2006 Chrysler 300C SRT8 Preview

I remember when I was a kid, looking at the speedometer to see how fast a car could go. How little I actually knew, as the last

The 300C SRT8 joins the Crossfire SRT6 as the only two Chryslers to wear the SRT nomenclature. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada)

number on a speedometer's dial normally has little to do with top speed. Yet in the case of the 300C SRT8, its 300 km/h (180 mph) maximum might just be getting pretty close to being achievable. Chrysler has added a tachometer and temperature gauge in the primary cluster, the latter especially important to keep track of as the car gets older.

The center stack includes audio and HVAC interfaces just like the regular 300C, with the SRT8 getting a premium AM/FM stereo radio featuring a 6-disc CD changer. A total of seven Boston Acoustics speakers should sound sensational, while its standard steering wheel-mounted controls make adjusting the volume, changing stations or CD tracks easier. On the HVAC front, heating and air condition is automatic so each front occupant can set the desired temperature and the system will do the rest. The SRT8 also includes a standard electronic info interface with 128 customer-programmable settings.

The SRT8 also includes a couple of important features that usually show up only on premium cars, such as High Intensity Discharge

the SRT8 should arrive in dealerships next spring, but be ready to reserve one early as they are sure to move off the lot as quickly as they move off the line. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada)

(HID) xenon headlamps, emitting 70 percent more light, and Rear Park Assist, especially handy for parking such a large car.

The new 300C SRT8 joins the Crossfire SRT6 as the only two Chryslers to wear the SRT nomenclature. No doubt, more are on the way. The SRT badge first appeared on the current generation Dodge Viper SRT-10, followed up last year by the compact SRT-4. The Viper-powered Ram SRT-10, now revered as the world's fastest pickup truck according to Guinness, joined the SRT family earlier this year. The 300C SRT8 is the first of the performance lineup to feature 8-cylinder power, with a SRT-8 version of the Dodge Magnum expected to be next in line.