2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 Review
May 29, 2008
There is no mistaking the new Challenger SRT-8 for anything else. Just a brief glance and you know you’re looking at one. Chrysler has done a great job of bringing the look of the car to the 21st century. The side view shows lines that are shared with the famed version from the early ’70s (I think it’s better for everyone involved if we choose to forget the version from Mitsubishi that sold until the ’80s).
Backstory
While the SE and R/T versions of the Challenger will bow in for the 2009 model year, the ’08 is only available in a five-speed auto equipped SRT-8 model that packs the potent 6.1-liter Hemi (425 horsepower at 6200 rpm with a peak torque of 420 pound feet at 4800 rpm). This works out to about 70 horsepower/liter, impressive in the ’70s, but falling behind the current benchmarks of today. This is probably because the engine uses some serious old-school technology: two pushrod actuated valves per cylinder that use hydraulic lifters.
With an estimated curb weight of 4180 pounds, the power to weight ratio is an impressive sub 10 pounds per horsepower. This is what gives the car a factory-claimed zero-60 time “in the low five seconds.” After driving one briefly on the street, we can see no reason to argue the claim.
Technology
While the engine is somewhat retro, there is lots of new tech built into the car. ABS, traction control, brake assist and stability control are all standard. The suspension is not ’70s muscle car primitive, sporting a short-long A-arm geometry up front and a 5 link independent set-up out back. Bilsteins coil-overs are used at all four corners. Not old school muscle car at all. All this means that you can have a car that looks like the 70s muscle car but can negotiate corners with (some) grace.
When you read all the details that go into the package, it’s a very impressive list indeed. Modern engineering provides a chassis that is stiff indeed (it’s based on the LX platform shared with the Charger/300) and this is very noticeable on both the street and track. In fact, a brief drive in a pre-production version on the street gives you the impression of a truly modern car that absorbs bumps well (for a two-tonner). Mash the go pedal and it, well, goes really quickly, too.
Chrysler claims the dash is designed based on the look of the dashboards of the 70s and we agree with that. We don’t really remember the dashes of that era to be anything that special, and this one isn’t either. But it has all the modern conveniences, and in the brief seat time we had driving on the street, it seems perfectly functional, but it’s just not that memorable.
Performance
The Challenger was a popular ride at the media ride and drive, but what we were really looking for was how it all came together on the track. We did get to drive the car at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and if this had been an original model from the ’70s, this would have been a risky proposition indeed. But with today’s car, all the engineering really paid off.
So here’s the good news. The car accelerates very quickly. Press the pedal and you’re off with the tach swinging to red-line very quickly. There’s a bit of understeer, as you would expect from a front engine rear drive layout with over 55 percent of the weight riding on the front wheels. The chassis stiffness works well on the track, and all the fancy suspension bits do come together so that turning isn’t a white-knuckle event. The Brembo brakes (14-plus inches up front) do a fine job of slowing the beast as well.
So now the bad news. We felt very disconnected from the whole experience. Yes, the car is fast, but you don’t feel like you’re really going fast and when you look down at the speedo you’re shocked to see really high numbers. You turn the wheel, it changes direction well, with the understeer easily controlled with a bit more input or slight application of power. But still, something was missing. It was sort of like playing a video game. We hate to say it, but we got a bit bored. Especially when compared to lots of the other rides of the day that were just as competent and much more fun.
Comments
Got something to say?
