But its what this engine can do that makes it truly special, and for that matter what the entire Charger Daytona R/T can
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| A "Daytona Limited edition" inscription on the electronic cluster join a sequentially numbered limited-edition Daytona badge on the instrument panel. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
accomplish when pushed harder than would be wise on the open road. After all, it takes less than six seconds to eclipse legal speeds, and it won't feel like you're doing much over 60 km/h when you're doing 100. This is why Chrysler Group arranged a racetrack for our testing purposes, and one that required those attending the media launch to drive from Durham, NC to Virginia International Raceway (VIR), just outside of Danville, VA, if only so we could get a feel for how comfortable the big sedan is prior to scrubbing off a set of tire sidewalls on the track.
If you weren't aware, the Charger comes with Chrysler Group's capable five-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick manual override. Just tap the shift lever from side-to-side and it will shift up or down through the gears, allowing optimal control. This especially came in handy on the VIR road coarse; a serpentine track that includes enough off-camber diving corners and corkscrew turns to keep rollercoaster enthusiasts screaming for joy. I happen to be a rollercoaster fan, and fortunately the Daytona didn't disappoint when carving up the curves. It's a heavy car, even heavier than Chrysler's 300C by a smidge, but nonetheless I could make it dance like it was a
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| The Charger Daytona R/T kept gobbling up corners, jumping over curbs, plummeting down steep grades and powering up the track's inclined straightway without complaint. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
lightweight when pushed beyond reasonable means. It took to VIR's substantial red and white curbing as if it weren't there at all, its suspension and tires absorbing the impact and then clamping down on the pavement in preparation of the next curve. I've tried such feats in lesser cars, and the tail-wagging that ensues in the aftermath is unsettling to say the least. The Charger Daytona R/T, however, kept gobbling up corners, jumping over curbs, plummeting down steep grades and powering up the track's inclined straightway without complaint. Even the body structure wouldn't groan under the stress, nor the interior panels squeak or chatter. The Charger is one tight package, Daytona or not.
