The Dodge Charger SRT8 is not your ordinary family sedan; by no means! With the kids in tow, you can blow past your neighbor's Mustang and challenge your pal's Corvette especially if you add several rock solid aftermarket parts to its beefy frame.
When the smart folks at DaimlerChrysler were looking to beef up the Dodge line, they had to look no further than the Chrysler 300C, the Mercedes derived sedan that was turning heads from the moment it was introduced. What surprised many Mopar fans was that the vaunted Charger name would be affixed not to a coupe, but to a sedan. To this day, purists grumble at that decision but one look at the Charger tells you that this is not some ordinary family sedan. Thanks to the original Chrysler Group design team the Charger received plenty of notice, even better with the later involvement of the SRT group, Dodge has turned everything up a notch yet again.
Street and Racing Technology {SRT} is the name of the performance group within Chrysler that is tasked with taking already potent vehicles and turning them into class leading, road dominating muscle cars. In its earlier day the team transformed the Dodge Neon and most recently this same team did its work on the Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV. When the 2006 Charger was given its opportunity to shine, the SRT team immediately decided to plant a 6.1L V8 Hemi-powered engine underneath the car's hood producing an amazing 425 horses along with 420 lbs-feet of torque peaking at 4800 rpm. Clearly, no car in its class matches the Charger's competence with the exception of the 300C.
With the development of a car of this particular stature, comes an aftermarket products industry bent on meeting the demands of an exacting public. You don't think Charger SRT8 owners are satisfied with the status quo now, do you? With this in mind, busy developers have produced several power enhancing products for the Charger including:
Intake Systems ? Leave it to Airaid, the manufacturer of premium air filters to develop a pair of air intake systems for the Charger SRT8. You can choose one with a Ram air scoop or choose one without; in either case your Charger can achieve an extra 14 horses and 17 lb. feet of torque above the stock air box. Airaid's intake system isolates the Airaid air filter from the engine's heat to free up more power while having no adverse impact on fuel economy.
Cold Air Intake ? Offering similar increases in power as the Airaid, a Dub Air intake system is beautiful to hear as well as to look at. Polished stainless steel air box seals work to provide a durable and long lasting performance part designed to outlast your Charger. Your Charger's engine craves cold air; give it the ?food? that it wants with a Dub Air intake system and enjoy the low tone that it makes every time you power up.
Cat-Back Exhaust ? Messing around with an exhaust system is not everyone's idea of a fun weekend project. However, a Magnaflow Performance exhaust system is easy to install with its bolt on parts. What's more, each Magnaflow exhaust comes with a lifetime warranty as they are made from the same stainless that airliners use. You'll see increase of 16 horsepower and an extra 19 lbs.-ft of torque as this cat-back system works with your engine, not against it.
Okay, you may not be able to get past the Charger's four door design, but you can help make an already powerful car achieve its maximum performance level through the addition of superior aftermarket parts. Of course, if that isn't enough, waiting for the release of the 2009 Challenger coupe may be your ultimate consolation!
Copyright 2006 ? Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer for Premier Truck Accessories is a leading retailer of SRT aftermarket products offering custom performance packages for the Charger SRT8 as well as the SRT vehicles. Please stop by today to explore our vast inventory.
Tricking Out Your Dodge Ram SRT-10
Dodge's Ram SRT-10 is one heck of a powerful truck. Add in some nifty aftermarket features and the Viper is within its reach.
There are pick up trucks on the road and then there is the Dodge Ram SRT-10. Take one already powerful truck and add in a Viper engine and you come away with a vehicle that is truly the king of its class. DaimlerChrysler got it right when they decided to morph its popular Ram into a true road warrior able to haul people, stuff, and beat just about any car on the road. If you own a Ram SRT-10 you already know what I mean as you spend your time tricking out your truck for even more performance and enhanced looks. Before we go on, please note that there are two versions of the Ram SRT-10: one is the ?standard? two door cab and the other is the quad cab. For argument's sake, we'll look at both Ram SRT-10 models as one.
Without exception the 510 horsepower 8.3L V10 is one powerful engine. For the faint of heart, the Ram SRT-10 just isn't for you, but for the Dodge aficionado this steroid enhanced Ram more than meets your every fantasy. Or does it?
As it is with every performance oriented vehicle, a host of aftermarket parts have come along to enhance the driving experience. What, isn't the Ram SRT-10 enough of a performance statement? For some drivers that answer is yes, but for others that answer is clearly no.
Passionate Ram SRT-10 owners are enhancing their rides with a variety of popular aftermarket products including:
Air Intake Systems ? A cool air intake system such as the Volant Air Intake for the Ram SRT-10 is a hot selling item. Volant claims that you will receive a horsepower boost of 28 while adding 42 lbs. of torque to the rear wheels. Working with your truck's engine, an air intake system helps to free up trapped air to allow the engine to operate more efficiently without adversely impacting fuel mileage. Enjoy more power and take in that awesome intake tone!
Cat-back Exhaust Systems ? Another area where power is inhibited is through your vehicle's exhaust system. A catalyst back [or cat-back] system such as one developed by Magnaflow Exhaust will boost horsepower and free up torque with its dual rear exit 3" mandrel bent stainless steel system and 4" slash cut polished stainless steel tips. The racecar rumble you hear coming from underneath the truck is truly a welcome bonus!
Computer Enhancements ? The factory settings for your Ram SRT-10 are good, but they could be better. A Custom Computer Flash ECU can replace the stock computer with one that has been aftermarket enhanced. What that means is a simple swap out of your current computer with a new one which will result in more horsepower, better torque, and improved throttle timing for your truck. All you have to do is submit your SRT-10's VIN #, modifications, and mileage and a custom designed ECU will be shipped to you.
If these aftermarket parts aren't enough then there are always lowering kits, performance air filters, exhaust headers, and traction bars to consider, so why settle for less? Indeed, there is little to stop you from customizing your Dodge Ram SRT-10 to perform the way you want it to run even among other enhanced trucks in its class.
Copyright 2006 ? Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer for Premier Truck Accessories is a leading retailer of SRT aftermarket products offering custom performance packages for the Ram SRT-10 including the Volant Cool Air Intake. Please stop by today to explore our vast inventory.
Chrysler's Rip Roaring SRT Family of Vehicles
The Chrysler Group's series of SRT or Street and Racing Technology vehicles are an overwhelming hit for the automaker. Key models from Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep represent the performance side of the house and are taking American streets by storm.
Step back in time some fifty years ago and you would see that the American automotive market was much different than it is today. Three companies dominated the scene: GM, Ford, and Chrysler with the newly formed American Motors making up the bulk of the sales. Volkswagen was new to the U.S. market with its legendary Beetle while Toyota was still a few years away from marketing its very first cars. Although the term ?muscle car? wasn't used until the 1960s, a series of ?Hemi powered? vehicles from the Chrysler Corporation began to hit the streets. These particular models influenced this unique segment for several years until market changes in the early 1970s effectively eliminated that category. Today, muscle cars are back and the Chrysler Group is leading the way with its expansive line up of SRT vehicles. Although consumer tastes have changed as has the overall automotive market, Chrysler's SRT family of vehicles remains a popular choice for performance enthusiasts everywhere. Read on and we'll explore the vehicles that are shaping the new muscle car era.
Several years before Daimler-Benz and the Chrysler Corporation merged to form DaimlerChrysler, a team of Chrysler employees was tasked to invigorate the automaker's line up with bold and exciting models. The first vehicle produced by ?Team Viper? was the Dodge Viper, Mopar's answer to the Chevy Corvette; a few years later it was followed by the Plymouth Prowler, a limited production retro-style roadster produced by a parallel group, ?Team Prowler?. Clearly, Chrysler was attempting to erase its uninspiring K-car image with the production of these two models and although production was very limited, the vehicles managed to positively impact the Dodge and Plymouth brands.
Team Viper and Team Prowler later merged operations to become SRT ? Street and Racing Technology ? a high performance automotive group that is part of the Chrysler Group at DaimlerChrysler. Although the Plymouth brand was eventually dropped, DaimlerChrysler decided to expand the SRT line up to include certain vehicles sporting Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler nameplates.
So, what qualifies a vehicle to wear the SRT designation? Several things including:
--Potent engines. Only the most powerful engines are reserved for SRT vehicles. While some are normally aspirated, many have been turbocharged or supercharged to beef up horsepower.
--Responsive handling. Relying heavily on its Mercedes connection, the SRT team employs state of the art steering and suspension systems in every model. Add in more powerful brakes and you have a vehicle that masters every turn and stops on a dime every time.
--Bold styling. No ordinary vehicle is eligible for the SRT treatment as massive aluminum wheels, front and rear spoilers, and bold air intakes are included to enhance performance. On the inside, race inspired aluminum pedals and sports car derived seating gives SRT drivers a true performance feel to match the energy brimming underneath every hood.
Currently, the SRT line up includes the following models with more vehicles expected to receive that designation:
Dodge: Ram SRT10 Quad Cab; Ram SRT10 Regular Cab; Viper SRT10 Coupe; Viper SRT10 Roadster; Charger SRT8; and the Magnum SRT8.
Chrysler: 300C SRT8; Crossfire SRT6 Coupe; and Crossfire SRT6 Roadster.
Jeep: Grand Cherokee SRT8.
Much like the muscle car era of long ago, SRT enthusiasts are beefing up their already potent vehicles with nifty aftermarket parts and supplies including supercharger systems, exhaust headers, cat-back exhaust systems, cool air intakes, lowering kits, traction bars, and more. Popular aftermarket performance suppliers are matching the introduction of every SRT model with new products of their own. Definitely, the SRT crowd is a unique group of automotive enthusiasts who simply won't settle for the status quo.
The Chrysler Group will be changing the SRT line up over the next several years with the introduction of three more Dodge models: the Caliber SRT4, the Avenger SRT6, and possibly a version of the Nitro SUV ? Dodge's twin model to the Jeep Liberty. Last but not least, the ultimate blending of two generations of muscle cars will become evident when the Dodge Challenger makes its debut within the next three years. Yes, an SRT version of this most desired retro coupe will also find its way into the classiest of new classics.
Copyright 2006 ? Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer for Premier Truck Accessories an important supplier of SRT aftermarket parts for the Ram SRT-10 as well as the SRT vehicles. Please stop by today to explore our vast inventory.
