CHELSEA, Michigan – The revised 2011 Charger, with its svelter, coke-bottle figure, retro taillights and vastly improved interior, was somewhat of a "tweener" – a vehicle that bridged the gap between the introductory model and the newly released 2012.
With all the changes sweeping through the Chrysler line-up – all aging 4-cylinder engines and V6s of various displacements being replaced with the single Pentastar V6, and vastly improved interiors across the board, the 2011 Charger was sort of lost in the shuffle.
With the addition of a new ZF-sourced 8-speed transmission available on all V6 models, the Charger feels complete.
The 845RE transmission is produced by ZF Friedreichshafen AG engineering in Germany, who supplies gearboxes for such premium brands as Audi and BMW, but Chrysler purchased the rights to eventually produce them at their Kokomo, Indiana Plant.
It's available as an option in the base model Charger SE ($1,000 USD) and standard on all RWD and AWD Rallye and Rallye Plus models.
We had a chance to grab some seat time, albeit very briefly, in each at Chrysler's Chelsea Proving Grounds, just a short drive from Ann Arbor Michigan. There are several tracks; among them, a two-lane "ride road" with a variety of surfaces to evaluate suspension, noise and vibration, and a small road course featuring several hairpin turns.
The 845RE was developed with fuel economy the number one priority, but the extra steps provide noticeable comfort and refinement. Gear transitions are nearly seamless during regular driving, while the low rpm range and light, 80-kg (176-lb) weight helps reduce fuel consumption at cruising speed.
With all the changes sweeping through the Chrysler line-up – all aging 4-cylinder engines and V6s of various displacements being replaced with the single Pentastar V6, and vastly improved interiors across the board, the 2011 Charger was sort of lost in the shuffle.
 |
| The revised 2011 Charger is a vehicle that bridged the gap between the introductory model and the newly released 2012. (Photo: Dodge) |
With the addition of a new ZF-sourced 8-speed transmission available on all V6 models, the Charger feels complete.
The 845RE transmission is produced by ZF Friedreichshafen AG engineering in Germany, who supplies gearboxes for such premium brands as Audi and BMW, but Chrysler purchased the rights to eventually produce them at their Kokomo, Indiana Plant.
It's available as an option in the base model Charger SE ($1,000 USD) and standard on all RWD and AWD Rallye and Rallye Plus models.
We had a chance to grab some seat time, albeit very briefly, in each at Chrysler's Chelsea Proving Grounds, just a short drive from Ann Arbor Michigan. There are several tracks; among them, a two-lane "ride road" with a variety of surfaces to evaluate suspension, noise and vibration, and a small road course featuring several hairpin turns.
The 845RE was developed with fuel economy the number one priority, but the extra steps provide noticeable comfort and refinement. Gear transitions are nearly seamless during regular driving, while the low rpm range and light, 80-kg (176-lb) weight helps reduce fuel consumption at cruising speed.
 |
| The 845RE was developed with fuel economy the number one priority, but the extra steps provide noticeable comfort and refinement. (Photo: Dodge) |