No Substitute for DisplacementIn a world of super-chargers, turbos and variable valve timing, displacement is back baby! For
SRT8 applications, Chrysler has upped the
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Auto123.com) |
cubes and horsepower in their punchy Hemi V8. Percolating just below the gates of insanity, the emboldened Hemi rumbling beneath the broad hood of the discreet, Chrysler 300C SRT8 displaces 6.1 litres (370 cu in) while producing an explosive, 425 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm and 420 foot-pounds of torque at 4,800 rpm. We don't often see those halcyon numbers these days; and with the price of fuel combined with environmental-related concerns, it's no wonder. Still, within reason, there is a place for these Herculean beasts in the automotive landscape.
Having tested the V6-powered Chrysler 300 Limited and the Chrysler 300C powered by the less hostile of the Hemi engines, I was anxious to contrast the civility of those two rides with the savagery of the SRT8. And
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Auto123.com) |
yup, there's a difference alright- a very big, brutish difference which begins with the forceful stance imparted to the SRT8 by its more aggressive front fascia, 20-inch wheels and rear-deck lip spoiler. If there's a brawnier, better-looking domestic 4-door, I haven't seen it. Additional visuals cues to the giant leap in performance can be unearthed in the cabin, where specially designed, heavily bolstered SRT8-logo'd front seats hold the driver and co-pilot snug against suede inserts. I was mightily impressed with the fatigue-free comfort derived in these supportive perches, from which the SRT8's leather-wrapped, tilt/telescopic steering wheel fell perfectly to hand. A glance through the steering wheel's top half quickly revealed SRT8-specific gauges that include a 300 kph (190 mph) speedometer and a 6,300 rpm-redline tachometer, both of which mean business. Add a full complement of luxury appointments, including premium Boston Acoustics audio and rear seat DVD entertainment, to the SRT8's spacious cabin and you have class-laden surroundings from which to properly administer the car's lusty potential.
That potential begins with the rumble emitted from the big Hemi's twin pipes; no one's going to question the authenticity of the "SRT8" badging that subtly distinguishes the car from its 300C roots. A light touch of the
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| (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Auto123.com) |
throttle is all that's required to rapidly position the 5-occupant sled ahead of other traffic. Lay deep into the pedal and the Hemi launches the toughened Chrysler like something engineered by NASA. Power is immediate and sustained throughout a wide rev band as the exhaust rips into a staccato crescendo more inline with an after-market set of tubes. Connecting the brute force, through a locking rear differential, to the grippy 245/45/ZR20 rear rubber is a 5-speed autobox featuring Chrysler's AutoStick manual-shift mode. This is the only transmission available. It does a commendable job of blending performance-oriented shifts with the buttery smoothness expected in a luxury car. Together, the bored-out Hemi and the AutoStick unite in delivering smooth, harmonious performance- within normal driving parameters that is. Although the engine's seamless refinement is never sacrificed, aggressive driving yields firmer shifts and the intoxicating exhaust note mentioned earlier.
