PHOENIX, ARIZONA- There is no leaving well enough alone at Street and Racing Technology. The most rabid of the Dodge Boys first brought us the wicked-looking SRT4 in 2003, with a turbocharged, intercooled, sixteen-valve DOHC 2.4-liter four producing 65 hp more than the best Neon's 150-hp 2.0-liter. Then came 230 hp in 2004, the Mopar Performance Stage 1 turbo kit offering 10 more ponies for $399, and a Stage 2 kit upping the power to 260 hp for $999 or 265-hp for $1599.
Why stop there? SRT is now bringing back the American Club Racing (ACR) package-dropped in 2003-and also offers the utterly insane Stage 3 turbo upgrade kit. We've driven SRT4s with both. For pure, white-heat, sweaty-palms excitement, Stage 3 pushes the SRT4's power peak to 310 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. (Or 355 hp and 365 lb-ft with 100-plus octane gas!) Try that in the snow on summer tires (as we did) for a rush that will make your short hairs uncurl. The kit will cost you $4199.
The newly minted ACR package will hunker the SRT4 down and have it turning on a dime for an extra $1195 over the base SRT4's $21,195. Considering the list of mods starts with superlight sixteen-inch BBS wheels and 225/45ZR-16 BFGoodrich KDW2 tires, the rest of the package is virtually free. Five-way adjustable Tokico dampers, rear tension strut, larger front antiroll bar, spare tire and wheel, and seats that will accommodate shoulder harnesses complete the package. Grab the Stage 3 kit as a Mopar add-on, and kiss the competition good-bye.
SPECS
Price: $22,390 (ACR)
Engine: 2.4L DOHC turbo I-4,230 hp, 250 lb-ft
Drive: Front-wheel