of red-painted calipers. The finishing touch on this model is the addition of the “6.4L” fender badges, which is a first for the 300 SRT8.

It isn’t clear what, if any, equipment has been de-contented to create this new lower price, but we’re sure buyers looking to get behind the wheel of either one of these products will be happy. Scroll down to read more about the Challenger SRT8 and 300 SRT8 Core models.

SRT adds new cost-saving Core models to Challenger SRT8, 300 SRT8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Automobiles

Chrysler Reboots Companywide Product Plans: Goldmine of Info, Lots of Delays, Six Alfas?

January 31, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Justin Berkowitz

Chrysler’s special penchant for soap-op drama is almost enough to forgive its equally fierce passion for product changes and delays. What other company dumps the whole four-year plan on a Powerpoint slide? Hint: Only those looking for an empire’s worth of fortune in investment money. On a conference call yesterday, Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne put the cards on the table for 2012 and for the product plan through 2016. Analysts liked the financial news, but we’re disappointed. Other than Ram and Jeep, virtually every other Chrysler-Fiat brand gets no new product until 2015. Here’s the breakdown, as inspired by our new subscription to Soap Opera Digest:

Chrysler

Old Plan: Compact 100 hatchback in 2012, new 200 and mid-size crossover in 2013.
New Plan: New Chrysler 200 in early 2014. Make Eminem cry. New crossover, 100, and a mystery model in 2015.
Secrets Revealed: 200 will get the nine-speed automatic transmission.
Cliffhangers: Do we really have to wait until 2015 for the 100 hatchback? We’ve seen advanced-stage test cars on the road.

Jeep

Old Plan: Subcompact B-segment crossover, Compass/Patriot replacement, and Liberty replacement all in 2013.
New Plan: Whoa, slow down there, Maestro. Liberty replacement in 2013, ComPatriot replacement in 2014, subcompact crossover in 2015.
Secrets Revealed: Liberty replacement debuts at the New York auto show in April, sales begin in May. It’s the first use of the nine-speed auto.
Cliffhangers: What’s the other new model listed for 2015? We know no more Jeeps get SRT versions, sadly.

Dodge

Old Plan: Subcompact B-segment car and Avenger replacement in 2013, Grand Caravan in 2014.
New Plan: B-segment car is dead, the Avenger isn’t being replaced (though it may vanish), Grand Caravan delayed to 2015.
Secrets Revealed: The suits knew the Dart powertrain lineup was a mess from the beginning, and will be “realigned” later this year. Think 184-hp 2.4-liter engine and six-speed automatic.
Cliffhangers: Is the Dart a surreptitious Avenger replacement? Marchionne describes it as a “D-segment sedan for C-segment price.” Will Dodge or Chrysler (or both) get the new minivan?

Ram

Old Plan: Large and small vans in 2012, possibly a unibody mid-size pickup in 2011.
New Plan: Large Fiat van rebadged as Promaster debuts at Chicago auto show in February, smaller Promaster City van in 2014.
Secrets Revealed: Marchionne expects Ram to join Jeep as the primary driver of the group’s growth in the U.S. for the next year or more.
Cliffhangers: Are they really giving up on the Durango-platformed mid-size pickup?

SRT

Old Plan: Don’t break SRT into a separate brand.
New Plan: Break SRT into a separate brand. Order new stationary. Throw parade celebrating success. Refreshes in 2014 and 2015, rear-drive Barracuda in 2016.
Secrets Revealed: Viper may get a light refresh in 2014 or 2015.
Cliffhangers: How is SRT expected to be a standalone brand if it has only one unique model for the next three years?

Fiat

Old Plan: Sell more 500s than Mini can sell hatchbacks.
New Plan: Say Mini has never been the target. 500L in 2013, 500X crossover and five new models in 2015, another one the next year.
Secrets Revealed: Fiat counts variants like the the 500 and 500C as separate models, so the “five new models” thing is misleading.
Cliffhangers: Seriously though, six new models or variants? Fiat said in December that it wants every future model to be a 500 or Panda spinoff. And we ain’t getting the Panda.

Alfa Romeo

Old Plan: Relaunch in U.S. in ~~2012~~ 2013 with 4C, SUV, other models soon after.
New Plan: Begin work on future delay announcements. 4C sports car in 2013. Four models in 2015, one more in 2016.
Secrets Revealed: “Relaunch Alfa in the U.S.” really meant “Offer one low-volume Alfa in the U.S.,” which already happened with the 8C.
Cliffhangers: Will this plan for Alfa’s return be any different than the others? Will the models it’s planning to bring ever come to exist anywhere? Their development has been delayed for eons. Will VW finally offer the right price to buy Alfa from Fiat?

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

2013 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Review & Test Drive

January 29, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Harvey Schwartz

‘ONE MORE INVITATION TO RUMBLE’

Word has it that 2013 will be the last year for the Dodge Challenger SRT8 as Dodge and SRT are getting ready to introduce a new model for 2014, the all-new SRT Barracuda that will be sleeker and pack an even more powerful punch.

First introduced in 2008, the all-new Challenger SRT turned heads with its retro-styling featuring a flat black grille with satin-chrome surround and SRT badge, round headlamps including HID lights, lower air-intake with round foglamps at the sides, and a giant black splitter with integrated front fender spats down below. The power-dome hood features two working air-scoops. From the side are steeply raked A-pillars, oval/heated sideview mirrors, pull-out door handles, polished aluminum fuel filler door, arrow head rear window, and fenders stuffed with 20X9 inch aluminum alloy wheels. The rear shows it’s retro-styling with a straight-line of lamp clusters, a deck lid spoiler with the SRT8 badge proudly displayed, and 2.75 inch exhaust pipes ending with four-inch wide rectangular dual exhaust tips at the sides down below. The SRT tuned exhaust rumbles when you push the start button and growls loudly when pressing hard on the throttle. It’s beautiful music to my ears. At first look you think that you are looking at an original 1970 thru 1974 Dodge Challenger. Unique 392 HEMI badges are fitted on both front fenders flaunting its new historically significant V8 engine that remains true to its high-performance roots and powers the highest rated Challenger ever.

The 392 cu.in. 6.4 liter HEMI V8 makes 470 hp at 6,000 rpm and 470 lb.ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm. The torque band is extremely flat allowing for strong launch and improved straight-line performance throughout the rpm range. The advanced active intake manifold along with its high-lift cam with phasing provides maximum low-end torque and high-end power while still delivering 23mpg on the highway with the six-speed manual. The performance-tuned engine mounts improve idle stability and ride control at all speeds.

New this year is the expanded adaptive damping suspension that allows for three-mode selectable suspension tuning, a standard launch control that provides enhanced straight-line acceleration and an optional, (my Challenger SRT came with it) monster Harman Kardon audio system with 18-GreenEdge speakers and 900 watts of power that shook the inside when just at half power. A look under the hood reveals unique valve covers with painted silver ribs and the ‘392 HEMI’ logo, which gives the engine a unique, clean and aggressive look.

My test Challenger SRT8 came equipped with the Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission and a ZF-Sachs 24mm dual-disc high-performance clutch-a proven performer that was first offered on the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10. The triple-cone 1^st./2^nd and double cone 3^rd.-6^th synchronized gear design makes short precise gear changes up and down for fun and thrills as you zoom to 60mph from a standstill in just 4.6 seconds, run the ¼ mile in the mid 12 second range, go from 0-100-9 in the low 15 seconds, and reach a top speed of 182mph. That’s fast, very fast! Putting all of the ground-shaking torque to the pavement is a standard Getrag limited-slip differential.

New for 2013 is an improved adaptive damping suspension (ADS) system that is tuned specifically for the Challenger SRT8 to provide an everyday performance ride or a much firmer race track capable damping for more challenging driving situations. In ‘Auto’ mode, a wide range of on-road and driver-inputs-such as vehicle speed, steering angle, steering speed, brake torque, throttle position and longitudinal/lateral/vertical accelerations-automatically tune the suspension for specific conditions. In ‘Sport’ mode, the damping system rebound and compression is locked to a higher rate. You can easily choose between setting with a press of a button on the center stack to quickly change the shock damping characteristics from ‘Auto’ for everyday commuting to ‘Sport’ for more spirited driving situations. You can really feel the difference in damping forces when you switch from Auto to Sport modes. The automatic transmission with paddle shifters comes with a ‘Track’ mode that further increases the damping for track use only. In either mode you are riding on rails!

The SRT’s unique suspension is fully independent with an SRT tuned sport ride that is compliant and never harsh. The front SLA (short/long arm) setup also includes high upper ‘A’ arms, coil springs over gas-charged monotube Bilstein shocks, a 30mm solid stabilizer bar and lateral and diagonal lower links. The rear features a 5-link setup with coil springs, link-type 16mm stabilizer bar, gas-charged monotube Bilstein shocks and an isolated suspension cradle for extra rigidity and less noise, vibration and harshness. The front suspension also benefits from a strut tower brace located just behind the engine to further increase the front ends rigidity and giving you ‘racecar’ super-quick handling characteristics. The SRT tuned rack & pinion hydraulic assisted steering uses a heavy-duty pump and unique gearing to give you a more direct feel and on center response that further adds to the pinpoint accuracy and speed of the reaction to your inputs. Straightline stability is superb and when you are tackling steep curving roads it is no problem with the standard traction control/electronic stability control. If you want to let the rear slid out for even more aggressive speeds through the curves you can shut off the system. The optimum 44.6/45.4 front/rear weight distribution is ideal and gives the car a more neutral feel during spirited driving time. The handling result is .90g capability on the skid pad-the most of any production Challenger and on par with some of the world’s best-handling performance coupes.

Sitting ½ inch lower than non-SRT models, the Challenger SRT8 392 rides on standard five-spoke 20X9 inch lightweight forged aluminum wheels with satin black painted pockets and SRT engraved on each wheel. These unique wheels are wrapped with Goodyear 245/45ZR20 inch front and 255/45ZR20 inch rear F1 Supercar tires for excellent grip and a very quiet and smooth ride.

A new for 2013 standard launch control system helps maximize straight-line acceleration. Using the manual six-speed transmission, when the vehicle is at a complete stop, you engage the system by pressing the ESC button twice and then depress the clutch and quickly apply full throttle. Launch control holds the engine at the desired rpm and waits for you to release the clutch. Through the SRT-exclusive Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) screen, you can adjust the launch rpm from 2,500-4,500 in 250 rpm increments, allowing for optimal launches in various conditions. Launch control then uses engine torque management to achieve controlled wheelslip for maximum acceleration up to 62mph. The feeling is like being shot out of a cannon.

Quickly and safely slowing the 4,170 pound Challenger SRT8 down from speed are ‘world-class’ power-assisted brakes that bring the car from 60 to 0mph in just 117 feet. Up front are 14.2 inch vented/slotted rotors and 13.8 inch vented/slotted rotors in the rear. Each disc is clamped with Brembo four-piston fixed calipers painted red in aluminum housing. The three-mode electronic stability control system with knockback mitigation also includes ABS, BA, EBD and Hill-Start Assist so you won’t roll back when stopped on a hill. The Ready Alert Braking system anticipates when you quickly release the accelerator pedal and may initiate an emergency brake stop, after which the electronic stability control pump engages to set brake pads against rotors in order to decrease the time required for full brake application. Improved brake cooling and fade performance comes from the brake cooling ducts cut out on the big front splitter that directs air to the front brakes.

The new 2013 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is awesome in every respect under the skin of the retro-modern body but even more excellence and attention to detail lies inside the comfortable and sporty interior. It begins with SRT designed front bucket seats are perforated and deeply cut to keep you in place during very spirited driving. My test car came with power bottom, power lumbar support and manual seatback. The SRT-exclusive leather-wrapped/heated steering wheel features a unique satin chrome rim section with a flattened bottom surface that showcases the SRT logo. All audio controls, cruise control Bluetooth and EVIC controls are accessible from the horizontal spokes of the steering wheel. The horizontal instrument cluster features four chromed accent rings and unique SRT graphics for the large 180mph speedometer and 8,000rpm tachometer plus smaller fuel and engine coolant temperature gauges that are all easy to see. Inside the cluster the EVIC with performance pages provides you with trip information, multimedia information from the Media Center radio, along with instant feedback on 0-60mph time, 60-0 mph braking, G-forces, 1/8 mile and quarter-mile times. All of the touch points are made from high-quality soft materials. The door trim features suede leather and double-stitched leather. The SRT bucket seat backs are embroidered with the SRT logo. Sporty cues include aluminum foot pedals with rubber inserts; a perfectly placed real ‘pistol grip’ stick shifter wrapped in leather with an aluminum center surrounded with chrome ringed bezel. For safe nighttime driving is standard ambient lighting for the chrome door handles and dual cupholders that is also ringed with aluminum trim. The center stack features easy-to-use chrome dials for the climate control system. My test Challenger SRT8 came with the monster Harman Kardon premium audio surround-sound system with 900-watts, 18-GreenEdge speakers and amplifier technology to offer superior sound quality and high Sound Level outputs with minimum energy consumption. The system’s 18-GreenEdge ultra-lightweight, high-efficiency speakers include seven 3.5 inch Unity coaxial mid-range speakers with seven integrated tweeters located in the front dash, rear doors and rear deck, two 6X9 inch subwoofers located in the front doors, and two 10-inch subwoofers in a trunk mounted enclosure.

Standard equipment not mentioned above includes heated front seats, rear 60/40 folding seat with a pull down armrest and dual cupholders, a grab handle above the passenger door, express down front windows, storage slots in each door, ParkSense rear park assist system, keyless go push button start/stop, keyless entry, auto dimming rearview mirrors, variable speed wipers/washers, remote trunk release, universal garage door opener, aluminum plate door guard with Challenger engraved, a sunglass holder and dual map lights above, dual lighted vanity mirrors, a 6.5 inch touch screen display, a Uconnect 340 audio system with AM-FM-Sirius satellite radio/CD/DVD/MP3/HDD with six Boston Acoustics speakers, a 12-volt plug up front, thick cut-pile carpeting with custom floor mats. My test Challenger SRT8 came with a GPS navigation system, Redline 3-coat pearl exterior paint and dual silver center stripes that really stopped traffic with drivers asking “how much horsepower’, etc.

Standard safety features not mentioned above includes advanced multistage front airbags, supplemental side curtain front and rear airbags, front row active head restraints, driver’s knee airbag, front seat-mounted side thorax airbags, 3-point safety belts for five people with front pretensioners/load limiters, security alarm, engine immobilizer, LATCH system.

The new 2013 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is the real deal. It has what every muscle car enthusiast wants in a modern, super-high-performance vehicle but with a unique retro look that brings back memories from the great years of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Go-man-Go and drive it always for only $49,205.00 including delivery. Thanks Dodge for a fun and thrilling test drive!

SPECIFICATIONS

Price: Challenger SRT8 As-Tested $49,205
Engine: 6.4 liter HEMI V8 470 hp @ 6,000 rpm / 470 lb.ft. of torque @ 4,200 rpm
Wheelbase: 116 inches
Total length: 197.7 inches
Total width: 75.7 inches
Total height: 57.1 inches
Track: f/r-63/63.1 inches
Ground clearance: 4.8 inches
Curb weight: 4,170 pounds
Fuel tank: 19 gallons
Headroom: f/r-39.3/37.4 inches
Legroom: f/r-42/32.6 inches
Cargo volume: 16.2 cu.ft.
EPA mileage: 14mpg/city, 23mpg/highway
0-60 mph: 4.6 seconds

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Automotive Addicts

Automobiles

Jay Leno Welcomes Ralph Gilles Bringing along a few New SRT Vipers to his Garage: Video

January 28, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Malcolm Hogan

Lately Jay Leno has welcomed some of the most sought after vehicles Jay Leno‘s Garage” href=”http://www.automotiveaddicts.com/tag/jay-lenos-garage”>into his garage and taking each one for a nice ‘spin’. The latest vehicle to grace his infamous garage is the all-new SRT Viper along with VP of design and CEO of SRT at Chrysler, Ralph Gilles.

Touted as a true car guy heading up design and the SRT brand, Ralph Gilles has a long car-centric resume but a down-to-earth perspective that just about any level-headed car enthusiast would appreciate. Ralph Gilles has set out on a 5,000-mile cross-country journey in the new SRT Viper and stops to see Jay along the way. Gilles and Leno hit it off once again to go over the new SRT Viper and later take it for an exclusive test drive to see what she can really do on the local streets and later on the track at Willow Springs. Hit up the full 2013 SRT Viper GTS review on the latest Jay Leno‘s Garage” href=”http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/”>Jay Leno’s Garage episode.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Automotive Addicts

Automobiles

Video: <i>Motor Trend</i> pits SRT Viper against Chevy Corvette ZR1

January 18, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Jeffrey N. Ross

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, SRT

Last month, Motor Trend took over Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to perform one of the first head-to-head comparisons between the current Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and its newly redesigned nemesis, the SRT Viper. We’ve already gone over the article and amazing photographs of this epic all-American battle, and now, MT has provided a video of the deed in its latest “Head 2 Head” installment.

As we’ve already reported, not only did the ‘Vette come out victorious when it came to lapping Laguna Seca, but it also set a new track record for a production car with a time of 1:33.70 beating the previous time by 0.2 seconds and beating the Viper by more than two seconds. In straight-line performance, both cars ran an identical 11.4 seconds in a quarter mile sprint. In the video, MT‘s drivers point out that the ZR1 has better braking and cornering on the track while the Viper’s raw power and rough ride were mentioned on multiple occasions. One of the interesting notes is that the video points out the “deafening” cabin noise and “rock-hard” seats in the Viper, but SRT responded by saying both issues will be fixed by the time the car goes on sale.

Scroll down to watch the whole video showing both the Viper and the ‘Vette tackle one of the toughest tracks in the country.

Continue reading Motor Trend pits SRT Viper against Chevy Corvette ZR1

Motor Trend pits SRT Viper against Chevy Corvette ZR1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Automobiles

Chrysler 300S Turbine Edition Harks Back to ’63 Turbine Car; We Offer Brief History Lesson [2013 Detroit Auto Show]

January 16, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Alexander Stoklosa

Turbine-powered cars enjoyed a brief period where the public was largely fascinated by the concept in the 1950s and ’60s, but the infatuation pretty much died along with the space age. Chrysler is bringing a bit of that Motorama-style mojo back with an extremely orange-colored 300S sedan called, semi-appropriately enough, the Turbine edition. The one-off sedan debuted at the 2013 Detroit auto show and was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the limited-production 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car, a unique ride with which it shares its Turbine Bronze hue, if not its level of gloss.

Before you get too excited, allow us to take some of the fan blades out of your turbine by noting that the 300S Turbine edition is not powered by a turbine. Instead, it gets the 300S’s V-6 mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission. But it has a cool paint job: The orange paint is of the matte-finish variety, and it’s set off by a black-painted roof (just like the original’s black vinyl-covered job), window trim, and headlight and taillight accents. Chrysler fitted the Turbine edition with a set of pleasingly Saab-like, turbine-styled wheels; the meaty rims measure 22 inches in diameter and feature 20 machined spokes. Finally, there’s a billet aluminum grille and lower intake insert that match a set of platinum-finished side mirror caps.

Where It All Began

As for the original Turbine Car, it was a dreamer’s dream car that actually saw some customer use. Chrysler built 55 of the two-door, four-passenger coupes, putting 45 of those into the hands of real people for three-month trials between 1963 and 1966. Though Chrysler penned the car’s shape, the Turbine’s body was assembled by Ghia of Italy and shipped back to the U.S., where it was paired with the unique transmission and a chassis. (The photos you see here are original Chrysler press images that we dug out of our archives; you can see more in the gallery below.)

A few of our favorite Turbine features include its jet-intake-style front headlight surrounds, jet-exhaust-style taillight treatment, nifty turbine-patterned wheel and tire detailing, and its tachometer that lists rpms for the power turbine in 5,000-unit intervals up to 60,000. (In reality, the power turbine could spin to only 45,700 rpm—take that, Wankel!) That power turbine lived in a twin-shaft engine that pumped out 130 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque. Since we usually deal in pistons, crankshafts, pushrods, cams, and the like here at C/D, allow us to provide a brief refresher on how the car’s regenerative turbine engine works.

It essentially is made up of four key components: an air compressor, two heat exchangers, and two shafts—one of which is an output shaft. Air enters the front of the engine and is immediately compressed in the air compressor before being warmed by the heat exchangers (one exchanger sits on each side of the engine); next, fuel is sprayed into the compressed, heated air and ignited. After the air/fuel mixture burns at more than 1800 degrees fahrenheit, the resulting hot gases are directed through vanes attached to both the front shaft (which drives the compressor) and the power turbine’s vane (which drives the output shaft), spinning them. The gases are again routed through the heat exchangers (providing the heat for the earlier step in which the intake air is warmed) before being exhausted.

The Turbine car’s turbine engine was bolted to a mildly modified—it lacked a torque converter—Chrysler TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission. Why no torque converter? Because the flow of hot gas that drives the power turbine’s vanes pretty much mimics a typical torque converter’s fluid coupling, so keeping the TorqueFlite’s unit would be redundant. Intriguingly, the turbine engine could run on pretty much any combustible fuel, from gasoline to diesel, or even vodka.

Back to the Future

Do we wish Chrysler had decided to actually fit a 300S with a turbine engine? Of course, but reality—and budgets for tributes to experimental cars past—make that a thin possibility. More interesting than any alternative engine technologies for Chrysler’s past and future pet projects is the Turbine edition’s paint itself. A Chrysler representative told us that the company is taking a serious look at matte paint for production on special or high-performance models. While no specifics were given, it’s safe to assume that cars like the Fiat 500 Abarth, maybe a Jeep Wrangler or two, and anything with an SRT badge would make decent candidates. Plus, Chrysler wouldn’t be entering uncharted waters—several full-line automakers offer matte paint, including Hyundai, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. What about a matte-finished, turbine-powered SRT Vip—okay, we’ll stop.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Detroit: We Obsessively Covered the 2013 Detroit Auto Show

January 16, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Steven J. Ewing

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show

The first auto show of 2013 has officially come to a close, kids. We’ve had a busy couple of days here in Detroit Rock City, and this show has indeed had its share of major reveals. (You’ve probably heard about this new Corvette thing.) But in case you missed a single post from our obsessive coverage, we’ve wrangled them all up for you in one easy-to-scan post. Thanks for watching, and we’ll be back at it next month in Chicago.

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2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra show all their sides in Detroit

Fiat 500 Cattiva and Abarth Tenebra concepts showcase design to enhance personality

2014 Jeep Compass/Patriot sing their swan songs with a six-speed automatic

Shelby unveils tuned Ford Focus ST, widebody GT500 Super Snake

Mazda6 Skyactiv-D Racecar ready to bring diesel to Grand-Am

2014 Acura MDX Prototype is exactly what we expected

Acura NSX Concept is pretty on the inside, too [w/video]

2014 Cadenza is Kia’s take on the Hyundai Azera

2014 Cadillac ELR wears a suave suit with Volt underpants

2014 Lexus IS brings boldest design yet to entry-level luxury

Ford Atlas Concept carries the weight of the F-150 on its shoulders [w/video]

2014 Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible runs topless through Motown

2014 Quattroporte kicks off 50th anniversary for Maserati with new V6, AWD

2014 Nissan Versa Note pushes the little hatchback forward

Nissan Resonance Concept gives glimpse of next Murano

2014 Chevrolet C7 Corvette Stingray is worth another (and another) look [w/poll]

2014 Audi RS7 is a 189-mph terror

2014 BMW Z4 offers minor refinements with a majorly orange wrapper

2014 Audi SQ5 ditches diesel, still packs a punch

Volkswagen shows off performance-ish Passat concept

2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe is ready for your favorite roads

Mini John Cooper Works Paceman is a potent little hot hatch in a fat suit

2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG rumbles on stage 4Matic style

Honda Urban SUV concept previews Fit-based crossover

Toyota debuts Furia concept, heralds next Corolla design

Volkswagen Tiguan and Touareg take the R-Line

Hyundai HCD-14 Genesis Concept takes a sleek look at the future

2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class lineup shows its freshened face

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel and SRT climb onto stage

BMW adds new entry-level 320i model, priced from $33,445*

Volkswagen CrossBlue previews a three-row future, diesel-hybrid power [w/video]

MKC Concept is the real fresh start for Lincoln [w/poll]

Bob Lutz brings Destino, a ZR1-powered Karma, to Detroit

BMW Concept 4 Series Coupe proves that 3-2=4

2014 Infiniti Q50 debuts G-replacing design, new hybrid model

2013 Dodge Dart GT offers subtle menace in compact form

The 2014 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S brings 50 extra ponies to Detroit

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class is dressed to impress

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: Everything there is to know [w/video]

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We Obsessively Covered the 2013 Detroit Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #316

Automobiles

Autoblog Podcast #316

January 15, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Dan Roth

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Podcasts, Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Hyundai, Design/Style

2013 Detroit Auto Show recap featuring Corvette, plus Ralph Gilles interview

Episode #316 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Chris Paukert and Michael Harley talk about the sights that have been seen at the 2013 North American International Auto Show, especially the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette. Plus, Dan and Zach recorded an interview with Ralph Gilles, head of SRT and design for Chrysler, and we share that as part of the podcast as well. For those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #316:

Topics:

In the Autoblog Garage:
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
2013 Chrysler 300 SRT8
2013 Buick Enclave

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Paukert, Michael Harley

Runtime: 01:50:11

Get the podcast
[UStream] Listen live on Mondays at 10PM Eastern at UStream
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
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[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com

Review the show in iTunes

Autoblog Podcast #316 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Automobiles

Detroit: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel and SRT climb onto stage

January 14, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Steven J. Ewing

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Performance, SUV, Jeep, Diesel, Off-Road

This is indeed a case of not knowing how much we wanted something until it arrived. We’ve been big fans of the Jeep Grand Cherokee ever since the new model arrived a couple of years ago, and while the update you see here might seem just a slight refresh, it’s actually much more than that.

For starters, the 2014 Grand Cherokee marks the return of a diesel model here in the States, with Chrysler’s new 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 under the hood, churning out 240 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Of course, all of the Grand Cherokee‘s usual off-road goodies are on hand, with moderate tweaks to make it an even more capable vehicle when the going gets rough. Both the gasoline-fed 3.6-liter V6 and 5.7-liter V8 get the new eight-speed auto, as well.

The high-performance Grand Cherokee SRT also trudges on into the new model year, with very subtle tweaks found underneath the aggressive, slightly redesigned sheetmetal. The 6.4-liter Hemi V8 also gets eight-speed gearing, which Chrysler says will improve not only 0-60 times, but mid-range performance as well. Bring it on, we say.

Inside, the 2014 Grand Cherokee gets a slightly redesigned cockpit, with a new three-spoke steering wheel incorporating paddle shifters, an electronic gear selector and Chrysler’s award-winning 8.4-inch UConnect touch-screen infotainment system.

We like what we see, and if these changes only improve upon the Grand Cherokee that we’ve grown quite fond of, then we expect good things when the 2014 model goes on sale later this year. For the full smattering of info, check out our deep dive coverage.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel and SRT climb onto stage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading 2013 Dart GT will hold us over until SRT stokes Dodge’s handsome compact

Automobiles

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT: Gains Eight-Speed Auto, Loses 8 in Badge [2013 Detroit Auto Show]

January 14, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Austin Lindberg

Generally, when a vehicle receives a major update before the mid-point of its product cycle, it’s to address major issues. (Witness the fast-tracked Honda Civic and Chevrolet Malibu refreshes.) But the current-generation SRT Grand Cherokee was introduced just two years ago, so what gives? Well, its less-raucous stablemate is getting an update, and the SRT would look awfully silly wearing older duds. READ MORE ››

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

SRT Delivers The First Production Viper: Video

January 11, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Kurt Ernst

On June 23 of last year, Oklahoma tooling company owner Scott Thomas paid $300,000 for a new SRT Viper. It wasn’t just any Viper, however, it was serial number 001, and the proceeds went to benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation, a charity that helps fund research into curing pediatric cancers. In other words, it was an historically significant car, with the money spent going to a worthy charity.

Thomas’ Viper was delivered in a recent ceremony at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, where all new Vipers will be put together. Ralph Gilles, president of SRT, gives the key to Thomas after saying a few words; in a moment of comic relief, Gilles accidentally hands off the keys to his own car, a Chrysler 300 SRT8, by mistake.

Even Fiat and Chrysler chairman Sergio Marchionne gets in on the action, boldly stating that “Viper defines Chrysler.” The most touching moment in the video, however, is when Gilles dedicates the Trim and Chassis Final Line to Dan Knott, a senior vice president at Chrysler who once served as director of the SRT division. Knott died of cancer last April, but his words regarding the approval of the new Viper are now immortalized on the sign honoring him.

“Today,” Knott wrote in a message to Gilles, “we are a real car company again.”

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Automotive Addicts

Automobiles

Official: 2013 Dart GT will hold us over until SRT stokes Dodge's handsome compact

January 8, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Steven J. Ewing

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Budget, Sedan, Dodge

No, this isn’t quite the Dart SRT4 we’ve been waiting for – and still believe is coming – but as part of its 2013 Detroit Auto Show lineup, Dodge will be showing off the slightly sportier Dart GT seen here.

Building on the already well-equipped Limited model, the GT adds performance enhancements including a more powerful engine, 18-inch aluminum wheels, sport suspension calibration, unique front fascia and dual exhaust. Inside, you’ll find perforated Nappa leather seats, a heated steering wheel and front seats, dual-zone climate control, remote start (if you spec the automatic transmission), Chrysler’s 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen, a seven-inch TFT display in the gauge cluster, and a whole lot more. Optional goodies include hyper black aluminum wheels, a technology group (pushbutton start, keyless go, rain-sensing wipers, blind spot monitoring and smart-beam headlamps), power sunroof, Sirius radio, Garmin navigation, Alpine premium sound and high-intensity discharge headlamps.

Powering the Dart GT is Chrysler’s 2.4-liter MultiAir2 four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. That grunt is sent to the front wheels via a standard six-speed manual transmission, but a six-speed automatic ‘box is optional.

That’s a whole lot of kit, and for a starting price of $20,995 (excluding destination charges), on the surface, the Dart GT strikes us as quite a bargain for the compact class. Look for production to start in the second quarter of 2013, and while you’re waiting, scroll down for the full smattering of details in Chrysler’s official press release.

2013 Dart GT will hold us over until SRT stokes Dodge’s handsome compact originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading 2013 SRT Viper GTS dyno’d by Edmunds

Automobiles

Video: 2013 SRT Viper GTS dyno'd by <i>Edmunds</i>

January 3, 2013 Bartle Doo Leave a comment

By Seyth Miersma

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, SRT

First-time dynamometer runs for any production car are interesting business, at least for those with “car nerd” in their resumes. And the virgin public dyno testing of a new supercar like the SRT Viper GTS, well, that’s just a bit o’ heaven right there. So, when we heard that the number crunchers at Edmunds had gotten the new Viper into the test facility, we were hooked right away.

We won’t spoil the video for you by blowing the ending right here, but suffice it to say that the SRT 8.4-liter V10, rated at 640 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque at the crank, is still pretty super by the time the power makes its way to those wide rear tires. Follow on below for the fun.

2013 SRT Viper GTS dyno’d by Edmunds originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.