The sun, beaming overhead, which after Vancouver's recent cold, rainy spell warmed me to my soul, glistened off of a pit and paddock
 |
| Partly because of the SRT division's eleven-strong lineup, ChryslerGroup is the jewel of Detroit (Auburn Hills actually), and the pride ofBrampton, Ontario, where its flagship LX models are built for globalconsumption. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
area filled to the brim with more high-speed iron than I have ever seen outside of an F1 or Champ Car event weekend. From the insanely fun SX 2.0-based SRT-4 to the refined Mercedes-Benz SLK-derived Crossfire SRT-6 roadster, ballsy Chrysler 300C SRT8, functionally deranged Dodge Magnum SRT8, testosterone induced Ram SRT-10 Viper-powered two- and four-door pickups, otherworldly Viper SRT-10 roadster, and the new Charger SRT8, Grand Cherokee SRT8 and Viper Coupe, only a Crossfire SRT-6 coupe was missing. That's eleven, count them, eleven supercar-like performers from an automaker that many had for dead a few years ago. Now Chrysler Group is the jewel of Detroit (Auburn Hills actually), and the pride of Brampton, Ontario, where its flagship LX models are built for global consumption.
No rival automaker offers anything that rivals SRT, outside of those premium brands that purvey their comparatively overpriced uber-sedans, sports
 |
| Few rivals, at any price, will dice, slice and spice up the road ortrack any better than Dodge's mid-$40K Charger SRT8. (Photo: TrevorHofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
cars, crossovers and SUVs under AMG, M, S, R, and in the case of Cadillac, V designations. And the closest competitor to the Charger SRT8, other than Chrysler's own 300C SRT8, is Cadillac's CTS-V at $70,000 and change. In reality, if interior and cargo accommodations are added into the competitive analysis Cadillac's STS-V would seem the more logical head-to-head choice, and while its price in Canada is still to be determined, a fully loaded regular STS tops $90,000.
And in the end, while there will be some higher-grade interior plastics featured in the STS-V, or other premium brand "super-formers", few of them will dice, slice and spice up the road or track any better than Dodge's mid-$40K Charger SRT8.
