For 2012, the Dodge Challenger SRT8 gets a bit more retro with the engine moniker “392”, harkening back to the days when we talked cubic inches. The top of the line Challenger now has 470 horsepower due to a slight bump in displacement and other refinements. Chrysler says it will still achieve 23 mpg on the highway.
With pricing starting at $44,077 the SRT8 is just about Shelby GT-500 money. But with 470 and the extra weight it carries around, it accelerates from 0-60 in the high 4 second range with puts it about neck and neck with the Mustang GT in performance. It can stop from 60 to 0 mph in 117 feet.
It does however sport 392 cubic inches or 6.4 liters of big block feel. With both 470hp and 470 lb.-ft. or torque from a naturally aspirated powerplant it surely delivers classic muscle car feel to go with its retro style.It’s available with both a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. Automatic models come with displacement on demand which cuts the engine down to 4-cylinders when power is not needed to save fuel. With the technology, the automatic can deliver 14 mpg city / 22 mpg highway.
What isn’t retro is the SRT8’s chassis. Originally based on the Mercedes E-Class platform the Challenger’s fully independent chassis is refined and offers world class handling. This year the SRT8 offers a form of active suspension damping too.
In “Auto” mode, a wide range of on-road and driver inputs – such as vehicle speed, steering angle, steering speed, brake torque, throttle position and lateral/vertical accelerations – automatically tune the suspension for specific conditions.
In “Sport” mode, the damping system rebound and compression is locked to the higher damping rate. Drivers can easily choose between settings to quickly change the shock damping and harshness characteristics from “Auto” for everyday commuting to “Sport” for more spirited driving situations. The 2012 SRT8 and other Challengers still use hydraulic power steering.
The 2012 Challenger SRT8 392 rides on the standard five-spoke, 20 x 9-inch fully forged aluminum wheels or available seven-spoke, 20 x 9-inch lightweight forged aluminum wheels with satin black painted pockets. Standard Goodyear RSA All-Season tires or available Goodyear F1 Supercar Three-Season complement the performance design cues and deliver serious gripping performance and handling.
The handling result is .90g capability on the skid pad – the most of any production Challenger and on par with some of the world’s best-handling performance coupes, but less than many of its competitors in the muscle car arena.
Similar to the GT-500, the standard SRT8 performance brake package features 14.2 inch (front) and 13.8 inch (rear) vented/slotted rotors with four-piston Brembo fixed calipers painted red.
Exterior styling of the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 is carry-over from previous years with exception of new graphics, emblemology, and wheels. Colors for 2012 include Bright Silver, Bright White, Header Orange, Pitch Black, Redline Red and Tungsten Metallic. Dual, full-body stripes are available in black, grey metallic, red and silver metallic.
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