Chrysler,news,review- Competes with: Dodge Charger SRT8, Ford Taurus SHO, 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec
- Looks like: The 300C got lower and angrier
- Drivetrain: 465-hp, 6.4-liter V-8 with five-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
- Hits dealerships: Fall 2011
More 2011 New York Auto Show Coverage
The transmission is a five-speed automatic with AutoStick gear selector plus steering-wheel shift paddles. Though EPA figures aren't out yet, Chrysler says the highway mileage increases by 25 percent over the previous model, which was rated 13/19 mpg city/highway.
A computer-controlled adaptive suspension is new for 2012. It has a Sport setting that firms up the ride, but the real value is the system's constant monitoring of, and adjusting for, driving conditions. The steering, which had been criticized for being numb and vague, has been revised.
The brakes employ vented and slotted discs. There are four-piston calipers at all four corners, though they're larger in the front.
Interior upgrades include SRT-branded sport seats and steering wheel, carbon-fiber trim and racing-style pedals. As in the previous generation, the 2012 SRT8 monitors and displays acceleration times, braking distance and g-force — this time on a new color display. The touch-screen mounted in the center of the dash shows this data and adds steering angle, yaw angle and engine output.
