Anyone can talk about comebacks and greatness. “The proof is in the pudding” so they say. Well, Chrysler has come back from the dead more times than a cat and the proof is on the pavement in the form of a 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8. This is a very fast and a little flashy four-door sedan that gets up to 23 mpg on the highway with the help of an active valve exhaust system and Chrysler’s standard Fuel Saver Technology.
The SRT Division did not just strap in a 6.4-liter HEMI® V-8, like the 300 hp HEMI of the famed 1955 Chrysler 300. This new SRT brand is led by President and CEO Ralph Gilles who is committed to building high-performance vehicles for the Chrysler Group. They did not just bolt on 20” magnesium wheels and throw some badges around the car. These engineers actually engineered a performance sedan capable of crazy speed and just as crazy handling. Yes! This is still a large luxury sedan built in Detroit but it has muscle car muscles. With 470 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque, the tires just rip through a quarter mile in sports car time. This is a luxury sedan that gets the driver’s heart pounding and adrenaline flowing.
Notable luxury includes a new SRT heated steering wheel that matches the leather heated sports seat. Not needed, but fun to use are the paddle shifters for hands on the wheel shifting both on road and, for those who can, at the race track. The 19-speaker Harman-Kardon® audio system with 900 watts is a little much for older consumers but it will sure let the hard of hearing feel the beat.
There is also an updated two-mode adaptive damping suspension system that is switched by the driver between comfort and sport. It automatically adapts to road and driver inputs for better vehicle response. Brakes are 14.2 inch (front) and 13.8 inch (rear) vented/slotted rotors with four-piston Brembo calipers that bring the heavy car to a quick stop.
For the gear-heads out there, the numbers include 0-60 mph times in the 4.8 second range; quarter mile in high 12-second range; 0-100-0 mph in less than 16 seconds, top speed of 175 mph and stopping power from 60-0 mph in 120 feet (according to Chrysler’s numbers). Recent tests are proving this data to hold true.
Pricing starts at $27,170 for the base 300 sedan, and tops out at $50,165 for the fully equipped SRT8 sedan. Factory warranty coverage is up to 100,000 miles over 36-months. For more information, see your local Chrysler dealer or visit Chrysler.com
By Vince Bodiford
(Jim Powell contributed to this report)
