It's a good thing this car appeals to a wide range of people, because this extroverted torch red Dodge Charger SRT8 isn't easy to hide. Onlookers ranging from a senior citizen to a toddler pointed and stared at this modern-day Mopar muscle car as I idled down Main Street in Ann Arbor.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Charger SRT8 comes with a form of onboard telemetry in the gauge cluster that allows the driver to measure a variety of performance tests: 0-to-60-mph time, lateral g-force, braking distance, and 1/4-mile time, to name a few. It's by no means as complex as the Nissan GT-R's graphic system, but it's fun to toggle through nonetheless. It also became like a video game high score that we all then tried to beat as the keys exchanged hands.
The 6.1-liter Hemi V-8 engine pulls hard, and the carbon footprint left behind is large enough for a Toyota Prius to fall into. The Charger SRT8 comes only with a five-speed automatic, unlike the Challenger SRT8 we had a couple of weeks ago, which was a six-speed manual. But I'd argue that the automatic is the better of the two.
The Dodge Charger SRT8 holds a lifetime membership at the lead-foot club ... and subsequently will spend much of its lifetime at the gas station.
Mike Ofiara, Road Test Coordinator
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